Nancy Talbot
Encyclopedia
Nancy Talbot was an American
businesswoman who co-founded the Talbots
women's retail
clothing chain with her husband, Rudolf Talbot.
Talbot was born Nancy Orr in Charlevoix, Michigan
, which was the location of her family's summer home. She was raised in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from The Shipley School
in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
, a prestigious private prep school
. Talbot went on to attend Radcliffe College
for one year, but left in 1944 to take a position with the Red Cross. The Red Cross assigned her to a military reconnaissance
unit in France
near the end of World War II
. It was in France where she met her future husband, Rudolf Talbot. The couple married in 1945.
The couple returned to the United States
. Her father-in-law
opened a Johnny Appleseed clothing store in Hingham, Massachusetts
, in 1945, but died suddenly, which forced Rudolf Talbot to take over the business. Rudolf Talbot dropped the Johnny Appleseed franchise in 1947, because he disliked the clothing he was selling. Rudolf and Nancy started a new clothing store, which they first called Talbots. The business soon moved to a single-family clapboard house in Hingham, Massachusetts. The couple painted the Talbots store's door red, which remains a trademark
of Talbots stores up to the present day.
Nancy and Rudolf opened three new stores in Connecticut
and Massachusetts
during the next 10 years in order to target female consumers who were relocating to the suburbs following World War II. Rudolf Talbot focused on expanding the Talbots company, while Nancy worked as the commpany's buyer
, purchasing agent and held creative control over the merchandise. They dropped their men's and children's clothing lines gradually to focus exclusively on women's apparel.
The Talbots sold their company, along with its four existing stores at the time, to General Mills
in 1973. Nancy Talbot remained at Talbots as a vice president
until her retirement
in 1983. By the time she retired, Talbots had grown to approximately 30 stores with a catalog circulation of more than 10 million copies per year. As of 2009, Talbots has 586 locations and more than $1.5 billion in revenue in 2009.
Her husband, Rudolf Talbot, died in 1987.
Nancy Talbot died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on August 30, 2009, at her home in Boulder, Colorado
, at the age of 89. She was survived by her two daughters, Polly and Jane, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businesswoman who co-founded the Talbots
Talbots
Talbots is a specialty retailer and direct marketer of women’s classic clothing, shoes and accessories. Established in 1947, the company sells items such as the blazer, trench, white shirt, ballet flats and pearls....
women's retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
clothing chain with her husband, Rudolf Talbot.
Talbot was born Nancy Orr in Charlevoix, Michigan
Charlevoix, Michigan
Charlevoix is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 2,994. It is the county seat of Charlevoix County....
, which was the location of her family's summer home. She was raised in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated from The Shipley School
The Shipley School
The Shipley School is a coeducational, independent, college-preparatory day school with approximately 835 students in pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade...
in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Bryn Mawr from Welsh for "big hill") is a census-designated place in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, just west of Philadelphia along Lancaster Avenue and the border with Delaware County...
, a prestigious private prep school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
. Talbot went on to attend Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
for one year, but left in 1944 to take a position with the Red Cross. The Red Cross assigned her to a military reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
unit in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
near the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was in France where she met her future husband, Rudolf Talbot. The couple married in 1945.
The couple returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Her father-in-law
Father-in-law
A parent-in-law is a person who has a legal affinity with another by being the parent of the other's spouse. Many cultures and legal systems impose duties and responsibilities on persons connected by this relationship...
opened a Johnny Appleseed clothing store in Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
, in 1945, but died suddenly, which forced Rudolf Talbot to take over the business. Rudolf Talbot dropped the Johnny Appleseed franchise in 1947, because he disliked the clothing he was selling. Rudolf and Nancy started a new clothing store, which they first called Talbots. The business soon moved to a single-family clapboard house in Hingham, Massachusetts. The couple painted the Talbots store's door red, which remains a trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
of Talbots stores up to the present day.
Nancy and Rudolf opened three new stores in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
during the next 10 years in order to target female consumers who were relocating to the suburbs following World War II. Rudolf Talbot focused on expanding the Talbots company, while Nancy worked as the commpany's buyer
Buyer
When someone gets characterised by their role as buyer of certain assets, the term "buyer" gets new meaning:A "buyer" or merchandiser is a person who purchases finished goods, typically for resale, for a firm, government, or organization...
, purchasing agent and held creative control over the merchandise. They dropped their men's and children's clothing lines gradually to focus exclusively on women's apparel.
The Talbots sold their company, along with its four existing stores at the time, to General Mills
General Mills
General Mills, Inc. is an American Fortune 500 corporation, primarily concerned with food products, which is headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. The company markets many well-known brands, such as Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Colombo, Totinos, Jeno's, Pillsbury, Green...
in 1973. Nancy Talbot remained at Talbots as a vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
until her retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
in 1983. By the time she retired, Talbots had grown to approximately 30 stores with a catalog circulation of more than 10 million copies per year. As of 2009, Talbots has 586 locations and more than $1.5 billion in revenue in 2009.
Her husband, Rudolf Talbot, died in 1987.
Nancy Talbot died from complications of Alzheimer’s disease on August 30, 2009, at her home in Boulder, Colorado
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
, at the age of 89. She was survived by her two daughters, Polly and Jane, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.