The company will close approximately 78 stores, consisting of 66Kids units and 12 Mens stores. The decision to exit the childrens'and menswear business came after a strategic business reviewannounced in October revealed that the concepts "did notdemonstrate the potential to deliver acceptable long-term return oninvestment," according to a press release. Talbots Kids was foundedas a catalog in 1989, and opened its first store the next year. Thefirst Talbots Mens catalog was issued in 2002, with its first storeopening in 2003.

"This is a very important strategic move that will greatlycontribute to our ability to focus and reinvigorate our core brandsand provide sustainable long-term shareholder value," said Trudy F.Sullivan, president and CEO. "By exiting these concepts, we canfocus exclusively on our company's core strength – the age 35-plusfemale market, where we believe there is significant opportunityfor profitable growth in both our Talbots and J. Jill brands."

Currently, though Talbots and J. Jill sales are trending belowexpectations, the company admitted. The chain is continuing toevaluate all store expansion.