Category: Featured Articles

Global Love Report – January 26, 2022
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

Saint-Malo Rencontre may seem like an ordinary matchmaking agency at first glance. However, this agency is a former conductor’s matchmaking agency. Yves Rivier established his business in the city of Saint-Malo, France.

While matchmakers tend to come from all walks of life, Rivier’s background is particularly unique. As we previously mentioned, he used to be a conductor for an orchestra. Specifically for events that were shown on the French channel TF1.

Rivier started out as a trumpeter before he became a conductor. He has performed in France and abroad. He estimates that he has been in at least 10,000 concerts.

Unfortunately, he was forced to give up his career due to a fractured spine.

However, he mentioned that it was a blessing of a sort. He had grown tired of the traveling. And he was unable to communicate with people around him because they spoke different languages.

But how exactly did he go from a career in the arts to the offline dating industry? It was thanks to a matchmaking agency. Initially, he tried out dating sites after his divorce. But after years of no luck, he decided to try his luck with a matchmaking agency. And it was through the agency that he found met his “true love”. It also led to his new career.

He has a diverse client base, from 30 to 80 years old and with different sexualities. His clients who are over 60 are mainly women. However, the clients in the younger age range are mostly men.

In terms of pricing, each member pays between 150 and 200 euros every month, with a minimum contract of 6 months. Rivier mentions that 95% of his agency’s clients find a match within 18 months.

Originally published by Actu.Fr

---

(Image source: Pexels, Nappy)

Global Love Report – January 26, 2022
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

The pandemic has forced many companies to change the way they run their company. This is also the case for one Japanese matchmaking company that specializes in international matchmaking. Their clients are Japanese men living in Japan and women in China.

Due to travel restrictions that has to do with Covid protocols, the company was forced to make some changes. One of them includes a vehicle that have a communication terminal which consists of a tablet where their male clients can make video calls. The space inside the vehicle is sound-proof so clients’ voices won’t leak and their privacy remains protected. It’s essentially matchmaking on wheels.

The company’s president, Yuya Takizawa, is ethnically Chinese but has been a naturalized Japanese citizen since 2006. Their main client base are single men in the Kanto and Chukyo areas. Whereas their female clients come from the Harbin area in northeastern China—places where there are people who are pro-Japanese.

The agency typically sees 30 marriages per year and the cost for male clients are around 3 million yen (around US$26,300), travel expenses included. But because of travel restrictions and quarantine rules, the company was forced to suspend operations for about a year and a half—until August 2021.

That was when they decided to use a tablet with high-definition display and a large screen for the men to be able to communicate with the women. This was because the men don’t wish to show the interior of their house, especially for their first meeting. And due to travel restrictions, they are unable to go to the company’s office. That’s why the agency’s dedicated vehicle became the solution.

Originally published by Shinano Mainichi Shinbun.

---

(Image source: Pexels, Ngeow Shen Sin)

Global Love Report – January 5, 2022
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

Pott & Deckel is a new matchmaking agency based in Switzerland that was established by Claudia Flade and Barbara Stappenbeck. The ladies created the agency because they’re well-versed in online dating. And they’re aware of the many challenges that people face in that process.

Their goal was to have an agency where clients can really meet their matches and where the process is full of humor and it’s an entirely lighter approach.

Their interview process for clients is also a little different. First, they have a conversation over the phone or through zoom. For anyone interested, the agency sends them a questionnaire to fill up. Additionally, they will also send a draft of the contract.

They give each client up to two weeks to mull over their decision. Should they decide to register, they can decide if they want a 6-months or a full year contract.

The next step will be to meet the two ladies in person. The meeting will consist of an in-depth conversation where the client will talk about themselves, their life, and what they’re looking for in a partner.

The meeting location? It could be anywhere, in a café, during a walk or any desired location. What’s important is that the client should feel open and free to discuss about themselves.

And for clients who aren’t comfortable about a candlelight dinner for two? The agency has an alternative. They organize events in the German-speaking parts of Switzerland for their clients. Flade explains that clients can choose from going on a hike with other singles, having a picnic, just generally meeting in a relaxed atmosphere.

The event will be very casual. And the agency’s owners believe it will be a good way to meet their match. And should the client feel like they didn’t connect with their match then there are others during the event that they may feel a connection with.

In fact, the other goal of the event is for singles to meet each other and to become friends as well.

Originally published by Nau.ch.

