John Lewis is gearing up for a bustling holiday season by recruiting 12,500 temporary workers across its stores.
- The hiring surge marks a 4,100 increase from last year’s recruitment, highlighting anticipated demand.
- JLP is responding to high seasonal demand, especially ahead of Black Friday and Christmas.
- Waitrose sees a 25% rise in Christmas product demand, prompting additional staffing needs.
- Warehouse and delivery jobs are essential to meet the growing online shopping trend.
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is actively setting the stage for the forthcoming holiday season by embarking on a significant hiring drive. The retail giant aims to recruit 12,500 temporary employees in an effort to effectively manage the expected surge in customer activity during this period. This hiring initiative reflects a considerable increase of 4,100 positions compared to the previous year’s figures, according to reports from City AM.
This strategic move comes in response to what JLP anticipates to be the most demanding phase of the year, with increased activity around Black Friday, Christmas, and the New Year. Charlotte Lock, customer director at JLP, emphasized the value their partners bring, stating: “Whether making sure you’re choosing the right headphones or wanting inspirational food ideas for entertaining, we know customers value the independent, trusted advice they get from our partners and that friendly, personal touch.”
Current sales trends reveal a robust demand for Christmas-related products, particularly in their Waitrose division. There has been a notable 25% year-on-year growth in Waitrose’s Christmas range along with a 20% increase in sales of holiday decorations at John Lewis. To address this upsurge, Waitrose is launching its recruitment drive to fill 7,700 positions across more than 300 locations.
JLP’s hiring approach is already in full swing within its department stores. With approximately 2,000 temporary roles opening across 34 John Lewis stores, the hiring process has commenced. Additionally, the expanding demand for online shopping necessitates broadening their workforce for logistics operations, creating 2,800 roles for warehouse employees and drivers.
John Lewis’s proactive hiring strategy exemplifies its preparation for the intensifying holiday demand.
