A Tradition Of Excellence
Now celebrating its 60th anniversary, Talbots was founded in 1947 in a 17th-century colonial frame house in Hingham,
Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. The following year, the Company launched its direct mail business by distributing
3,000 black-and-white flyers to names obtained from The New Yorker magazine. Today, Talbots is a leading national
specialty retailer, cataloger and e-tailer of women’s, children’s and men’s apparel, shoes and accessories.
Talbots has a long-standing commitment to serving both its customer and the community in which she resides. This
synergy between customer and community service is best summarized by the Company’s credo, "Do What is Right for the Customer".
Talbots, publicly traded since 1993, acquired The J. Jill Group in 2006, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company. The Company offers its merchandise under the Talbots and J. Jill brands via stores, catalog and internet.
Together, the brands serve a broad diversity of women within the fast-growing 35+ population through an extensive
range of sizes and distinct yet complementary styles.
At the end of fiscal year 2006, the Company operated a total of 1,365 stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia,
Canada and the U.K., with 1,126 stores under the Talbots brand name and 239 stores under the J. Jill brand name.
Doing What Is Right: Customer Service
At Talbots, customer service is an around-the-clock operation. Sales associates receive in-depth training to become knowledgeable
wardrobe consultants, and are encouraged to provide friendly service without being overly aggressive. Catalog Sales and Customer Service
associates are available 24 hours a day, 364 days a year, not simply to take orders, but to answer questions and offer advice on
everything from fit to wardrobing options.
Customer service permeates all areas of the Company, including store design. Talbots stores offer a gracious, residential environment and
spacious, well-lit fitting rooms. Such qualities make each store a friendly place to shop, to browse or simply to stop in and visit.
The Company also avoids a "cookie-cutter" approach to its stores, ensuring that each location is individually designed to blend with
its surroundings.
With excellent personalized service can only come an equally outstanding product. Talbots stands behind all its merchandise
with an unconditional guarantee. If a product does not meet the customer’s expectations, it can be returned
for a replacement or refund with no time limit and no exceptions.
Doing What Is Right: Community Service
Because Talbots customers care about their community, doing "What is Right for the Customer" also means doing what is right for the
community. In 2001, Talbots launched The Talbots Charitable Foundation to continue its tradition of community service.
The Foundation each year donates to hundreds of non-profit organizations devoted to civic and cultural activities, social welfare, and health
and education services. In addition, Talbots associates can be found participating in a myriad of community events, including road
races and walk-a-thons benefiting such organizations as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, The American Diabetes Association
and The American Cancer Society. To further encourage associate participation in such events, The Charitable Foundation provides
donations to match associates money-raising efforts.
Talbots is also deeply committed to higher education. In addition to providing numerous college scholarships to graduating high school
seniors, the Company created the
Talbots Women's Scholarship Fund, a national program for women attending college later in life to
attain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Now sponsored by The Talbots Charitable Foundation, this unique program annually awards
five women $10,000 scholarships and fifty women $1,000 scholarships.
Community service plays an integral role at J. Jill too. The J. Jill Compassion Fund was established in June 2002. The
Compassion Fund is the central depository for philanthropic giving by all J. Jill Group subsidiaries. A donor-advised
fund of the Boston Foundation, the J. Jill Compassion Fund provides the company with a simple and efficient way to support
non-profit organizations across the country.
Conclusion
60 years ago in 1947, Talbots commitment to outstanding customer and community service has remained unchanged since its
signature red doors first welcomed customers. As a result, the Company has developed some of the most loyal customers
in the industry.
At Talbots, building relationships with the customer and her community is among the Company’s central operating
philosophies. And "Doing What is Right for the Customer" will remain one of Talbots guiding beacons as it steers a
course through the years ahead
