Party City Recruits 14,000 Seasonal Employees Despite National Slowdown in Hiring

ROCKAWAY, N.J., Sept. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- While current economic conditions leave most businesses reluctant to hire new employees, Party City deviates from the national unemployment trend and prepares for an intense hiring wave. In anticipation for the Halloween season, a nearly $6 billion industry and the second largest retail holiday according to the National Retail Federation, Party City is recruiting more than 14,000 employees in communities across the country. As America's leading Halloween retailer, Party City operates nearly 800 stores nationwide, and the average Party City store will hire an additional 15-50 extra employees.

"Halloween is Party City's favorite and busiest time of the year, and we hire additional employees to ensure our shoppers receive exceptional customer service during the busy Halloween season," said Lisa Laube, President of Party City. "We also understand the importance of job creation and take great pride in spurring job growth in our local communities. Many opportunities exist for store employees to continue working after Halloween based on specific store staffing needs."

The retailer is hiring Halloween Associates who will undertake a variety of positions, including Cashiers, Roadside Characters, Costume and Accessory Specialists, and Stock Room Associates. Employees undergo a specialized training program to gain Halloween costume product knowledge, as 40 percent of Halloween shoppers dress in costumes according to the National Retail Federation. Party City's knowledgeable employees can quickly navigate through Party City's vast assortment of costumes, accessories and props to find shoppers the perfect costume.

Interested applicants can either apply online at partycity.com or in person at their local Party City store.

About Party City

Party City Holdings Inc. designs, manufactures, contracts for manufacture and distributes party goods, including paper and plastic tableware, metallic balloons, accessories, novelties, gifts and stationery. Party City Holdings Inc. also operates retail party goods and social expressions supply stores in the United States under the names Party City, Halloween City and Factory Card & Party Outlet. We believe Party City is America's largest party goods chain and the country's premier retailer of Halloween costumes, theme party supplies, birthday decorations and other specialty party supplies.

SOURCE Party City