Austin-based startup helps hire retail workers
AUSTIN (KXAN) — There’s a good chance you or someone you know has worked in retail.
But one of the biggest problems in the industry is the ongoing labor shortage.
Here in Austin, a startup is trying to fill that gap and give workers full control over their time.
Reflex allows people to shoot shifts where they want and when they want.
As Austin moves into a busy tourist season, the retail sector has struggled with staffing.
“You have to work hard hours, you have to work weekends, you have to work holidays.” Mike Meyers, CEO of Reflex, said. “So what’s happened is that a lot of retailers are struggling with what’s called a labor shortage.”
With that in mind, Meyers founded Reflex, an online platform that connects resellers to trusted workers.
“There’s actually a lot of people who want to work in retail, they just don’t want to work in retail like they always have, and what they want is flexibility,” Meyers explained.
His company scales into physical retail, giving employees flexibility and a better work-life balance.
Tatiana Arias works through Reflex. You said you have a passion for fashion. “As a freelancer, that flexibility is what I look for,” she said.
After a quick background check, Reflex workers can start working shifts at places like Vineyard Vines, J. Crew, and Everlane.
“You can find shifts at your favorite brands, choose when and where to work, get paid in 24 hours instead of two weeks,” Meyers said.
“You can choose the day before or the platform will have a list of all these open options,” Arias explained. “I see which days I’m available, so it’s easier for me there.”
Shelby Parrish runs Party & Co, a local family-owned store that has faced a fair share of the struggle to hire employees.
“No one seemed to really want to get hired or, you know, apply and we’d get applications here or there, but it was always hard to keep people,” Parrish said.
In the last year he has collaborated with Reflex.
“They have sort of a retail experience, so that takes the pressure off us as owners,” Parrish said.
All Relfex workers are paid directly through the platform.
Right now, the Austin-based startup works with over 60 stores in Austin, Dallas and Houston.
