"We're looking for dedicated, customer-centric employees who will strive to help shoppers deliver a great Christmas for the little ones in their lives whenever, wherever and however they choose to shop with us this holiday season," said Mark Eberly, vice president of human resources for Toys 'R' Us, U.S.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Toys 'R' Us, the world's largest specialty toy store chain, on Tuesday announced plans to hire 45,000 workers at its 877 U.S. stores and distribution centers for the 2014 holidays, more than doubling its total workforce. That includes about 1,500 employees at 26 stores in Ohio, including more than 500 in the Cleveland/Akron area, a company spokeswoman said.
The jobs include sales associates, stock crew and omni-channel fulfillment teams, as well as distribution center workers and department managers.
The news comes days after rival Walmart announced it is hiring 60,000 seasonal workers and offering additional hours to its current employees for the holidays.
Toys 'R' Us broke rank with other retailers last year, opening its doors for Black Friday sales at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving, three hours ahead of other stores opening at 8 p.m. That prompted a national debate on whether Black Friday sales were getting too commercial, or if retailers were simply responding to what consumers said they wanted.
Clik here to view.
View full sizeToys 'R' Us wants to hire 45,000 seasonal workers this year, including about 1,500 at its 26 stores in Ohio. "We're looking for dedicated, customer-centric employees who will strive to help shoppers deliver a great Christmas for the little ones in their lives whenever, wherever and however they choose to shop with us this holiday season," said Mark Eberly, vice president of human resources for Toys 'R' Us, U.S., in a statement.
"Ensuring we are fully staffed with knowledgeable employees is integral as we look to assist customers in crossing off items on their children's wish lists."
Stores will start interviewing for holiday jobs at the end of the month, and new hires will start working in early October and continue to increase "right up to Christmas," the company said.
Seasonal employees typically work 16 to 20 hours per week, with flexible schedules offered during days, nights or weekends. Distribution centers have been hiring since July for jobs that continue through November.
Toys 'R' Us, based in Wayne, New Jersey, said seasonal jobs can turn into permanent positions, pointing out that 20 percent of the workers in hired in 2013 -- more than 9,000 people -- landed jobs with the company after the holidays. "Some of those who began their careers as seasonal hires have also gone on to full-time management positions," the company said in its hiring announcement.
Applicants can log on to the company's Holiday Hiring website at www.toysrusinc.com/careers/holiday for more information and to apply.
Toys 'R' Us will also be spotlighting a team of what it calls #ToyExperts on its social media pages: Facebook.com/Ruscareers, @ToysrusCareers and LinkedIn, as well as via the company's official Toys"R"Us Twitter account, @Toysrus, throughout the holidays.
