Ben Siegel ’19, Parker Pell ’19, and Evan Deere ’16 started QuikFix in 2017 as a way to make money doing odd jobs and chores. The service connects skilled college students with homeowners and businesses looking for quality help that includes, but is not limited to, furniture assembly, event set-up and clean-up, loading and unloading, in-home moving, television and printer set-up, and outdoor cleaning and hauling. On Feb. 1, the entrepreneurs expanded the business’ locations in Memphis, TN, and Fayetteville, AR, to Nashville, TN.
“We never even contemplated the business getting to this point. Our goal from the beginning has always been to make a positive impact on at least one student’s life. Fortunately, homeowners really took a liking to what we do, and we’re now able to help students in three cities, and hopefully way more than that in the future,” says Siegel, who is a business major. “I also think that building this business while in school has been the best possible business degree I could’ve gotten. I’m learning real-world skills that aren’t able to be taught in a classroom, while still getting the formal education I’ll need to be successful. I’m grateful for the Rhodes education and community, and it has definitely played a huge role in our success.”
QuikFix has more than 400 students, who are called “Fixers,” on its platform in Memphis, who completed more than 1,200 jobs in 2018. Jobs are shared with vetted students who accept jobs on a first-come, first-serve basis. Donovan Sheffield, a native of Nashville and a former Vanderbilt University student athlete, has been hired as QuikFix’s city manager in Nashville.
“Now we are able to recruit student Fixers from Nashville universities, including Vanderbilt, Lipscomb, Belmont, and Trevecca Nazarene University,” says Pell, who is majoring in economics. “The city of Memphis has supported us so much as the company has grown, and we hope Nashville will receive us the same way. We look forward to helping Nashville homeowners with odd jobs and chores they have on their to-do list.”
Pell adds that they have gained valuable mentors, who they consistently reach out to if they are looking for advice on certain business decisions. “Our Rhodes education has taught us to always be open and to seek advice from business leaders who have more experience than us. We credit Rhodes for being receptive to two young students with an idea that has since turned into a company expanding across the state of Tennessee.”
For more information about QuickFix, visit its website.