Shops set to begin seasonal hiring

BARSTOW • Halloween decorations may still be up, but the stores at the outlet centers are gearing up for Christmas.

Managers for Gap Outlet and Tommy Hilfiger Company Stores expect more customers to come through their stores this year and are hiring more workers to serve them. Old Navy has already started hired its seasonal workers, and Vans Outlet will begin hiring the week before Thanksgiving.

Liz Sherman, hiring manager for Gap Outlet, will begin conducting interviews for the holidays next week, she said. The store is looking for 17 people to fill sales associate positions. Even though she couldn’t give out specific numbers of how many seasonal employees were hired last year, Sherman said the number of positions this year has increased.

“We just feel the season is going to be better,” she said, adding that the store’s clientele generally doubles during the holidays. “We’re hoping to see a big return.”

Tommy Hilfiger Company Stores expects to see an increased number of sales this year as well. Last December, the store fell short of reaching its goal of $300,000 in sales for that month, said Laticia Carmona. This year, while the store hasn’t received its goal for December yet, Carmona said the store hopes to see sales increase by 12 percent.

“We have been seeing more traffic now,” she said. “We’re looking to hire 15 people for the holidays. That’s more than last year, but we are short-handed at this time.”

The store takes between five to 10 applications a day, Carmona said. Many of the applicants are local high school students and people from Victorville and Apple Valley. The positions are 16-hour-a-week part-time positions, and they last until about mid-January.

“From there we decide whether or not we’re going to keep that associate,” she said. “It’s based on their performance. (We also) see how well we did during the holiday season to see how many we can keep.”

Old Navy has already hired eight seasonal workers, said Vince Dominguez, the store’s service and training manager. Primarily the store looks for extra help on the sales floor, he said. The positions last between 60 to 90 days.

“We have a pretty reliable staff already,” he said. “(Our regular associates) have been here quite some time. Having to need extra help has been at a minimum right now.”

On the other side of Lenwood Road, Vans Outlet at the Barstow Factory Outlet Mall is only expected to need two seasonal workers, said Dara Agagni, the store manager. Hiring begins the week before Thanksgiving and the positions last for about six weeks.

A list of the stores that are hiring is available at Tanger Outlet Centers’ Web site www.tangeroutlet.com.  

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or jcejnar@desertdispatch.com