Looking for holiday help

Tulsa attempts to buck a national trend. The holiday shopping season is just around the corner, but with signs of a stalled economy looming ahead, will Tulsa be able to hire its annual holiday help?

Thursday, October 4th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa attempts to buck a national trend. The holiday shopping season is just around the corner, but with signs of a stalled economy looming ahead, will Tulsa be able to hire its annual holiday help? News on Six reporter Heather Brooker visited two stores with plans to press on.

It's business as usual at the Target near 21st and Yale. Store team leader Sue Whitner is expecting business to increase, as the holiday season gets closer. "We're really optimistic. I know everyone is a little subdued in their thinking but we're very optimistic at target that we're gonna have a really good season." For that reason they've posted "now hiring" signs for the upcoming shopping season. "Now we are actually looking for Christmas people, holiday people and we're getting ready to bring them on and start to train them. And get them ready for the holiday." Nationwide the trend in holiday hiring has been uncertain.

But local employers say they're moving forward despite what economists say. Vicki Cunningham with Cunningham Fine Jewelry says, "We're very optimistic about the holiday's. We've already added one full time employee and we typically do that early for training purposes." Cunningham says they plan to hire a few more part time workers for the holidays. She says the jewelry industry in general is expecting a good year this season in spite of economic naysayers. "The industry is also telling us it's going to be a very important year to show those loved ones how much you love them."

Target hopes to reach those people who may have been laid off by other companies and offer them a job alternative. "Some of them might be interested in holiday help. And we would certainly be interested in them and their expertise." So if you're thinking of applying for a job this holiday season, both businesses say business is good, and that's good for employees and the economy.

Whitner says Target will hire more than 40 additional employees before mid-November.