Store offers clothing for formal and casual needs
Since 1960, Mr. Wicks has been dressing the men of Arkansas. With the store’s wide selection of clothing for any occasion and incredible sales staff, it is no wonder that Mr. Wicks was named Best Men’s Clothing Store in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Best of the Best readers’-choice awards.
“Winning [Best Men’s Clothing Store] is really a huge compliment, not just to the store but also to our sales staff,” said Mark Evans, owner of Mr. Wicks.
Evans said he believes the selection the store carries and the service his sales staff provides are what make Mr. Wicks stand out as the best.
“I think the selection is a big deal, and also the value that the guys know they are getting when they come in, that they are going to get taken care of and in a friendly atmosphere where any guy can come into our store, shop and feel comfortable doing that,” Evans said. “I think those things really play into what men need, how they can need help a lot of times in getting something that looks right, fits right and feels right, and feel like they are not getting taken advantage of.”
Evans purchased the store six years ago because he wanted to do something he enjoyed and was fun. He said it was also a nice distraction from his full-time job as senior pastor at The Church at Rock Creek. After purchasing Mr. Wicks, Evans made a few changes. He remodeled the interior and expanded the brands and clothing styles the store carries.
“We updated it significantly. We did a whole interior remodel, and we have expanded the brands that we carry and the clothing we carry, not just expanding our suits and sports coats. It is more about expanding the sportswear, the everyday casual wear,” he said. “So right now, the store’s inventory really is about three times what it used to be prior to us purchasing [the store].”
Evans said he believes his store excels because any man with any style can walk in and find something he likes.
Evans said Mr. Wicks also gives back both internationally and locally.
“I think the best way to state what our business mission and philosophy are is really just to help men get what they are looking for as far as clothing,” Evans said. “But the other side of that is we do not just work it as a business selling clothing here locally. We also utilize it as an opportunity to provide clothing to men in other countries. Because of my job as a pastor, I have relationships with pastors all over the world. We send suits, sports coats and slacks to pastors in South Africa and also in Peru. So that is a big deal to us to be able to do that and donate clothing to those pastors.”
Evans also donates items to organizations and nonprofits on a local level for fundraising auctions.
“I want [customers] to feel that they can come in, feel like they are working with people and a business that they can trust is going to take care of them,” Evans said. “I think the big deal is to feel at home, and Mr. Wick’s has always had that reputation of making people feel at home, and we just want to build on that.”