I applied in-person. The process took 4 days. I interviewed at Pier 1 Imports (Detroit, MI) in May 2012
Interview
I was called in for one interview that took place in the manager's office at her desk. She was very friendly and asked typical retail questions like why I think I would be a good fit for the job, strengths, weaknesses, what would I do in this situation, etc. She liked my resume attached to my application and especially liked that I included a photo of myself on the resume. It seems as though they are just looking for genuine friendly people to take care of the store and its customers well.
I interviewed at Pier 1 Imports (Fort Collins, CO)
Interview
It was about 30 minutes long. The manager asked me basic questions about myself and the job. He wanted to know my availability and if I were able to unload the truck due to the boxes being heavy.
Simple and transparent process. After applying, was asked to come in to interview in person. Interview was professional and took around 45 minutes. Heard back from hiring manager within a week.