by Recruiting shifts into high gear on record sales forecast
TAMARAC, Fla. — City Furniture plans to hire more than 500 people before the end of this year as strong demand following pandemic-related closings has the Top 100 retailer forecasting record sales.
That would bring the company’s total payroll up to 2,500, the retailer confirmed to Home News Now.
“Families coping with the COVID environment suddenly need their homes to multitask as workplace, school and staycation refuge,” City President Andrew Koenig said.
“By making their online or in-store shopping process fast, easy and safe, with great values, we’re on track for our highest-ever annual sales in our company’s history.”
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The Florida retailer with a combined 34 City Furniture and Ashley HomeStores, said sales are up significantly, with strongest demand related to home furnishings for family rooms and living room upgrades, home office and outdoor living areas. It didn’t put a number on the record sales projection, but the Top 25 furniture store chain did nearly $508 million in sales last year.
Most of the new jobs it’s seeking to fill will be in South Florida, with about 200 in sales, 250 in warehouse, delivery and customer care, and 50 corporate positions, including roles in IT, e-commerce and other areas. City has transitioned almost completely to virtual interviewing, which includes online assessments and a team hiring approach that Koenig said is yielding high-quality hires.
Andrew Koenig
While Koenig confirmed hiring is “definitely still a challenge,” as many furniture companies are reporting, he added City has been able to find top talent in all departments thanks in part to the investments it has been making.
“As South Florida’s economy reels under pandemic pressures, the company is finding that many applicants with sales experience in retail, hospitality, automotive, real estate, and restaurant industries make a smooth transition to sales for City Furniture, where first-year sales associates average annual pay is $60,000 to more than $100,000 in earnings,” Koenig said. Delivery drivers for City’s “green” fleet of compressed natural gas-fueled trucks average first-year earnings of $50,000 to $70,000, the company said, adding, they receive extensive training and don’t need a commercial driver license.
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City said it has ramped up its already active outreach to veterans, and to college grads through its established college-recruiting program. It called virtual hiring events within and outside of the firm “a crucial recruiting tool,” including those with community partners such as the Urban League and Hire Heroes USA.
The company has taken other fast actions to transform operations during this time of high demand, too. This spring, City streamlined the customer experience with contact-less payments and availability of free contact-less delivery, fast checkout using sales associate iPads, deeper website product content, and unlimited free design services staffed 24/7 online. It plans to roll out 3D models and augmented reality on its website this fall.
“Our showrooms and warehouses are open safely and operating 100%, while following all CDC safety guidelines including social distancing, face masks, and frequent deep cleanings,” Koenig said. “Our corporate office team and customer care associates continue working remotely, and are transforming their areas with virtual training and virtual meetings, all going well.”
On the store expansion front, the company opened an Ashley HomeStore in North Miami Beach this past month, and construction is underway on its third Orlando-area store — a 133,000-square-foot City superstore in Altamonte Springs slated to open next spring. Koenig expects that opening to create more than 100 additional jobs on top of the 500 it’s looking to add before the end of the year.
Additional expansion plans are underway and announcements will be coming soon, the company said.
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