James Crawford serves jobs to go at CoffeeJobs.com
Date posted: April 2011
James Crawford
BMultiMedia (Media Studies) 2009
‘Barista Wanted’: just two words on a café door—and an inspirational cup of coffee—were all James Crawford (pictured right) needed to brainstorm the concept for his unique recruitment website.
The self-confessed coffee addict and freelance web designer saw a niche opportunity to supply a steady stream of staff to the typically transient coffee industry and created www.CoffeeJobs.com.
“There are obviously other [broad-based] recruitment websites out there but they are expensive for employers looking for part-time staff,” he said.
“When you’re looking for someone to fill a Saturday shift, you don’t really want to pay $200 for a 30-day ad.”
James spent six months researching the business concept and securing investors before launching the site in November 2010, focusing on providing a low-cost, one-stop-shop for both employers and job-seekers. Covering all aspects of the industry, from managers and baristas to waiting staff and industry trainers, CoffeeJobs charges just $15 for a 30-day ad and is specifically tailored to what is a highly transitory and casual workforce.
James said the sole focus on the coffee industry is the key to the site’s success.
“If you can do everything tailored to one industry, one target audience, you can do it much more effectively. The pricing, the development and design and the marketing all become much more efficient.”
James (23) completed a Bachelor of Multimedia (Media Studies) at Swinburne in 2008 before launching into the field of web design. He is assisted in this venture by two fellow web-designers/developers, a contract copywriter and an HR consultant, who provides advice on user surveys.
A little help from his friends in the film industry has also resulted in two quirky advertisements that recently gained the attention of www.bestadsontv. 'Worst Interview Ever' and 'Would you ever hire a sasquatch?' are significantly raising the company’s profile and attracting 10,000 - 15,000 monthly visitors to the website.
James is pleased with how the site is growing and devotes just two days a week to its maintenance and promotion, which leaves time to pursue other projects close to his heart. Not surprisingly, one of them happens to be a website for café reviews - www.beanhunter.com - where James encourages fellow bean fiends to post their ratings of favourite coffee spots.
Visit CoffeeJobs.com on Facebook.
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