Dive Brief:
- Target once again plans to hire about 100,000 seasonal in-store and supply chain employees with starting pay ranging from $15 to $24 an hour, the company said in a Monday announcement. The company has held steady on its holiday hiring goal for the past several years.
- To meet anticipated holiday demand, the company said current employees will have an opportunity to work extra hours. Target said about 45,000 of its 400,000 employees are part of its On Demand program, which allows them to pick up extra hours that align with their schedules. Those requests will be prioritized ahead of hiring new employees.
- The retailer also said Monday that Target Circle Week will return from Oct. 6 through Oct. 12. Additionally, the retailer said it plans to offer a holiday assortment that’s 50% larger than last year, with “thousands of items” available for $5 and $10.
Dive Insight:
Target’s holiday hiring and merchandising announcement comes 100 days before Christmas and Hanukkah. For most retailers, the busiest and most important time of the year — the last three months of the year — is around the corner. Target has held steady on its holiday hiring plans in recent years.
“The holiday season is a special time at Target, made brighter by our team,” Emily Hebert, senior vice president of field and operations human resources, said in a statement. “Our team members are at the center of delivering Target’s differentiated shopping experience which is why we are so committed to providing industry-leading pay, flexible scheduling options, comprehensive benefits and opportunities for career development.”
Most of the seasonal employees will fill in-store positions, including front-of-store attendants or fulfillment experts, who will scan and bag items, stock products and be tapped to support services like order pickup and drive up.
Once existing team needs have been prioritized, Target said leaders at its nearly 2,000 stores and more than 50 supply chain facilities will advance hiring decisions to meet local demand. People interested in an in-store seasonal job can apply online starting Sept. 25. Target said it’s already hiring for supply chain roles through its regular online career portal. On the supply chain side, the company is hiring for warehouse operations roles.
Retail’s traditional wave of holiday worker hiring is underway with Spirit Halloween, Joann, Bath & Body Works and Burlington recently announcing their plans to staff up for the holidays. Kohl’s plans a national hiring event on Thursday and Friday, while Macy’s has scheduled a similar event on Sept. 26.
From a merchandising and promotional perspective, Target also shared several upcoming initiatives. Aside from the return of Target Circle Week, the retailer plans to bring back its Deal of the Day during Circle Week and again starting Nov. 1 through the rest of the holiday season for Target Circle members. The Deal of the Day promotion offers one-day-only deals.
And beyond that, the company said it's adding Bullseye Playground shop sections in nearly 200 stores and online. The new sections will offer Target-themed holiday gifts and company-branded items — like a giant plush of its dog mascot — with most items under $25.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a new statement from Target.
