Talbots will open outlet stores next year

(This photo was taken from Talbots' online catalogue.)

Talbots Inc. chief executive Trudy Sullivan (right) said this morning that the Hingham clothier has signed leases to open 12 outlet stores next year, including one at the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets.

The shops will begin opening in late spring and feature merchandise that is priced about 40 percent lower than clothing in its other stores. Talbots, which already has some liquidation stores, plans to open about 30 upscale outlet shops over the next three years.

The premium outlet venture comes as Sullivan is in the midst of trying to turnaround the struggling retailer, which is known for its classic tailored looks and has seen its stock plunge and sales drop over the past year.

Since coming on board in the summer of 2007, Sullivan has closed the men's and kid's division and its business in the United Kingdom, along with cutting at least 10 percent of the staff at the headquarters. Talbots is also trying to sell off its J. Jill division, which it acquired just two years ago.

Sullivan described the strides Talbots is making, such as upgrading its merchandise and increasing customer contact, in the face of the challenging economic environment.

"We have only just begun on our journey that will clearly take us several years as we reinvent this brand," Sullivan said this morning to a sold-out meeting of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Women's Network Breakfast.
(By Jenn Abelson, Globe staff)