18 April 2021 | parkcitiespeople.com
Business
GETTING SHIFT DONE
Effort named ‘most innovative not-forprofit organization’ by ‘Fast Company’ By Bethany Erickson
named the most innovative not-for-profit organization in a list of 10 by the magazine Fast Company in March. t was only supposed to be for 12 But now — thanks to vaccines becomweeks. ing more available and the nation getting But a year later, Get Shift Done, closer to herd immunity — Brandt said the pandemic-spurred effort f rom he’s starting to see a slow change. “I don’t know if I want to call it light co-founders Patrick Brandt of Shift Smart and Perot Jain’s Anurag Jain, is at the end of the tunnel because this has still providing work for underemployed been one heck of a long tunnel,” he said. and unemployed hospitality workers. “But we are starting to see some vol“We didn’t really plan on doing this unteers come back, which is great, and for a year,” Brandt said. “We thought it restaurants, bars, and hotels are hiring was going to be at the max a 12-week again. “So we do hope that this is not a reprogram, and it was going to be in our backyard in North Texas only. We never quirement going forward — but we are very proud of the envisioned being in 12 fact that it was two different regions across the country.” I don’t know if I needs being met In the earliest days by one solution — want to call it light hunger and food inof the pandemic, Jain at the end of the security, and unemand Brandt (who both live in Preston Hollow) tunnel because this ployment.” came up with a solution But even with to three issues – unemhas been one heck more people headployment because of the ing back to work, of a long tunnel. pandemic, an increased Brandt said that he Patrick Brandt need for the services sees a fundamental many nonprofits like shift happening in the North Texas Food how people do that Bank provided, and a lack of volunteer work. The pandemic, he said, has shown availability because of COVID-19. both employees and employers that many The result was Get Shift Done, which jobs can be done almost anywhere. provided many suddenly unemployed “Everybody keeps using the phrase with an income in exchange for working ‘when things go back to normal,’ about for those nonprofits. Launched in March, the way they work,” he said. “But it’s goGet Shift Done has grown to 12 regions ing to be a new normal - and I think across the country and has helped serve (Shift Smart) is a good example of that more than 60 million meals, with 28,000 — prior to the pandemic, we would only workers helping 110 nonprofit partners. hire in our two offices — one in Dallas, The nonprofit also paid about $15 mil- one in San Francisco — but here we are a lion in wages for 1 million hours of shifts. year later, and we’ve hired something like And the innovative way Jain and Brandt 25 people remotely.” married Shift Smart’s existing infrastructure to meet that need has garnered a lot See more of our conversation with Brandt of attention and praise, including being at peoplenewspapers.com.
People Newspapers
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Patrick Brandt, co-founder of Get Shift Done, says that what was supposed to be a 12-week effort is still going strong a year later. (PHOTO: KLEKAMP GROUP LLC / COURTESY GET SHIFT DONE)
Comings and Goings NOW OPEN Hudson Nonstop
Dallas Love Field The brand’s first contactless airport retail store featuring Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology opened in late February at Dallas
Love Field. Customers swipe a credit card upon entrance and are charged for items after they depart the store. Airport visitors can find the store on the DAL concourse near Gate 10.
LoveShackFancy Highland Park Village
LoveShackFancy (COURTESY HIGHLAND PARK VILLAGE)
Hudson Nonstop (COURTESY HUDSON NONSTOP)
The New York City-based lifestyle brand’s first boutique in Texas opened in early March. Inspired by vintage finds, the brand is rich in detail, flattering silhouettes, soft hues, and intricate lace, emphasizing whimsical handdyed fabrics and vintage-inspired romantic floral prints.
COMING The Turn Indoor Golf
Mockingbird Station The indoor golf simulator venue is coming to Mockingbird Station this summer. The company’s second U.S. facility will occupy 10,293 square feet and feature Trackman technology to map golfers’ swings as they play virtually. Visitors can practice and play virtual rounds on more than 40 courses around the world. The company’s New York City location opened in 2010.
Rolex
Highland Park Village The Swiss watch manufacturer tentatively expects to open a boutique operated by Bachendorf ’s by the end of April.
