Qwick

Qwick operates as an on-demand, digital staffing marketplace with a specific focus on the hospitality industry, connecting businesses with a vetted network of food and beverage professionals. The company was founded in 2017 by Jamie Baxter and Chris Loeffler, and officially launched in 2018. The concept originated from Loeffler, who, as a hotel owner, identified significant challenges in staffing and high turnover, envisioning an Uber-like service for requesting hospitality workers. Baxter, an HR technology veteran with experience leading multiple products from concept to revenue, developed the technological solution to address this problem.

The firm's business model is centered on a "staffing-as-a-service" platform, which addresses the fluctuating labor needs of clients such as hotels, caterers, restaurants, event venues, and stadiums. Businesses post available shifts, and Qwick's proprietary algorithm matches them with qualified freelancers based on skills and experience. Revenue is generated by charging business partners a 40% markup on the hourly wage paid to the professionals. This model provides businesses with a flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional staffing agencies, including the option to hire freelancers for full-time positions without a buyout fee.

For hospitality professionals, Qwick offers the flexibility to set their own schedules and provides access to a variety of roles, including servers, bartenders, cooks, and bussers. A key feature is the platform's rapid payment system, which allows workers to receive their earnings in as little as 30 minutes after completing a shift via Stripe. The platform also includes a two-way rating system to maintain quality for both businesses and freelancers. After experiencing a significant downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic, where revenue dropped 80% overnight, the company pivoted to survive, including temporarily staffing grocery stores and vaccine clinics. This resilience led to substantial growth post-pandemic, culminating in a $40 million Series B funding round in November 2022, led by Tritium Partners. As of late 2022, Qwick operated in over 23 U.S. markets, had filled more than 500,000 shifts, and was recognized as the 32nd fastest-growing private company in the U.S. on the Inc. 5000 list.

Keywords: hospitality staffing, on-demand labor, gig economy, restaurant staffing, food and beverage professionals, freelance platform, flexible work, event staffing, hotel staffing, real-time staffing, shift work, bartender jobs, cook staffing, hospitality technology, staffing-as-a-service, Jamie Baxter, Chris Loeffler, Blaine Light, temp-to-hire, quick pay, hospitality jobs, catering staff, vetted professionals, digital marketplace