Area Retailers Already Hiring For The Holidays
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The temperatures in the 90s Thursday may have made you look twice when seeing snow blower ads in the newspaper. But if you thought that was odd, then listen to this: Holiday hiring has already started for some major local retailers.
"We're anticipating a very busy Christmas...and we're looking at hiring already," said Steve Griffin, the general manager of Herberger's in Edina.
One of the reasons seasonal hiring is in full gear is because people are already shopping for the holidays.
"You get a better selection right now," Griffin said.
When you come, they'll be ready.
Griffin said he hires new workers and trains them early so they are ready for the long holiday shopping season.
Herberger's in Edina is looking to hire 60 people, and it's the same story at the other six Twin Cities stores.
They say they're looking to hire for 4-6 months, but it could lead to permanent employment.
And if you haven't noticed, there's been a trend to the change in shopping.
"What's Thanksgiving now, it's become Halloween; what's Halloween, it's become the start of school," said George John, the dean of the Carlson School of Management.
He says the research proves it. The holiday season starts earlier and earlier. Why? Because the fourth quarter serves as the make-or-break time for retailers.
"When you have the season coming along, you can't afford to be short staffed," John said.
The dean says just watch and see. It won't take long for other major retailers to track Herberger's hiring and follow suit.
"In business, we call it a prisoner's dilemma," John said. "We'd all rather start day after Thanksgiving, but somebody breaks ranks and starts the day before."
After that, everybody starts the day before.
Also hiring for the holidays are Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works.
In an online poll conducted by the research firm BIG Insight, 10.2 percent of people say they are planning on spending more during the holidays this year than they did last year.
