Walmart looks to hire 20,000 workers to help pack and ship holiday orders this year

Walmart will hire 20,000 seasonal employees who will help pack and ship online purchases at its fulfillment centers as the company anticipates more holiday shopping to shift online during the covid pandemic. It marks the first time in five years that the big-box retailer has announced significant holiday hiring. Walmart is adding the seasonal workers, even after its pandemic-fueled spree.

Since March 2020, it has hired more than 500,000 employees across its United States stores and supply chain to keep up with demand for a wide range of items, from groceries to hair color and bicycles. Over the past few years, Walmart has largely given extra hours to its existing employees to keep up with the pace of holiday shopping. However, this year the pandemic could complicate how the season unfolds.

New covid cases are rising by a weekly average of 5% or more in 29 states. And public health officials are concerned those numbers could grow as colder temperatures force people inside. Walmart will stretch Black Friday sales throughout the holiday season and have more deals online, rather than squeezing them into a single day that jams up stores.

Holiday sales could rise by 1% to 1.5% this year.

However, actual spending will hinge on how much high-income consumers spend on lavish gifts and how much lower-income families pull back because of unemployment or uncertainty. Many Americans will begin buying holiday gifts before Halloween as traditions like doorbuster sales and one-day Black Friday deals fade away. Walmart will remain shut on Thanksgiving Day.

Walmart anticipates that many trends that began during the pandemic may continue or intensify over the typically busy shopping season. For example, people’s holiday wish lists may reflect their new and simpler routines. They may ask for items like exercise equipment, since they are not going to the gym. Customers may buy their family and friends athleisure or sleepwear for lounging around at home.

And people may treat their new work-from-home buddy to a cozy new dog bed or squeaky toy. Over the past months, Walmart customers have been shopping differently, and the company expects that will continue into the most important shopping season of the year.

Walmart customers plan on starting their holiday shopping well before Black Friday, and they are looking for gifts that fit their current lifestyle.

Other retailers have begun offering glimpses of what they see ahead as well. Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette predicted consumers will buy beauty and home items as people exchange fewer experiential gifts like a spa gift card or movie tickets. Lowe’s sped up the installation of store lockers in major metro markets, anticipating people may prefer to retrieve their own online purchases of Christmas decor or a power tool gift without interacting with employees or other customers.

Home Depot has teamed with Pinterest to inspire homemade gift ideas, an option that may appeal to the growing number of Americans tackling DIY projects or tightening their belt because of the recession. And numerous companies are trying to reduce crowds and encourage shopping by extending promotions over a number of months. Home Depot’s Black Friday specials will last nearly two months.

Target’s holiday deals will start in October 2020. Amazon will hold its delayed sales event, Prime Day, on October 13th 2020. Some aspects of the Walmart shopping experience will remain the same, however. Walmart will keep up safety procedures, such as a requiring masks. Walmart will also continue shortened store hours, something that will keep stores clean and stocked.