Mays Business Online

When Drew Jones ’05 started his studies at Mays, he had no idea what he wanted to do when he graduated. As the years progressed, he was still having a difficult time finding anything he could be passionate about: working behind a desk from 8 to 5 was not at all what he had envisioned for himself. As a fifth year senior, Jones headed off to Beijing to do some manual labor for the U.S. embassy. After a year, he returned home with a tailored-fit business plan.

Jones started DJones Tailored Collection, his line of custom-made men’s suits for college students and young professionals, in May 2008. This year, Jones was awarded second place in the Newpreneur of the Year contest sponsored by Inc. magazine and Alibaba.com. The honor came with a $25,000 prize and recognition of Jones’ endeavor as being one of few to achieve success amidst the economic recession.

Drew Jones ’05 has found success in the world of custom-tailored menswear even in the midst of an economic downturn. [Photo courtesy Stacy Reeves]

The idea of starting DJones came during Jones’ time in Beijing, where custom suits can be made inexpensively compared to other world markets. Jones went to tailoring school where he learned how to take suit measurements, and then he offered his services to some of his fellow embassy workers to see if his product would sell. The response was hugely positive, and Jones set off to chase his newfound dream with $18,000 in savings and $12,000 in personal loans.

Experts appear to be divided as to whether starting a business in the middle of the economic recession is a gutsy gamble, or a nail in the coffin. For Jones, it was an opportunity to make his name in the world, and he went for it. Though the journey hasn’t always been easy, Jones falls back on his cardinal rule when the road gets rough: Be persistent. “You will face many obstacles and will have those days where you wonder if you will survive,” he says, “but that’s what keeps us thinking and what allows us to achieve success.”

Today, DJones offers its clients the opportunity to create a suit that is tailored to every aspect of their lives. Each customer has hundreds of fabrics to choose from, and DJones employees walk them through the process of creating a suit that is flattering not only to their physique, but to their personality as well. Though the suits range in price from $395 to $795, Jones offers his college clientele a significant discount. The response to this price cut has been tremendous, as Jones estimates that three-fourths of his clients are college students. “We provide our customers with a great opportunity. They are afraid to spend money right now, but still need to look sharp for their interviews and in the workplace; so we provide them with affordable, custom-tailored menswear,” says Jones. It is this genuine consideration for the customer’s needs that is making many start-up businesses formidable opponents for corporate America.

While DJones specializes in custom-made suits, the Cedar Hill company of seven also puts forth the extra effort to offer fitted customer service as well. Each of the employees and sales representatives works from home, and they meet their clients for fitting wherever is most convenient for the customer: homes, coffee shops, or Los Angeles, wherever. It is this commitment to customer service that keeps DJones competitive. Jones says he plans to use the $25,000 prize to upgrade the packaging of his suits, garment bags, hangers, and online shopping cart, and to expand his business to other areas in Texas.