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Talbots was founded in 1947 by Nancy and Rudolph Talbot with the original store in Hingham, Mass. It became known as “the store with the red door.” At first, Talbots was a direct mail business and the couple distributed 3,000 black-and-white fliers to names they got from The New Yorker magazine.
The store was tailored to women moving into the working place who needed professional attire, and had few resources, Gould said.
“(Nancy) started this company to service the working woman and it turned into this huge corporation,” Gould said.
Today, Gould said she can go from selling leggings to a teenager, to selling $3,000 worth of formal wear as a personal shopper for a single person .
The store will celebrate its 35th anniversary in Chappaqua on April 5 with raffle items worth $50, $100 and $500, which are sponsored by neighboring stores. There will also be special offers for customers.
Like many stores in Westchester, the harsh winter weather hurt business in late 2013 and early 2014. Despite that, Gould said 2013 was a good year for sales, and that they hope to have a record setting year in 2014. She said events like April 5 will help them get there.
Jill Notarpole of Chappaqua has been shopping at the store for years and knows the employees by name.
“I come here because I like their clothes,” said Notarpole, who volunteers for the American Cancer Society. “I think they’re the best clothes shop in town.”
Talbots is on 400 King Street in Chappaqua. The 35th anniversary celebration will be held in the store April 5 and the raffle will be drawn at 3 p.m.
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