As the holiday season approaches, many people and businesses are making plans. This year, Target Corp. (TGT, Financial) is not leaving anything to chance. The retailer announced Sept. 13 it is stocking up on staff in order to ensure the shopping experience this holiday season runs smoothly. The retailer is hopeful additional staff in its stores will help win over many more customers with easy-to-find goods as well as unique and fast service.
The holiday season is an important time for most retailers, and making the most of it is always a big priority. The retail giant says it will be hiring at least 100,000 new team members to work during the holidays. The new staff will be deployed across the country in each of its 1,816 stores, which will mark a nearly 40% increase in the number of staff from the last holiday season.
So, in case you are looking for some quick bucks to enjoy some poker online or any other vocational activity you want, this will be a great chance for you. The seasonal hiring is one of the biggest recruitment drives by Target ever. In 2016, the company hired approximately 70,000 people. The company also said it will be fully restocking its shelves in order to ensure a smooth process for customers who order online and pick up their items at the nearest location. An additional 4,500 people will be hired to facilitate faster and more convenient packing and shipping.
According to Janna Potts, Target's chief stores officer, hiring more staff for the busiest time of the year will make shopping easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Over the last several years, Target has strengthened its online business as wekk. The company has seen online orders skyrocket. Last month, the company reported online sales jumped 32% due to fast deliveries as well as a better shopping experience for online customers.
Target also announced a $7 billion investment to expand and improve its services over the next several years. The retailer is looking to remodel some of its stores, open new, smaller locations in urban areas and, most importantly, make crucial investments in expanding its e-commerce business.
Target is now the first major retailer in the country to announce its hiring numbers for the upcoming holiday season; other major retailers like Amazon.com (AMZN, Financial), J.C. Penny (JCP, Financial) and Macy’s (M, Financial) have not. Analysts believe Target is keen on developing the competitive edge this holiday season, so it will be interesting to see how things play out. Sales during the holiday season are, however, expected to slow down. The National Retail Federation is projecting an increase of 3.7% compared to a 3.8% increase last year. Either way, Target is ready to make the best of it.
Disclosure: I do not own any shares of any stocks mentioned in this article.
