No Rivals, a Dallas–Fort Worth premium headwear and apparel brand, transformed from a local side hustle into a national retail brand with partnerships Scheels, Lids, Follett, AlumniHall, and more in just two years. Their rapid expansion from 99% direct-to-consumer sales to major retail distribution demanded an entirely new approach to operations and staffing.
The challenge
When Nick Hight and Riley Lindsay launched No Rivals right out of college, they couldn’t have predicted their explosive growth. As they shifted from primarily direct-to-consumer sales to a 60-40 split with major retailers, three critical challenges emerged:
- Unpredictable demand spikes. "As a new business growing this fast, forecasting labor is nearly impossible," explains Nick Hight, Co-Founder of No Rivals. Q4 holiday rushes and retail launch dates created demand spikes that their existing staffing model couldn't handle.
- Scaling operational complexity. Managing inventory and shipments for major national retailers demanded precision and scale that exceeded their direct-to-consumer systems. Each new retail partner brought specific compliance requirements and delivery schedules.
- No operational infrastructure. With no established operational infrastructure, Nick and Riley personally managed every warehouse aspect. "We needed people who could adapt, learn our system quickly, and help us keep up," says Nick. "Without a reliable staffing solution, we risked missing delivery deadlines and losing retail partnerships."
“I needed people who could adapt, learn our system quickly, and help us keep up. As a new business growing this fast, forecasting labor is nearly impossible.” — Nick Hight, Co-Founder, No Rivals
The solution
After evaluating options, No Rivals chose Instawork for speed, flexibility, and worker quality. From day one, the experience was simple:
Flexible Staffing Model No Rivals now runs 100% of hourly staffing through the Instawork platform, posting regular shifts each month and scaling up for demand surges.
Quality Worker Pool "Instawork said, 'Tell us when and where,' and they delivered. Their Pros show up ready to work, communicate well, and they care about the job," Nick shares. Over time, No Rivals built a core group of over a dozen high-performing Pros who consistently handle warehouse operations.
Internal Growth Opportunities When operational needs expanded, a standout Pro stepped into an on-site shift supervisor role, taking ownership of new worker training and quality control. This promotion helped maintain consistency while scaling the operation.
“Instawork said, ‘Tell us when and where,’ and they delivered. Their Pros show up ready to work, communicate well, and they care about the job.” — Nick Hight
The result
Since adopting Instawork, No Rivals has operated with confidence through rapid growth.
Capacity and Expansion As of August 2025, they are running two warehouse spaces, totaling just over 8,000 square feet. This represents remarkable growth from their humble beginnings in a 200-square-foot bedroom in a Dallas townhome, positioning them strategically for continued expansion in retail distribution.
Operational Reliability and Agility With a dependable, flexible team in place, No Rivals can ramp up shifts quickly, maintain consistent quality, and get new workers up to speed without slowing output—crucial capabilities ahead of Q4 surges and major retail launches.
More Time for Strategic Growth By partnering with Instawork for all hourly staffing, Nick and Riley reclaimed nearly 45 hours per week previously spent on picking, packing, trucking, and inventory management. This freed them to focus on higher-ROI activities that required their direct leadership—such as strategic growth initiatives, retail partnerships, and brand development. This shift was instrumental in enabling the company to achieve its first seven-figure revenue year and secure nationwide distribution.
“Without Instawork, we wouldn’t have been able to sustain or keep up with the surge in orders.” — Nick Hight
Looking ahead
With Instawork as their staffing backbone, No Rivals is positioned for aggressive growth. The company projects 100% growth or more in retail partnerships, leveraging their ability to adjust to the scaling demands of production and output. They also plan to open a third warehouse location to support this expansion. Their flexible staffing model, anchored by their team of reliable Instawork Pros, gives them the confidence to scale rapidly without adding fixed overhead costs.
"We are doing everything in our power to grow the right way, and scalability has to include sustainability. Having Instawork means we can say yes to new opportunities and know we have the team behind us to take them on." — Nick Hight
