Retailer to Hire Seasonal Associates to Meet
Demands of Increased Online Shopping
Retailer Increasing Availability of Unexpected
Gifts and Preparing Stores for Safe Shopping
The holidays have arrived at Walmart and the retailer has
adapted to meet the evolving needs of its customers who plan to
shop differently this holiday season. After closely watching
changing customer shopping behaviors and speaking with customers
over the past six months, today the retailer is announcing how it
plans to address three key shopping trends expected for this unique
holiday season: an increase in online shopping, evolving wish
lists, and the need for a fast, easy – and safe – shopping
experience.
Seasonal Hiring to Meet Increased
Online Shopping
To prepare for an expected increase in online shopping this
holiday season, Walmart will hire more than 20,000 seasonal
associates in its eCommerce fulfillment centers across the country.
Starting today, interested applicants can visit
walmartcareers.com/fcjobs or text “FC” to 240240 to apply for a
variety of positions, including order fillers and power equipment
operators, that begin at a starting hourly rate ranging from $15.75
up to $23.75 based on location, position and schedule. Seasonal
employment will begin immediately upon hiring, with shifts
scheduled as quickly as 48 hours from applying, and continue
through Jan. 1, 2021. In many instances, these positions will have
the opportunity to convert to regular employment.
These seasonal positions in Walmart’s eCommerce fulfillment
centers follow the company’s hiring of more than 500,000 new
associates since March across its stores and supply chain to ensure
the retailer could provide essential items to customers during the
COVID-19 pandemic. With these new hires over the last six months,
its new seasonal associates, and ongoing hiring of full-time and
part-time positions as needed in its stores, Walmart will be
staffed and ready to serve customers for the holiday season.
“The holidays are always a special time, and this year we think
the season will mean even more to our customers. As more of them
turn to online shopping, we want to ensure we’re staffed and ready
to help deliver that special gift to their loved ones while
continuing to fulfill our customer’s everyday needs,” said Greg
Smith, executive vice president, supply chain for Walmart U.S.
“We’re also proud to be able to continue to provide employment
opportunities across the country when it’s needed most.”
Offering Unexpected Gifts Now for Early
Shopping
How customers shop isn’t the only difference Walmart expects
this holiday season, but, also what customers will be shopping for.
As customer shopping habits have changed over the past six months,
the retailer is increasing availability of unexpected holiday gifts
that reflect lifestyles in this “new normal,” including athleisure,
loungewear and sleepwear for the family, outdoor grills, bicycles
and exercise equipment and outdoor sporting equipment. And, to
ensure it has great gifts for the newest member of many families
since the pandemic began – pets – Walmart has increased its
assortment and supply of pet products in its stores and online and
is ready to sell over 3 million comfy pet beds.
To ensure it offers gifts expected to top wish lists during this
unique holiday season, Walmart has increased inventory in
electronics, with a focus on TVs, laptops and video games. As
America’s Best Toy Shop, Walmart will have over 1,300 new toys,
including puzzles, games and Legos, and more than 800
Walmart-exclusives this holiday season. And, for those customers
spending more time together in the kitchen, Walmart has expanded
its Holiday Bake Center to more of its stores and is increasing
availability of popular kitchen appliances, like the KitchenAid
Plus Stand Mixer.
Walmart is offering these hot holiday gifts now in its stores
and on Walmart.com. This move is based on research insights that
show 87% of customers who shopped Walmart over the past six months
say they plan to seek out deals and great prices earlier this year
to better prepare for the holiday season, with 1 in 3 customers
planning to start their holiday shopping before early
November*.
“Over the past six months, our customers have been shopping
differently, and we expect that will continue into the most
important shopping season of the year – the holidays,” said Scott
McCall, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer,
Walmart U.S. “We’ve heard from our customers that many plan on
starting their holiday shopping well before Black Friday, and that
they’re looking for gifts that fit their current lifestyle. So,
we’ve adjusted our strategy to adapt to these new shopping
preferences – we’re offering more of what they want now, earlier
than ever, and all at the best prices.”
And, for customers wanting the best savings of the season
earlier than ever, Walmart is promising an all-new Black Friday
experience. The retailer will spread traditional Black Friday
savings throughout the season and have more deals available online.
More details will be shared soon.
A Safe Shopping
Experience
The health and safety of its customers and associates is
Walmart’s top priority. Over the past six months, the retailer has
taken many steps to help ensure a safe in-store shopping experience
for both its customers and associates, which will continue through
the holiday season, including:
- Reduced Store Hours: Walmart stores, Supercenters and
Neighborhood Markets will continue to be closed to customers
overnight to give associates extra time to clean and sanitize
stores and stock shelves.
- Required Face Coverings: Associates and customers will
continue to be required to wear masks or other face coverings while
in Walmart stores.
- Sneeze Guards: Plastic barriers will remain in Walmart
pharmacies, at checkout and at other points of sale to distance
customers and associates.
- Traffic Management: To manage customer flow and traffic,
Walmart has vestibules divided into separate entrances and exits,
social distancing floor decals and airs overhead announcements
urging proper hygiene and the need to socially distance.
The retailer also offers several convenient, easy ways for
customers to safely find all of the gifts on their list, whether
they prefer to shop in store or on Walmart.com, including:
- Contactless pickup and delivery services such as:
- Pickup and Delivery on more than 160,000 items that can
be picked up or delivered as soon as the same day.
- Express Delivery on a wide assortment of items delivered
within two hours, pending eligibility and customer location.
- Free NextDay or Free Two-Day Shipping on online
orders over $35, pending eligibility and customer location.
- Contactless payment in stores: Customers can pay in a
Walmart store contact-free on any register when using Walmart Pay
via the Walmart app.
- Walmart+ benefits: Customers can also sign up for a
Walmart+ membership for $98 a year to receive unlimited free
delivery from stores, including on gifts, like electronics and
toys, fuel discounts and access to tools, like Scan & Go, that
let customers scan their items as they shop and pay using Walmart
Pay for a quick, easy, touch-free payment experience.
*Walmart customer data
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save
money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores,
online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, over 265
million customers and members visit approximately 11,500 stores
under 56 banners in 27 countries and eCommerce websites. With
fiscal year 2020 revenue at $524 billion, Walmart employs 2.2
million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in
sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity.
Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting
http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at
http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/walmart.
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Tara House, 800-331-0085
Walmart (NYSE:WMT)
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