Established in 1947, Talbots is a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of womenÕs classic clothing, shoes and fashion accessories. The company is known for providing gracious service and a quality selection of timeless wardrobe essentials in a broad range of sizes. Rudolf and Nancy Talbot opened their first shop in Hingham, Mass., a quaint town not far from Boston, in 1947. Their retail and catalog enterprise flourished and, with five stores in upscale outskirts like Hingham, Duxbury and Lenox, they sold the company to General Mills in 1973. Expansion ensued up and down the East Coast, but when General Mills divested its Specialty Retail Division, Talbots was acquired by the Japanese retailing conglomerate JUSCO Co., Ltd. (now ®ON Co., Ltd.) in 1988. Talbots went public in November of 1993 and was acquired by Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm specializing in consumer and retail investments, in August of 2012. At the end of fiscal 2012, the company operated 504 Talbots stores throughout the U.S. (45 states) and Canada, including 432 Talbots stores (U.S. and Canada), 56 Talbots Upscale Outlet stores (U.S.) and 16 Talbots Clearance stores (15 in U.S.; one in Canada). Customer Profile The Talbots customer is smart and well-educated, with the majority professionally employed in a range of fields. SheÕs active in and passionate about her community. Ageless in style and attitude, she appreciates classic styling and values quality workmanship. __