Qwick, a Phoenix-based on-demand staffing platform that connects food and beverage professionals with hospitality businesses, launched in Dallas in May and has seen rapid growth over the last five months.

Over the last quarter, its Dallas division revenue has grown more than 630 percent with the company enrolling more than 8,000 professionals and more than 130 businesses. The team anticipates having more than 16,000 registered professionals and more than 300 hospitality business partners signed up by the one-year mark at May 2020.

Dallas was an “obvious choice” for Qwick’s expansion beyond its then footprint including Phoenix, Tucson, and San Diego according to Devery Johnson, General Manager Dallas/ Fort Worth, for several reasons. Texas is a friendly state for business, and has a lot of opportunity in the hospitality space.

There are a high number of hotels, caterers, events, and golf courses that are in need of Qwick’s service, and, with a low unemployment rate, Dallas businesses need a way to easily fill their shifts with high-quality reliable Professionals.

[Photo: Courtesy Qwick]

“Prior to selecting Dallas as the next market, we conducted extensive market research and looked at population density and growth, market size, industry size, regulations, talent pool, and competitor presence,” Johnson told Dallas Innovates. “We realized that Dallas was a central hub for businesses to hold conventions and events, making it a top choice for consideration. Dallas was also recently named by Bon’ Appetit magazine as the #1 restaurant city in the United States.”

Qwick’s industry segments include businesses in catering, sports and event venues, hotels, restaurants, golf courses/country clubs, dinner clubs, and supermarket fresh food preparation.

[Photo: Courtesy Qwick]

The company launched in February 2018 as an entrant in the gig economy space and has been named as one of Arizona’s most innovative companies, won Phoenix’s Venture Madness, and was named one of San Diego’s Cool Companies.

Through its web-based platform, professionals can post their experience and availability, while businesses post shifts that need filling.

Qwick then vets professionals via an in-person orientation and messages those workers with available shifts, matching their skill-set and schedule to fill shifts for its business partners in minutes rather than days.

The startup’s gig economy differentiator is its food and beverage focus giving its professional user base freedom, flexibility, and earning potential while offering its business partners a way to cut labor and recruitment costs as well as handle staffing during high-peak convention or tourism seasons.

Qwick’s leadership includes co-founder and CEO Jamie Baxter, with a human resource tech and entrepreneurial background; co-founder and COO Blaine Light, who launched Uber Phoenix and Las Vegas; and co-founder and advisor Chris Loeffler, who is also co-founder and CEO of Caliber, a commercial real estate and private equity company known for innovation in the hospitality sector.

It was incubated by Coplex, a Phoenix software company and venture builder, and investors include Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and Peak Ventures. Business partners include Hilton, Aramark and Marriott International. Notable area partners include The Henry and Coyote Ridge Golf Club.

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