Harry & David Call Center Brings Christmas Present of Jobs to Eugene, Oregon

Harry & David, the website and catalog merchant famous for pricey but impressive treats, announced earlier this week that it’s bringing a little extra happiness to Eugene, Oregon this holiday season. The call center in Eugene, which they needed to close for financial reasons, is being reopened, and it's hiring.

In fact, it's hiring 750 people to handle the holiday rush.

Harry & David staffers had started moving back into the call center in July, bringing with them the necessary infrastructure – phones, computers, tables and more – to set up a full call center operation, even locating in the same building in which they'd previously been found.

The company began the hiring process on October 3, and the excitement is downright palpable.

Oddly enough, the Eugene call center was one of if not the most successful call center every year, which reportedly left Harry & David management wondering why a major earner like Eugene had folded.

Thus, the center restarted, to the joy of those looking for work, especially those who had previously been employed at the call center. That extra money came in handy around holiday time, so the situation is positive for all involved.

Those interested in a position with Harry & David will be able to work at least 25 hours a week, starting just after Thanksgiving and running until just before Christmas. The best candidates will be able to focus on their people skills and their ability to be both friendly and professional in phone contact.

Applications can be made either in person or online.

It's actually a bit of a surprise to see Harry & David hiring so aggressively, especially given the largely luxury nature of their product line. They have a wide array of very impressive treats, but they tend to come with equally impressive price tags, and in a down economy, it would have been a safe bet that high-end goodies like those offered at Harry & David would have been among the first on most households' collective chopping block.

But the holidays tend to change priorities just a bit, and a package of tasty, high-end treats like those from Harry & David likely make a good impression – especially in households who have recently or not so recently cut back on their enjoyment of the same.

Still, with one of the potentially best call centers back in operation – and 750 people about to get at least some work – it's good news for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the rest for a good number of folks in Oregon.