NEW YORK — It feels like everywhere you turn, you’re seeing those “We’re Hiring” signs.

Not only are they hiring, companies are pulling out all the stops to do so as we approach what’s expected to be a busy holiday shopping season.

After the pandemic was especially brutal for the retail industry, it seems now all the power is in the hands of the employees.

Katrina Parris is the co-owner of NiLu Gift Store in Harlem. She’s opening boxes — shipments of products — and it’s a welcome task.

“This is our time to shine,” Parris said. “This is the World Series.”

The National Retail Federation forecast holiday sales in November and December to be up between 8.5% and 10.5% from 2020. Shoppers are expected to spend between $843 billion and $859 billion.

To keep up with that expected demand, of course, stores need workers.

NRF expects retailers to hire between 500,000 and 665,000 seasonal workers this year. In anticipation of hiring troubles because of the nationwide labor shortage, stores are offering some big incentives.

This week, Macy’s announced it’s increasing its nationwide minimum wage to $15 an hour. It’s also launching a program available to all U.S. based salary and hourly employees to cover 100% of tuition, books and fees for employees at “a wide range of options, including courses for high school completion, college prep, English language learning, associate and bachelors degrees, boot camps & professional certificates.”

Walmart is also offering free college tuition to its workers.

Nordstrom upped its bonus pay to $650 for store employees, and $2,500 for those who work in fulfillment centers.

Amazon says it added 3,700 hundred jobs in New York State over the past two months, adding its employee’s average salary is $18 an hour. 

At Whole Foods in New York City, the starting hourly rate is $17 an hour.

Meanwhile, at NiLu Gift Store, things look a bit different.

Parris is busy stocking shelves, as she gets ready for her busy season. She says about one third of the store’s annual profit is made this time of year, which is why they’re looking to hire between four and six employees. All of them will be friends and family. She says for her small business, it’s not worth training new employees for only a few months of work.

As for how much they’re offering, Parris says, “It’s a full compensation package of love, gratitude, probably some great little items at NiLu that they’ll get for free and a nice little stipend.”