Retailers prepare for rush

WEST PITTSTON – With order slip in hand Troy Carter had room to roam in the igourmet.com warehouse where he pulled jars and packages from the shelves.

In another week he’ll have company as the online seller of fine foods, specialty cheeses and gifts adds workers to meet the expected demand of the holiday shopping season.

“We do half our business in the month of December,” said Spencer Chesman, igourmet.com founder and chief executive officer.

The company typically ships approximately 1,500 packages a day. The daily volume increases to around 6,000 and 200 seasonal helpers complement the 45-member full-time work force.

The number of temporary workers will be lower than in the past four years, not because of slowing sales but due to improved efficiency in the operation. Chesman said he expects an increase of 10 percent to 15 percent in sales from last year as a result of the new partnerships the company has made with companies such as Barnes & Noble, Martha Stewart and National Geographic.

Chesman’s sales projection falls within the expected holiday sales growth of 12 percent for online retailers, according to a report by Forrester Research. Sales will be $44 billion this season, despite what Forrester described as the slowest growth rate to date.

Online retailers are expected to have a better season than their brick-and-mortar counterparts, accounting for slightly more seasonal hirings. But both are affected by the economic crisis that has consumers cautious about their spending.

Department stores and specialty retailers have been equally cautious in their hiring. Manpower Inc. said wholesale and retail trade employers have posted the weakest hiring outlook since 1991.

Cory Guynn, manager of the Kohl’s department store in Wilkes-Barre Township said the company has added to its regular staff.

A spokeswoman for the chain based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., said the Kohl’s hiring this year is in line with hiring practices from last year. Each store adds between 25 and 45 new employees, depending upon the size of the store, said Elizabeth DeLuca, Kohl’s spokeswoman. Sales trends will determine the hours for the seasonal employees, she said.

Just as the Forrester report said many of the online sales are from people who have previously shopped online, many familiar faces will fill igourmet.com’s temporary rank.

“We’re going to hire over 100 people” from last year, said Lisa Griffiths, igourmet.com director of sales and marketing

They rate a call back after making it through the entire season last year and making their holiday bonus. Those who are returning are a mix of students, teachers and people looking to make extra income when igourmet runs three shifts for the holidays.

A new employer in this region, Internet powerhouse Amazon.com has been advertising for hundreds of workers for its distribution center in the Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Township.