Dick’s Sporting Goods is hiring a thousand more workers than it did last year as it anticipates higher demand from shoppers during the crucial holiday shopping period.
The Coraopolis, Penn.-based retailer announced today that it plans to employ up to 9,000 seasonal associates as part of its third annual “National Signing Day” on Oct. 14. It intends to provide extra staffing to its stores and distribution centers across the country, as well as dedicate employees to its contactless services like curbside pickup and ship-from-store orders.
The company added that its workers will receive a 15% pay premium through the end of the year as well as a discount of up to 25% at its Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy and Field & Stream locations.
“Our in-store teammates are key to providing the exceptional customer service experience and expert guidance our customers expect,” SVP and chief people officer Julie Lodge-Jarrett said in a statement. “Dick’s Sporting Goods is committed to continuously improving how we serve our customers, and to that end we have long been focused on making meaningful investments not only in who we hire, but also in our technology and diverse product offering — all to create a best-in-class omnichannel experience.”
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In late August, Dick’s reported that same-store sales rose 20.7%, even as about 15% of its brick-and-mortar outposts were closed on average during the second quarter ended Aug. 1. E-commerce sales surged 194% — including those made through its contactless curbside pickup, ship-from-store and buy online, pickup in store services. Orders placed using these options accounted for more than 75% of the company’s online orders in those three months.
Overall, its profits were $281.7 million, or $3.21 per share, on an adjusted basis, versus market watchers’ forecasts of earnings of $1.30 per share. Revenues also climbed 20.1% to $2.71 billion, while analysts had predicted sales of $2.46 billion.
Although the coronavirus pandemic has hit the retail sector hard, a number of big-box and specialty goods retailers have seen increased demand for certain household items, home and outdoor goods, plus other necessities, leading to mass hiring at those chains at a time when a record number of jobs are being shed elsewhere. Walmart, Dollar Tree and Gap are among the companies looking to staff up as they experience a surge in online demand.
