and the introduction or spread of any COVID-19 variants. For a further discussion on the risks, uncertainties and actions we have taken in response to COVID-19, refer to Item 1A, Risk Factors, and Part II, Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Human Capital Management
As of January 30, 2021, we had approximately 8,400 employees, including 4,900 full-time and 3,500 part-time. In the United States, there were no employees subject to union contracts. In Canada, we employ approximately 20 warehouse employees under a union contract, which expires in October 2022. The Company’s success depends on our ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain qualified management, administrative, product design and development and sales and marketing personnel to support existing operations and future growth.
Compensation Programs and Employee Benefits
We believe that pay, benefits and incentives make up the total rewards package and provide employees and their families with financial protection and security for the future. Our compensation programs are designed to encourage and reward our executives and associates for superior performance and drive long-term shareholder value. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to our employees that provides, among other benefits, competitive salaries and wages; comprehensive health insurance coverage to eligible employees; retirement plans; education assistance; paid time off; and charitable giving opportunities through the Caleres Cares Charitable Trust, including volunteer opportunities and our matching gift program.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Caleres was founded on the insight that people are unique, and we are proud of our inclusive and collaborative environment where differences are celebrated. We believe that Caleres should be as diverse as our customers. We seek and engage talented individuals from all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, lifestyles and belief systems.
During 2020, we made a commitment to our employees, partners and customers to recharge our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including refining our diversity strategy, creating a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, and providing mandatory unconscious bias training for all employees. In October 2020, we hired a senior-level executive to drive these initiatives, as well as oversee the Company’s affirmative action plans and monitor employee engagement.
ESG Initiative
We made significant progress on our environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) initiative during 2020. We remain focused on using sustainable materials in the footwear we source and sell. During the first quarter of 2021, we plan to publish our inaugural corporate ESG report, which will detail our ESG strategy, highlight our accomplishments, provide key disclosures and discuss both our short and long-term goals for sustainable products and practices.
Competition
With many companies operating e-commerce and traditional brick and mortar retail shoe stores and shoe departments, we compete in a highly fragmented market. In addition, the continuing consumer shift to online and mobile shopping has increased price competition and requires retailers to lower shipping costs charged to customers, improve shipping speeds and optimize mobile platforms. Our competitors include local, regional and national shoe store chains, department stores, discount stores, mass merchandisers, numerous independent retail operators of various sizes and e-commerce businesses. Quality of products and services, store location, trend-right merchandise selection and availability of brands, pricing, marketing, advertising and consumer service are all factors that impact retail competition.
In addition, our wholesale customers sell shoes purchased from competing footwear suppliers. Those competing footwear suppliers own and license brands, many of which are well-known and marketed aggressively. Many retailers, who are our wholesale customers, source directly from factories or through agents. The wholesale footwear business has low barriers to entry, which further intensifies competition.
FAMOUS FOOTWEAR
Our Famous Footwear segment is one of America’s leading family-branded footwear retailers, with $1.3 billion in net sales for 2020. Famous Footwear employs an omni-channel approach to reach consumers wherever they want to shop, including our growing e-commerce channel through famousfootwear.com and famousfootwear.ca, as well as over 900