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Amazon says it will hire more than 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time workers across its U.S. operations network for the holiday period. The company also reported broader brand selection and more than 1.5 billion items delivered to Prime customers the same day or overnight in the third quarter.
Amazon plans to add more than 300,000 workers across its U.S. operations network for the holiday season, as the company heads into the fourth quarter with expanded brand selection and faster delivery. The company reported third-quarter net sales of $201.9 billion and said more than 1.5 billion items reached Prime customers the same day or overnight during the quarter.
The seasonal hiring includes part-time, full-time and seasonal roles across Amazon’s U.S. operations network. The company did not provide a breakdown of positions by job type or location in the source report. The hiring push comes ahead of the period when retailers typically face heavier order volumes, when staffing and delivery capacity can affect how quickly customers receive purchases.
Amazon said selection from brands, including FAO Schwarz, increased by more than 20% year over year. The report identifies FAO Schwarz as one of the brands building a larger presence on the platform, but does not specify the exact number of products added or the measurement period beyond the year-over-year comparison.
During the third quarter, more than 1.5 billion items reached Prime customers the same day or overnight. Amazon described the quarter as its fastest third quarter for delivery speeds. Those figures cover Prime customer deliveries and do not establish how delivery times compare across every product, location or customer group.
Capacity for Holiday Orders
The staffing and delivery figures point to Amazon preparing its operations for a high-volume retail period. A larger workforce and increased delivery capacity may help the company handle more orders, while a wider assortment gives customers more brands and products to choose from on the platform. The source report does not quantify how much either change is expected to affect holiday sales or delivery performance.
The news also matters to toy and licensing businesses because Amazon is both a retail channel and an advertising platform. A growing presence for brands such as FAO Schwarz may create additional opportunities to reach shoppers, while campaigns linked to entertainment properties connect promotion, shopping and interactive experiences. The report describes these developments but does not provide sales results for the brands or campaign.
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Sales and Prime Day Timing
Amazon reported third-quarter net sales of $201.9 billion, up 12% year over year. North American sales rose 6% to $112.9 billion, while operating income increased to $28.1 billion from $17.4 billion a year earlier, according to the source report.
The year-over-year comparison is affected by the timing of Prime Day. Amazon said the event fell in the second quarter this year across most major markets, while it was entirely in the third quarter last year. The company said third-quarter growth would have been about four percentage points higher without that shift. That is Amazon’s explanation of the comparison, not a separate measure of holiday demand.
For the fourth quarter, Amazon forecast sales of $240 billion to $247 billion, which would represent growth of 12% to 16% from the same period a year earlier. That range is a company forecast, not a reported result.
“Third-quarter growth would have been about four percentage points higher without the Prime Day timing shift.”
— Amazon, as reported by The Toy Book
Hiring and Delivery Details
The report does not say how the 300,000-plus roles are divided among seasonal, part-time and full-time positions, or where the hires will be located. It also gives no detail on how many workers have already been hired, when recruitment will finish, or how staffing compares with last year.
Amazon’s delivery figure does not include a breakdown by region, product category or delivery method, and the report does not provide a direct year-over-year comparison for the 1.5 billion items. The scope and methodology behind the reported increase in brand selection are also not described. Holiday sales and delivery outcomes remain unknown until the quarter is complete.
Holiday Quarter Results Ahead
Amazon’s next major measure of performance will be its fourth-quarter results, which will show whether sales fall within the company’s $240 billion to $247 billion forecast. Those results will also give a fuller account of holiday demand and the performance of its operations network.
Before then, the company’s hiring and delivery operations will be tested as holiday orders increase. The source report does not give a specific date for the results release or additional milestones for its seasonal recruitment, so the timing of further updates is not confirmed.
Key Questions
How many workers is Amazon hiring for the holidays?
Amazon plans to hire more than 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time workers across its U.S. operations network. The report does not give a breakdown by role or location.
What did Amazon report about delivery speed?
Amazon said more than 1.5 billion items reached Prime customers the same day or overnight in the third quarter. The company described it as its fastest third quarter for delivery speeds.
How much did Amazon’s brand selection grow?
The report says selection from brands, including FAO Schwarz, increased by more than 20% year over year. It does not explain the product count or detailed measurement method behind that figure.
What is Amazon forecasting for the fourth quarter?
Amazon expects fourth-quarter sales of $240 billion to $247 billion, up 12% to 16% from a year earlier. This is a forecast, not a reported result.
Source: toybook.com
