Two public companies are to be analyzed and compared - Essay Example

The Company has also ventured into the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. It focuses on collections of classic sportswear, sweaters, accessories and shoes,casual wear, dresses, coats, consisting almost of its own branded merchandise(Ross,P 723) in misses, petites, woman's and woman's petite sizes. Its kids section called Talbots Kids concentrates on the assortment of clothing and accessories for infants, toddlers, boys and girls. The adult division, Talbots Mens, caters to needs for men's sportswear and dress furnishings.

Additionally, Talbots' customers can also make their purchases online at www.talbots.com. In terms of expansion, the Company acquired has purchased the J. Jill Group, Inc. in May 2006(Irwin, P. 52). As of the first month of 2006, the Company already has 1,083 stores in forty seven states, Canada, the District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom. . ng three Talbots Woman stores in Canada), 12 Talbots Mens stores, two Talbots Collection stores, and 23 Talbots Outlet stores (including one Outlet store in Canada).

The Company distributes 48 million catalogs in one year alone. Talbots Petites, Woman and Kids stores generally measure 2,600, 3,100 and 3,500 gross square feet, respectively. Talbots Accessories and Shoes stores generally measure 1,800 gross square feet. Talbots stores is devoted to selling space (including fitting rooms), with the balance allocated to stockroom and other non-selling space. In some market locations, the Company has created its superstores by placing 2 or more other Talbots' concepts near a Misses store(Meigs, P 376).

As of first month of January 2006, there are 127 superstores functioning. Also, Talbots' flagship stores are Misses stores, which are operated to generate awareness of its merchandise in metropolitan locations, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, London and Toronto. Furthermore, the Company maximizes Talbots Outlet stores that are separate from its retail stores in order to provide for controlled and effective clearance of store and catalog merchandise remaining from each sale event.

During 2005, the direct marketing segment represented approximately 15% of total Company sales, with the Internet channel comprising 42% of direct marketing sales.Stein Mart Inc. Stein Mart is engage in the business of chain retailing. The company is offering the fashion merchandise, service and presentation of a better department or specialty store(Bernstein, P 236). Its business is spread out from California to New York concentrating its focused assortment of merchandise featuring moderate to designer brand-name apparel for women and men, as well as