Global toy franchise Toys 'R' Us will hire 45,000 seasonal employees for the holiday season, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
That's 5,000 more than they hired last year, up 13 percent, the company wrote in a news release today. Toys R Us, like many retailers, hires thousands of temporary workers during the important holiday season, which can account for up to 40 percent of a retailer's annual revenue.
The positions are being added in Toys 'R' Us stores designated specifically to help fulfill orders resulting from newly enhanced promotional offerings for consumers such as "Buy Online, Pick Up In Store," "Ship from Store" and "Ship to Store."
The retailer is relying on unique merchandise to compete with competitors Walmart, Target and Amazon this season. The company said earlier this month that exclusive merchandise makes up less than 20 percent of Toys 'R' Us' merchandise,
"Our strategy this holiday is to provide products that people absolutely couldn't get anywhere else," CEO Jerry Storch said in a statement.
Here are a few examples of their biggest exclusive toys:
The retailer's Tabeo tablet, which goes for $150 and includes 50 kid-friendly apps.
A baby clothing line with designer Heidi Klum.
A 42-inch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles playset.
Dolls from the popular "Monster High" line.
A toy tools line with Home Depot.
Meanwhile, Wal-Mart Stores Inc said last week that it also plans to hire more than 50,000 seasonal employees to work at its Walmart stores in the United States, slightly more than last year, while department store operator Kohl's Corp said it would hire 52,700 people, or 10 percent more than last year.
