Goal is moving full steam ahead with its holiday planning. 

The massive-box retailer revealed Wednesday that it plans to rent as much as a further 100,000 seasonal employees throughout the holidays, at the same time as many discount shoppers pull back on discretionary items and competitors like Walmart lay out plans to rent a fraction of prior years’ seasonal employees. 

“The vacations are a treasured time when our guests come along with family and friends to have a good time the enjoyment of the season and we’re here to make that as easy as possible for them to enjoy,” Christina Hennington, executive vice chairman and chief growth officer at Goal, wrote in a blog post for the corporate. “That’s why we’re rolling out deals sooner than ever and ensuring our team is able to help our guests shop when and the way they need.” 

Goal’s announcement comes just at some point after Walmart revealed it will hire only 40,000 seasonal employees — compared with the roughly 150,000 the firm sought last yr. Fears of a recession, excess inventory and continued bottleneck tie-ups are causing many retailers — especially people who cater to budget shoppers — to rethink their go-forward strategies. 

Revenues at each Goal and Walmart fell in essentially the most recent quarter due to macro headwinds. Certainly one of the various issues plaguing the retail industry at large is a continued shortage of accessible labor to work in stores in achievement centers. But Walmart chief executive officer Doug McMillon surprised analysts in May when he said throughout the company’s conference call that the firm actually hired too many individuals — no less than in stores — during last December’s Omicron surge. Then in August, Walmart laid off roughly 200 people amongst its corporate workforce. 

Jimmy Carter, a Walmart spokesperson, said on the time that Walmart was evolving its workforce to accommodate the changing customers’ needs and had plans to supply more jobs in areas resembling e-commerce, technology, health and wellness, supply chain and promoting sales. 

Goal, meanwhile, appears to be pivoting in the wrong way, with plans to rent in regards to the same variety of seasonal employees as last yr — at the same time as inventory issues cut profits by nearly 90 percent last quarter. The massive-box retailer also ended the quarter with roughly $6 billion more in inventory, compared with pre-pandemic levels. 

However the firm appears to be tackling the surplus inventory by offering prolonged promotions.

Goal Deal Days starts Oct. 6 through 8 and offers guests access to “deep holiday deals on must-have items and on a regular basis essentials.” The retailer will even have an prolonged holiday price-match guarantee period from Oct. 6 through Dec. 24.

The retailer is hoping to draw latest talent in its stores and provide chain facilities by offering a starting wage between $15 and $24 an hour, along with flexible schedules, “well-being advantages” and worker discounts.

To lure in additional shoppers, Goal continues to supply services for convenience (resembling same-day delivery and BOPIS) and continues to double down on its effort to ascertain itself as a fashion destination with a mix of owned brands, national brands and exclusive product launches. 

Most recently, Goal revealed its Fall Designer Collection, a limited-time partnership with luxury and high-end designers, creating inexpensive capsules for Goal. 

The Minneapolis-based retailer also carries 18 of its owned apparel brands, along with national brands — resembling Levi’s Red Tab, lingerie brand Journelle, period-panties brand Thinx and Priyanka Chopra’s hair care brand Anomaly — and Ulta Beauty, Disney and Apple shops-in-shop in select stores.

“Throughout the season, guests will discover latest and differentiated items for gifting and gathering, including only-at-Goal owned brands and must-have national brands and so they can expect great deals and on a regular basis low prices at every turn for an unmatched holiday shopping experience,” Hennington said.