---

(Image source: Unsplash, Priscilla Du Preez)

Global Love Report – January 5, 2022
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

Vending machines are very popular in Japan. So much so that the country even has vending machines for just about anything.

And that’s why one Japanese matchmaking agency decided to create a vending machine marketing tactic. The matchmaking agency is Matching Advisor Press (MAP). They’ve filled a vending machine with different colored cans (pink for women and beige for men).

A person can purchase a can for ¥3,000 or around US$26. On the outside of the can, they’ve written the name of one of the agency’s matchmakers along with the age and name of the man or woman looking for a spouse. Inside is a voucher for a one-hour interview with the matchmaker on the can. Additionally, the interview also serves as an advice session with them.

During the interview with the matchmaker, whoever buys the can will be able to find out if they’re compatible with the person featured on the can.

And if they’re deemed compatible, the agency will then proceed to arrange a 3-hour dinner date for them and the other person—though this costs an additional ¥9,000 (approx. US$77) service fee plus the cost of the actual dinner.

However, there’s no news currently on how effective this vending machine marketing tactic has been for the agency. But it’s certainly an interesting gimmick in terms of increasing brand awareness and finding new clients.

Originally published by SoraNews24.

---

(Image source: Unsplash, Taiki Ishikawa)

Global Love Report – December 29, 2021
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

Nomad Marketing conducted a survey for e-venz, an event organization company that focuses on matchmaking events in Japan. The survey’s participants were 1,000 men and women between the ages of 30 and 59.

Participants were asked about whether they’re taking part in matchmaking activities—this includes taking part in spouse-hunting events as well as registering with a matchmaking agency. While the survey asked the standard questions for matchmaking surveys, such as: respondent’s choice of matchmaking activity/service, one of the most interesting aspect of the survey had to do with AI matchmaking.

A number of matchmaking agencies and dating websites are using AI or Artificial Intelligence to match their clients.

In this survey, they asked people whether or not they have ever used AI matchmaking before. For the people who have never done so, they also asked if they would ever try it.

The results? 61% of the single men who have never tried AI matchmaking before were willing to try it. Whereas for the women only 43% were willing to try.

But what about the people who have tried AI matchmaking?

Well, the survey revealed there were many negative comments from both men and women. Some of the complaints from the men include: it’s hard to use, it’s not very accurate, and it’s not very good.

One 39-year-old woman stated that she was matched with some “strange people” by the AI.

However, despite the complaints and the fact that most women don’t want to try it, AI matchmaking seems to be here to stay. At least, it seems that way in Japan.

Originally published by PR Times.

---

(Image source: Pexels, Pixabay)

Global Love Report – December 22, 2021
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

IBJ is one of the most well-known companies in the matchmaking industry in Japan. It recently reported that the Japan Marriage Agency Federation that it operates now has 3,000 matchmaking agencies as its members.

Its clients have also exceeded 75,000 members. The company is expecting that the number of matchmaking clients is expected to increase in the future.

The company has made some changes in the past couple of years which has increased accessibility to potential clients. Because of this, it saw an increase of in the number of clients. Furthermore, because the need for matchmaking agencies has increased, there are more people who decide to open their own agency.

IBJ had a number of different projects this year. The most prominent ones include:

1. Increasing support for matchmaking activities in local communities.

They did this by establishing agencies in local communities in cooperation with local and national banks. Not only did they manage to revitalize local communities, it also established a collaborative network within IBJ’s own network of matchmaking agencies.

2. A lot more people are considering matchmaking as their side job.

Due to the pandemic, people have had to turn to a second job. And a lot of them have decided to join the matchmaking industry due to the flexibility it offers in terms of working at any given time and at just about anywhere. Of course, the fact that many matchmaking activities have switched to online has made this even easier.

Originally published by PR Times.

---

(Image source: Unsplash, Jungwoo Hong)

Global Love Report – December 22, 2021
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

Mingle the Single, a Dutch company that organizes events for singles around the Hoeksche Waard area (located south of the city of Rotterdam), is organizing a number of different singles events next year.

One event is a brunch in the Euromast, the tallest tower in the Netherlands, which they plan to take place on the 16th of January. Participants will be divided into age groups and each age group will have their own table at brunch.

They also have additional plans for 2022, including a speed dating event planned for February and their “Walk & Talk” singles tour, where they lead a group of singles in a walking tour around a city.

Mingle the Single organizes events for singles between the ages of 25 and 88. Their previous singles events tend to do with a specific activity around the South Holland region, such as, canoe trip, powered bicycle rides, sailing, etc.

