PeopleReady Helps Discount Retail Chain Staff for Store Growth

As this national discount retailer prepared to open a new store location, PeopleReady provided critical staffing support and on-site service.

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Customer Success Story, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet

CHALLENGE

The customer, a chain of discount retail stores, has experienced rapid growth throughout the U.S. For over a decade, the retail chain has partnered with PeopleReady to meet many of their staffing needs at new store openings, including a recent one in Sherman, Texas.

In the weeks leading up to opening day, the customer required about 10 workers to perform a variety of labor-intensive tasks, including unloading heavy or large items from trailer trucks. However, they were finding it difficult to assemble a full team of workers due to cost and time constraints, which meant that the store might not be prepared to greet customers and make a great first impression in their local community.

SOLUTION

On the first day of the store opening project, a PeopleReady strategic account manager visited the project coordinator on-site to help find a solution. After getting a better understanding of the situation, PeopleReady quickly developed a revised staffing plan — which included additional associates who could round out the team. This would reduce idle time and create a balanced workload so that the project stayed on schedule and on budget.

Also, PeopleReady committed to working with the retail chain to create a guide for their new store development team to ensure their future orders would always be filled with the best workers for the job.

RESULTS

The project supervisor was so impressed with the performance of their associates — along with PeopleReady’s ability to think fast and follow through on their plan — that she requested an additional 20 associates each day starting two weeks later. Soon after this success, the customer asked PeopleReady to provide extra support for their newest store opening in San Antonio. Several associates on the project were extended beyond their initial assignment, and one has now been converted into a full-time employee.

Because they have a more reliable workforce, the retailer continues to see increased productivity and greater cost efficiencies. They recently began discussions with PeopleReady about staffing needs for some of their distribution centers, which have experienced a notable increase in activity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, the retail chain will surpass 400 locations across the country. With a bright future in store, they continue to grow in all areas with PeopleReady as their trusted staffing partner.

Need retail staff for your business?

PeopleReady, a TrueBlue company (NYSE: TBI), specializes in quick and reliable on-demand labor and highly skilled workers. PeopleReady supports a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing and logistics, retail and hospitality. Leveraging its game-changing JobStack staffing app and presence in more than 600 markets throughout North America, PeopleReady served approximately 83,000 businesses and put approximately 226,000 people to work in 2022.