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Survey reveals extra staff sacrificed to cope with sluggish sales
[Thu 22/12/2011 11:41:57]
Retailers have slashed the number of additional staff hired for the festive season as a response to disappointing Christmas sales, according to a survey by the Australian Gifts and Homewares Association (AGHA).
Results show 67 per cent of the organisation’s members aren’t employing extra staff for the period which is usually a popular time for temporary retail jobs.
While 32 per cent said they were hiring more staff more than 50 per cent revealed it would only be employing one extra. Less than three per cent were taking on 10 or more people.
This comes as 60 per cent of the gifts and homewares industry report November sales as fair or poor compared with the same time last year. But it’s not all doom and gloom with 12.5 per cent describing their sales as excellent.
AGHA CEO David Leek explains keeping staff numbers tight is understandable given the tough market.
“Retailers are facing an increasingly difficult task in getting shoppers to part with their hard-earned cash this Christmas,” he says. “Our survey not only shows that sales are down, but also that consumers are opting for the less expensive gift options.”
The survey also showed the best-selling products have been lower priced items especially those under $20.
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