Originally published by Hoeksch Nieuws.

---

(Image source: Unsplash, Samantha Gades)

Global Love Report – December 15, 2021
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

Sydney-based dating coach Anna Swoboda has expanded her business into matchmaking. Aside from being a Global Love Institute certified dating and relationship coach, Swoboda also has plenty of experience with regards to dating.

In fact, before she met her fiancé, she has actually gone on more than one thousand dates!

How did she manage that feat?

According to her, there were times where she would go on a date five times in a week. There were, of course, periods where she didn’t date because she was in a relationship. She also refrained from dating for a few years.

Her dating experience has been varied, with some “dating disasters” in the mix.

However, Swoboda noted that if she had the knowledge and experience that she has now back when she was still dating, she would have said no to a number of them. Now, of course, she understands that about preferences and compatibility. She also knows what she’s looking for in a relationship.

Originally published by 7News.

---

(Image source: Pexels, Lisa)

Global Love Report – December 15, 2021
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

Tech companies that relied on algorithms have realized that they’re not the end solution to everything. Instead, some of these companies are looking to add humans to their automation.

And online dating companies are among these companies.

One particular dating app that is doing this is The League, which is selective when it comes to picking their members and only chooses “successful singles”. They’ve now added matchmaking to their list of services and have employed “Ivy League educated” matchmakers.

Even Match is joining in. In fact, Match has been testing human matchmaking since February of this year. And, as covered in a previous news article, they now provide two matches that are “human picked” at an extra cost for users each month.

Furthermore, they are also testing using dating coaches as matchmakers to help matchmake users. And Match has reported that more than 30% of members have said yes to this. What’s more, the expert picks for the users were eight times more likely to like each other.

Originally published by Wall Street Journal.

---

(Image source: Pixabay, Solenfeyissa)

Global Love Report – December 8, 2021
A review article by Pamela Stephanie

---

Verόnica Alcanda previously worked as a manager for a large hotel chain. But she decided to establish her own matchmaking agency after seeing an ad for It’s Just Lunch on an English magazine.

After that, she placed her career in the hotel industry on hold in order to create her own matchmaking agency.

Why is her agency different from other agencies?

Before Alcanda Matchmaking came to be, most of the matchmaking agencies in Spain were really marriage agencies. According to Alcanda, despite the fact that they’re calling themselves “matchmaking agencies”, they don’t actively search for matches for their clients.

What they do is try to find a match in their existing database, hand a phone number to the client and the process is over.

What Alcanda Matchmaking does is what she calls “sentimental headhunting”, where they actively search for a match based on a client’s preferences.

Alcanda’s Clientele

For her male clients, they tend to be businessmen or senior executives between the ages of 45 and 58 years old. Though she did mention that some of her clients are as old as 70.

Alcanda mentioned that her male clients tend to look for a woman who is intelligent and beautiful. Although she added that recently some of the requirements have changed. When she first started her business, most of her male clients wanted someone slim. Nowadays, “curves have become fashionable.”

When it comes to male and female percentage, Alcanda stated that it varies between 45-55%, sometimes she has more female clients and other times more male clients.

In terms of marital status, most of her clients were married previously.

Clients’ Stories

Alcanda’s most successful story is the client who married the first person that she introduced to him—a match who lived in Madrid, whereas he lived in Barcelona. But Alcanda knew from the start that the two would be a great match for each other.

There are, of course, cases where she hadn’t been successful. But for those clients, they had existing problems that they had yet to solve such as: not being over their divorce, not ready for a relationship or wanting a partner for all the wrong reasons.

In terms of clients who have unreasonable expectations, Alcanda shared on particular story of a 64-year-old client who was looking for the impossible: a former or current model, someone who plays golf for at least 15 years, knows how to sail, studied in the US, and maximum 30 years of age. In the end, she had to tell the client, politely, that someone with this profile does not exist. And even if she did exist, the likelihood that she’d want to be with him is very slim.

The Pandemic’s Impact on her Agency

Alcanda mentioned that her business stalled during the pandemic. But after the lockdowns were lifted, she and her staff received quite the surprise. During the last quarter of 2020, she received a surge in clients. In that quarter, her business received more business than the entirety of 2019.

According to Alcanda, being confined to their homes made people realize how important it is to have someone for the good times and the bad times. Some of her potential clients even told her that they didn’t want to be alone again if another lockdown were to happen.

Originally published by El Mundo.

---

(Image source: Pexels, Mikhail Nilov)