As holidays approach, retail businesses look to hire

Retailers across Atlanta are already interviewing for holiday help.

"The fourth quarter is the most profitable in the retail business," said Ron Jones, store manager for Loehmann's Atlanta at the corner of Briarcliff and North Druid Hills roads. "Most retailers will be hiring to get ready for the Christmas holidays, because the fourth quarter is retail's strongest."

The most visible retail job is sales associate, the person who serves customers on the floor. Often, these employees handle the cash register, interface with customers, do merchandising and keep track of inventory. At Loehmann's, most associates are cross-trained.

"Everyone does everything," Jones said. "We're looking for friendly and energetic people who are interested in providing good customer service."

Jones said that the store hires both full-time and part-time help. "You don't necessarily need experience, because this isn't rocket science," he said. "The main thing is that you have a good attitude and want to do a good job."

Jones said the company has already begun interviewing for the holidays, as have most retailers.

In the grocery business, good workers are always needed.

"In operations, there's a great need for associates," said Brenda Reid, media and community relations manager with Publix. "We especially need skilled meat cutters and bakers for our stores, but many of these experienced people go for the more glamorous jobs in restaurants and hotels."

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Publix has meat cutters and bakers in each of its stores. "Of course we train our associates, but we look for people that have these specific skills. Fewer retailers have these positions, so there's a shortage."

Reid said that the high turnover in retail means that stores continue to hire and train new associates, from cashiers to customer service representatives.

"Publix has a promote-from-within policy, so that means we're constantly hiring front-line people to move up into management," she said. The company's management training program includes working in aspects of the store.

In addition to its stores, Publix employs approximately 1,000 associates in its Atlanta distribution center, which serves Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee.

"There's always a demand for good associates in all aspects of the grocery business," she said.

In the home-improvement arena, the peak season is spring.

"The majority of our employees are full-time," said Karen Cobb, who is in public relations with Lowe's corporate offices in Mooresville, N.C. "We may hire additional part-time workers in the spring, mostly customer service associates who can either help customers with do-it-yourself-projects or in installed sales, the 'do-it-for-me' customers."

Lowe's also promotes from within. "There are opportunities to advance into management," Cobb said. "We offer a good wage and benefits package for both full- and part-time employees."

Compensation in retail may include other benefits, such as medical and dental insurance, employee stock purchase or retirement plans. Pay generally starts above minimum wage.

"We pay more than minimum wage," Jones said. "I assume that most retailers do, too."