We had the good fortune of connecting with Karla Reyes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karla, what makes you happy? Why?
What truly makes me happy is being able to help others through this business. I like to be a blessing to others without expecting anything in return. I have so much to be thankful for because God has been so good to us. 6 years ago I had no idea where this business was going to take off. Our store is blooming, and we are finally becoming known to others. We have had customers come as far as Oklahoma City, and that makes my heart happy because they could have gone to a store closer to them, yet they choose us. Customers are what truly make a business successful, and I am eternally grateful for mine.

What should our readers know about your business?
Please tell us more about your business. Our journey began in 2014 when my mom, Gabby and l began to rent tuxedos from our home. This is where our dream to have our own business one day started. It wasn’t until summer 2017 that We opened our first men’s boutique named after my grandpa which was the first in the family to work for a tuxedo industry in the 1990’s.He chose the name “Mr Tuxedo “. He even created our logo. The rest of the family eventually followed his footsteps to also work in the tuxedo industry. So you can say the love for tuxedos runs in our family.

How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?
By the grace of God. We are 6 years into the business and let me just say it hasn’t been easy. When covid hit and only essential businesses could operate l thought it would be the end for us. Gabby is a firm believer in Christ, and never lost her faith, and because of that, we were able to keep moving. God always finds a way. We started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was the summer of 2020 when our business began to slowly get back on its feet.Spring 2021 was our best prom season. We were busy left and right; everyone was eager to have events again after being shut down with restrictions for almost a year.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?
I didn’t think I was capable until l actually faced all the challenges that no one talks about when being a business owner. The first 2 years were rough. I was a full time student in college, had a full time job, new business owner & was planning my wedding. To say that I was busy, is an understatement. There was definitely a lot of stress and tears but God always reassured me he would not let me drown. Thankfully, I was blessed with my mom, Gabby, who always made sure the store was well taken care of for me to be able to concentrate on everything .
I worked in the background, ordering new merchandise,took care of Social media, Accounting just anything for this business to be successful.On the rare occasion that I found myself with time to spare, I would visit the store in person to remind myself what I was working for. I was so determined in making this business successful one way or another because I wasn’t built for failure. My parents raised me to always make sure to go after my dreams but to never get lost in the process.
It wasn’t until Dec 2019 l decided it was time to leave my full time job to be at our business full time. I loved my full time job in the car industry so much that i never thought I’d
leave. The reason why I didn’t leave it before was because I was afraid of not being able to fit in afraid of not making enough money and having to struggle to pay bills. Their was one friend in particular by the name of Bree that always encouraged me to take a leap of faith, but I couldn’t build up the courage to. It wasn’t until one day a couple months after that , l showed up to work, and noticed I no longer had interest because my mind was on the business I was trying so hard to build. That was when my heart knew it was time to close a chapter and move on. 4 years later I still believe It has been the best decision I have ever made. I have flexibility now. I’m able to do everything that I didn’t have time for before. I get to be at every event and milestone for my kids. I am a better version of myself because of it. And most importantly I get to do what I love every day.
Mr Tuxedo has really taught me to be independent, brave and to always focus on the solution of any problem rather than stressing about the problem itself.. I’ve learned to be solution focused, in every aspect of my life.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about
Mr Tuxedo is a family owned business that specializes in formal event suit/tuxedo rentals and sales. We are a Jim’s formal wear retailer. We offer styles from Slim fit to Big & tall to Accommodate all our customers. I love this industry because every year is different with fashion trends Constantly changing we try so hard to keep up. I’ve also noticed that more people are getting married each year which is great for business. It’s safe to say all our sacrifices have been worth it. we now have a team of 5 family members working together to make Mr. Tuxedo better each day. One of our biggest advantages that sets us apart from other tuxedo stores is that our warehouse is on site. We are able to fill same day others for those needing a tuxedo on the spot. While others normally require a 2 week notice before the event. We like to participate in 2-3 wedding/XV expo shows a year. where we take models to show off our latest styles and to network with other vendors in the wedding industry. It’s amazing how in this industry vendors help each other so much almost like family. The vendor that has helped our sales grow tremendously is “weddings by yuri”. She’s the best wedding planner here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and only works with the best so it’s an honour being one of her preferred vendors.

In the near future l hope God blesses us with a bigger location and eventually a second location in dallas so we can keep growing and serving the community.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband plays a major role in my support system followed by My aunts who always encourage me and believe in me. My tio Carlos, who has recently joined our team, I’m certain that with all his knowledge in the tuxedo industry Mr tuxedo will be in the big league in a matter of time. Yvonne my old manager in the car industry to now one of my closest friends. Her wisdom and kindness has made a huge impact in my life that I will forever be thankful for. But the main person who deserves the spotlight is My mom,Gabby.
Gabby comes with 20 plus years of experience in the tuxedo industry (working for the formerly well known Al’s formal wear). l have always admired her for the way she treats customers like her own family. Anyone who knows Gabby knows what I’m talking about. She doesn’t just try to sell you a suit and send you on your way, she builds a relationship with you, and makes you feel welcomed from the minute you walk in the door. She always goes above and beyond to make sure you are proud of what you’re wearing to your important events. Without her, Mr. Tuxedo wouldn’t be successful today.

Website: Mrtuxedorh.com

Instagram: Mrtuxedorh

Facebook: Mr. Tuxedo Richland Hills

Other: We are well known on google with awesome reviews from previous customers

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.