The Talbots, Inc. Announces Senior Executive Appointment

Business Wire, June 17, 2008

Gregory Poole Named EVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer

HINGHAM, Mass. -- The Talbots, Inc. (NYSE: TLB) today announced that it has named Gregory Poole Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. In this newly created position, Mr. Poole will oversee the global manufacturing, sourcing, transportation and distribution centers for the Talbots and J. Jill brands, reporting directly to Talbots President and Chief Executive Officer, Trudy F. Sullivan.

"Greg is a strong and proven supply chain executive, who brings a significant track record of implementing results-driven process improvements," said Ms. Sullivan. "He will be an invaluable asset in helping us to optimize our supply chain to generate greater efficiencies across the organization and improve the Company's overall operational and financial performance."

Mr. Poole, 46, brings extensive supply chain management expertise in specialty retail from senior executive positions at Ann Taylor, Gap. Inc., Esprit de Corp., and The North Face, Inc. Mr. Poole spent over thirteen years at Gap Inc., where he led a global team responsible for managing the worldwide network of sourcing offices and vendors as well as the development of global sourcing strategies and alignment of organizational processes with industry best practices. Most recently, he served as SVP, Chief Procurement Officer of Ann Taylor Stores Corporation, where he spearheaded the development and implementation of a multi-year profit improvement initiative, addressing the company's real estate portfolio, store operations, workforce structure, finance and procurement practices.

Mr. Poole holds a degree in Engineering from Auckland Technical Institute and completed the Executive Education program from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business. Currently residing in New York, Mr. Poole will relocate to the Boston area with his wife to be based in Talbots Hingham office.

The Talbots, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer and direct marketer of women's apparel, shoes and accessories. The Company currently operates stores in 871 locations in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, with 595 locations under the Talbots brand name and 276 locations under the J. Jill brand name. Both brands target the age 35 plus customer population. Talbots brand on-line shopping site is located at www.talbots.com and the J. Jill brand on-line shopping site is located at www.jjill.com.

The foregoing contains forward-looking information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as "expect," "achieve," "plan," "look," "believe," "anticipate," "outlook," "will," "would," "guidance," or similar statements or variations of such terms. All of the information concerning our financial outlook (including future profitability, future comparable stores sales, future earnings and other future financial performance or operating measures), future credit facilities, future merchandise purchases, future cash needs, and other future financial performance or financial position constitutes forward-looking information.

Our forward-looking statements are based on a series of expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about our Company which involve substantial risks and uncertainty, including assumptions and projections concerning our internal plan including our budget for regular-price and markdown selling and operating cash flow for forward periods. All of our forward-looking statements are as of the date of this release only. The Company can give no assurance that such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially from our forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake or plan to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in plans, assumptions, estimates or projections, or other circumstances occurring after the date of this release, even if such results, changes or circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information will not be realized.

Any public statements or disclosures by us following this release which modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained in or accompanying this release will be deemed to modify or supersede such statements in or accompanying this release.

Our forward-looking statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties as to future events which may or may not occur, including the following risks: the impact of the continued deterioration in the U.S. economic environment, including continued negative impact on consumer discretionary spending, the disruption and significant tightening in the U.S. credit and lending markets, recessionary and inflationary pressures, high energy prices, and declining value of the U.S. dollar; our ability to accurately estimate and forecast future regular-price and markdown selling and operating cash flow; achieving the Company's sales plan for the year for each of the Talbots and J. Jill brands; achieving the Company's operating cash flow plan for the year; successfully executing the Company's strategic initiatives, including anticipated lower inventory levels, expected operating expense and other cost reductions, the success of the new promotional cadence for the Talbots brand, reduced markdown exposure and improved gross margins, the successful closing of the Talbots Kids and Talbots Mens business concepts and closing of other underperforming stores; continued ability to purchase merchandise on open account purchase terms at expected levels; obtaining letter of credit facilities for merchandise purchases from vendors who require such facilities; the Company's ability to obtain any necessary increases in its credit facilities as may be needed from time to time; the Company's ability to reduce spending as needed; and the Company's ability to continue to satisfy its financial covenants under its existing debt agreements. In each case, actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking information.