Women's clothier Talbots' has both on-line presence and in some cities, like Boise, a bricks and…read moremortar retail store. Boise's is in the Towne Square Mall and hooray for this - you access directly from the parking lot and don't have to go inside the mall. This would be 5 star review if only for the nice women who work at the Boise location and provide great service. My deductions from perfect score are for Talbots corporate policy of gamesmanship with timing of promotions making a customer need to play "gotcha" to stay on top of them. And for inconsistency in quality or sizing of garments, even in the same style and season, from color to color. And also for the reduction in the quality of the fabrics and construction used in their casual wear in the last decade. Even with those demerits, during sales the value is hard to beat and they offer one of the broadest size ranges in the industry. It may be for off the rack, mass market wear, only Ralph Lauren offers sizes from 0 Petite through Plus size 24 as does Talbots.
BRAVA FOR "NORDY'S QUALITY" IN-STORE SERVICE: The staff at the Boise location do a stellar job of keeping the store well organized, merchandise nicely displayed and they are tip-top professional "Nordstrom-like" in level of service to shoppers. For example, if you're in a fitting room and need another color or size or want to look at item XYZ to go with the ABC you have on to try, they'll fetch it and bring it to you and offer their opinion when you need it for fit. If they're out of your size they will happily offer to order it for you through the store to be delivered to your home so you don't have to pay shipping. They also make returns, if you have ordered things via Talbot's website that need to go back, easy to do.
THEIR SHOPPER & THEIR MERCHANDISE: While Talbots is thought of as a "more mature woman's retailer", the fact is 30ish seems about the age many women discover Talbots has something for them if they shop wisely and it continues into every decade thereafter for we who appreciate updated-classics styling. Think 5-pocket jeans, all-season wool suiting, cashmere pullovers, 100% Pima cotton tees, tailored blazers, button-front shirts, pencil skirts, trousers, seasonal sweaters and outwear from casual jackets to Italian wool full length coats. I discovered the brand in my early 30's when working in a corporate job and the Talbots was across from Nordstrom where I did most of my buying. I hate to shop and I loved that Talbots staff, like Nordy's, made (and makes) it easy for me. Although I wonder when it happened that I got old enough to find some of Talbots things would be fun "If I were still young enough to get away with this...". Think this Fall's stud embellished skinny ankle-jeans. ("Aren't these GREAT?" I asked my husband. He answered, "For you they would have been twenty years ago." And yet, I stay married.)
ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL: Talbots offers Petite sizing from 0 to 16. Also Misses regular sizing from 2 to 16. And Women's Plus sizing from 16 to 24. For availability, size Misses 2's are not stocked in all their retail stores. (Boise has some but from personal experience I can say it is "you snooze, you loose" to get to them before they're gone.) Except for big 'flagship' stores, they do not offer Plus sizes in store so they need to be ordered via website. Almost all stores, even Boise's small footprint, have a Petite section from 0 to 14. Tailoring services are not available.
SALES: I can't imagine anyone would pay full price for anything at Talbots given their frequent 20% or 30% off sales for current season merchandise - playing the cat and mouse of watchful waiting - provide good buys and at times even 40% off on a single item. If you sign up for the "Classic Awards" program or their credit card, either one, you get 40% off on any single day of shopping in the month of your birthday.
ACCESSIBILITY: Talbots does a better job than most retailers, maybe only Nordy's get's it fully right, for accessibility between product displays. There is always one fully accessible fitting room, true for Boise store as well. The Loo always is accessible too, although at times getting there is blocked with "stuff" in the Boise store.
PARKING: This is located in the Towne Square Mall roughly between Cheesecake Factory and Macy's, so parking is in the mall lot on that side.
NICE EXTRA: The stores have a couple of comfy seats for non-shopping others to sit and wait.