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Retailers have struggled this year, with mall traffic declining
across the United States as stores in states like California
continue to operate under severe restrictions to combat the
spread of COVID-19.
The number of people visiting Dick's outlets declined nearly 54%
in May, according to data firm Placer.ai. While this has since
improved, traffic is still about 9% lower than last year, the
data shows.
Pennsylvania-based Dick's expects in-store foot traffic to
improve from earlier this year, with demand for products like
kayaks, golf clubs and bicycles up as many people turn to
non-contact sports. Still, online sales are surging:
second-quarter e-commerce sales nearly tripled, it said
recently.
Ship-to-store orders - where customers buy online and pick up
from a store of their choosing - accounted for three-quarters of
all online orders in the quarter, Dick's said.
The "vast majority" of new holiday-season hires will work in
stores, fulfilling curbside pick-up and ship-to-store orders or
manning cash registers. Only about 250 of the new workers will
be sent to distribution centers, Dick's Chief People Officer
Julie Lodge-Jarrett told Reuters.
As part of its hiring pitch, Dick's plans to pay workers 15%
more than at least the minimum wage of each state through the
end of the year, also offering them discounts on Dicks's goods
of up to 25%.
"In the vast majority of the states we already pay above minimum
wage, even for our entry level position," Lodge-Jarrett said.
The company said it would kick off most of its hiring nationwide
on Oct. 14.
(Reporting by Richa Naidu; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
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