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Target last year hired 70,000 in-store workers for the holiday
period, hiring cautiously along with others such as Macy's Inc <M.N.>,
as most retailers planned for subdued sales amid growing
competition from Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O>.
Retailers make nearly a third of their annual sales and generate
nearly 40 percent of their profits during the holiday selling
season, which starts a day after Thanksgiving and continues into
early January.
Target also said it will hire 4,500 people for the season at its
distribution and fulfillment centers, which supply products to
its 1,816 stores and fulfill online orders.
The company had hired 7,500 workers to work at the centers last
year as it required additional staffing for three new
facilities. Target also said it had "streamlined operational
processes" at the facilities this year, requiring lesser
staffing.
The retailer has been making preparations to boost its online
business and take on Amazon and other online rivals, which offer
the same products at lower prices and have made shopping more
convenient.
Target said last month it will roll out ship-from-store facility
to more stores ahead of the holiday season, allowing more than
1,400 stores to ship products directly to customers.
It is also extending Restock, its next-day home delivery
service, to more markets ahead of the holidays.
(Reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju
Samuel and Shounak Dasgupta)
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