Lowe’s announces massive hiring effort
Lowe’s is looking to make great strides in its ability to deliver quality customer service.
And the second-largest home improvement retailer appears to be meeting that challenge by bulking up its staffing.
The company announced that it plans to hire more than 65,000 associates in 2019, including 50,000 seasonal associates.
But Lowes also said that its total new hires this year will include 10,000 permanent associates as part of its Merchandising Service Team (MST).
The team will be focused “best-in-class inventory management, which includes the execution of critical tasks such as general bay service and resets,” Lowe’s said in a statement issued today.
The retailer also said that the implementation of the MST will improve in-stock availability and "allow Red Vest associates to spend more time serving customers by reducing time spent on tasks."
Adding about 6,000 full-time assistant manager and department supervisor roles focused on improving customer service and store leadership is also part of the strategy.
Long-term, Lowe’s said it will hire for more than 2,000 technology roles, including software engineers, data scientists and other digital positions, to build and enhance core technology capabilities and deliver on the company's omnichannel strategy. The first 500 of these technology positions will be posted and filled throughout 2019, Lowe's said.
For Lowe's CEO and president Marvin Ellison, the massive hiring marks a back to basics approach in regard to taking care of customers.
"We are sharpening our focus on retail fundamentals and simplifying our business," said Marvin Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO. "We are investing in key leadership positions across our stores to enhance customer service while also creating jobs that will improve the availability of our most popular products, transform our technology infrastructure and provide more access for customers to the home improvement expertise of our store associates."
Lowe’s also noted that it is reducing some in-store support functions to simplify operations, including discontinuing its Project Specialist Interiors program. The company will continue to provide interior installations, such as cabinets, countertops and flooring, as well as its Project Specialist Exteriors program to support customers in exterior projects such as roofing, siding, fencing and windows.
Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s operates more than 2,240 stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Late last year, Lowe’s revealed that its new strategy under Ellison included exiting operations in Mexico.
And the second-largest home improvement retailer appears to be meeting that challenge by bulking up its staffing.
The company announced that it plans to hire more than 65,000 associates in 2019, including 50,000 seasonal associates.
But Lowes also said that its total new hires this year will include 10,000 permanent associates as part of its Merchandising Service Team (MST).
The team will be focused “best-in-class inventory management, which includes the execution of critical tasks such as general bay service and resets,” Lowe’s said in a statement issued today.
The retailer also said that the implementation of the MST will improve in-stock availability and "allow Red Vest associates to spend more time serving customers by reducing time spent on tasks."
Adding about 6,000 full-time assistant manager and department supervisor roles focused on improving customer service and store leadership is also part of the strategy.
Long-term, Lowe’s said it will hire for more than 2,000 technology roles, including software engineers, data scientists and other digital positions, to build and enhance core technology capabilities and deliver on the company's omnichannel strategy. The first 500 of these technology positions will be posted and filled throughout 2019, Lowe's said.
For Lowe's CEO and president Marvin Ellison, the massive hiring marks a back to basics approach in regard to taking care of customers.
"We are sharpening our focus on retail fundamentals and simplifying our business," said Marvin Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO. "We are investing in key leadership positions across our stores to enhance customer service while also creating jobs that will improve the availability of our most popular products, transform our technology infrastructure and provide more access for customers to the home improvement expertise of our store associates."
Lowe’s also noted that it is reducing some in-store support functions to simplify operations, including discontinuing its Project Specialist Interiors program. The company will continue to provide interior installations, such as cabinets, countertops and flooring, as well as its Project Specialist Exteriors program to support customers in exterior projects such as roofing, siding, fencing and windows.
Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s operates more than 2,240 stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Late last year, Lowe’s revealed that its new strategy under Ellison included exiting operations in Mexico.