J. Jill was founded as DM Management in 1987. With the goal of becoming a leading direct marketer of women’s apparel, the company began acquiring a number of catalog titles, including J. Jill, The Very Thing! and Nicole Summers. In 1999, DM Management was renamed J. Jill, signaling the company’s strategic decision to develop the J. Jill concept into a premier national brand for women 35 and older who seek a sophisticated casual lifestyle. In 2006, 19 years after its founding, J. Jill became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Talbots, Inc. Today, J. Jill is a multi-channel retailer; at the end of fiscal 2005, it had 200 stores in 35 states, 12 separate catalogs with a circulation of 56 million, and an online site at www.jjill.com.

J. Jill merchandise is inspired by nature, celebrates women’s own sense of femininity, and emphasizes artistic, creative expression. The fit is flattering yet forgiving, the fabrics soft and comfortable, the styles fluid and distinguished by unique, feminine details.

The same aesthetic that is found in J. Jill’s assortment is carried through all aspects of the customer’s shopping experience. Stores are designed to be serene and inviting, marked by such natural elements as stone and wood, neutral colors and textures, and soft lighting. The catalog and website employ lifestyle photography reinforcing the customer’s strong connection to her family, friends and community and feature women who are self-confident and “real” in their beauty.

Supporting that commitment to comfort and serenity is an equal commitment to customer service. An intranet site at the concierge desk of each J. Jill store ensures that retail customers have access to virtually all products currently offered, and merchandise purchased online or via the catalog can be returned to any J. Jill store or its distribution center. Associates in the stores and in the call center receive extensive and ongoing training to help customers understand the product and its benefits. Underscoring its commitment to customer service, J. Jill backs its merchandise with an unconditional guarantee.

With J. Jill’s customers’ involvement in the community and concern for social responsibility, in 2002, the company established the J. Jill Compassion Fund at the Boston Foundation. The mission of the Compassion Fund is to provide financial support on a national scale to nonprofit community-based organizations that aid women and children in need. Among the more than 25 organizations J. Jill supports through its Compassion Fund are Rosie’s Place, a safe haven for impoverished and homeless women in Boston, and Homework Helpers, an after-school program for children of homeless women at a shelter run by Women In Need in New York. In support of its philanthropic efforts, J. Jill has created a “Compassion Tee,” a cotton satin-trimmed t-shirt, and donates $1 from the sale of each tee at regular-price to the Compassion Fund.

As J. Jill looks forward, it remains committed to the promise at the core of its brand--the celebration of the over-35 woman and the recognition of her confidence and unique sense of style.