Portsmouth Entrepreneur Launches Swipe-A-Shift to Solve Restaurant Staffing Crisis

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Rezul -- This week, as her late brother Ben Harris would have turned 40, Christy Kettering is launching Swipe-A-Shift, a mobile staffing platform connecting New Hampshire restaurant workers with last-minute shifts. The platform solves the staffing crisis she and Ben faced when they co-owned The Blue Claw restaurant from 2004-2005.

"Ben handled back of house, I handled everything else – while also working full-time at Liberty Mutual," says Kettering. "We worked 80-hour weeks because we couldn't find reliable help when we needed it most. The system was broken then, and it's still broken now."

Ben Harris died in 2012 in a brewery accident that led to new industry safety regulations. His sister never forgot the staffing struggles they faced together.

After 20 years building enterprise technology systems for companies like Capri Holdings (where she managed the $8.5 billion Tapestry acquisition), Michael Kors, Versace, Timberland, and The North Face, Kettering is bringing that Fortune 500 expertise home to Portsmouth.

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HOW SWIPE-A-SHIFT WORKS
The platform uses a Tinder-style swipe interface to make shift matching fast and fun. Workers browse available shifts and swipe right on ones they want. Restaurant owners review applicants and can send invitations to multiple qualified candidates, creating healthy competition. The first worker to accept gets the shift.

"We're making it gamified to discover shifts, but serious about commitment," Kettering explains. "When a worker accepts, they're locked in. Reliability is everything in this business."

LAUNCHING WITH NEW HAMPSHIRE FOCUS
Swipe-A-Shift launches December 15, 2025, with 140+ New Hampshire restaurants in the database. The platform targets support roles like bussers, bar backs, hosts, and kitchen help – positions that are hardest to fill on short notice.

The platform charges venues a 20% service fee only when shifts are successfully filled, with no upfront costs or subscriptions. Workers receive their full agreed-upon rate with no fees deducted.

"This isn't about replacing full-time hiring," says Kettering. "It's about providing just a little help when you need it most – covering call-outs, handling rushes, or staffing special events."

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A KETTERING LEGACY
In 2019, Kettering discovered she was related to inventor Charles F. Kettering, founder of Delco and holder of 186 patents. She realized she had unknowingly followed a similar path: both worked in retail systems (Charles invented the cash register, Christy built point-of-sale technology), both focused on solving real-world problems, and both brought innovation to traditional industries.

"I didn't know about Charles when I started my career, but somehow I walked his path anyway," she says. "Now I'm walking Ben's path too – finishing what we started at The Blue Claw."

New Hampshire restaurant owners and hospitality workers can sign up now at swipeashift.app. First shifts are available December 15, 2025.

ABOUT SWIPE-A-SHIFT
Swipe-A-Shift is a mobile-first restaurant staffing platform operated by KetteringPro Enterprise LLC. Founded by Portsmouth native Christy Kettering in memory of her brother Ben Harris, the platform provides real-time shift matching with the mission of offering "just a little help when you need it most." For more information, visit swipeashift.app or contact info@swipeashift.app.