Tag: Featured News

  • Halifax’s Only Matchmaker and Dating Coach

    picture of halifax to illustrate halifax's only matchmaker

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


    Jean-eva Dickie is Halifax’s only matchmaker and dating coach. Though like many matchmakers, Dickie didn’t start out in the industry before becoming a matchmaker. In fact, she worked in the oil and gas industry in Calgary. After a few years, she decided to move back to Nova Scotia.

    Her interest in the offline dating industry was piqued when she heard about a Toronto speed dating event from a friend. And she decided to organize one in Halifax, which didn’t have one previously.

    From these speed dating events, she began her agency, J-E Dating. After seeing that not all of the singles at her events were compatible, she decided to create a database and began matching people from there.

    Dickie doesn’t solely focus on matchmaking and speed dating, however. As Halifax’s only matchmaker, she also does date coaching and dating workshops. And she also helps clients who want to stick to online dating by helping them with their dating profiles, giving them texting tips, and giving them advice for in-person dates.

    Dickie believes that only a few dating coaches are giving tips for online dating on things like what to text, creating a dating profile, and even how to take pictures. She suggests this is because online dating itself is relatively new and so the science behind what works is still being discovered.

    Halifax is a relatively small city and with a limited dating pool, people do tired of online dating after some time. So, online daters do turn to Dickie for help.

    For the full article, click here.

    Original article published by The Coast.


    (Image source: Pexels, Alex Tapia)
  • CEO: AI no match for Experienced Matchmakers

    computer code to illustrate experienced matchmakers

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


    The number of domestic marriages in Korea may have dropped by almost 13,000 compared to last year. But it doesn’t seem to deter matchmaking agencies in Korea. Duo, one of the largest matchmaking companies in South Korea, is actually seeing an increase in membership of about 33% compared to last year, according to its CEO, Park Soo-kyung.

    In fact, the number of members who match and would eventually marry has shown a growth rate in double digits.

    Park mentioned that in March and April of 2020 the company’s performance was very low yet by July, it actually bounced back. Park believes that the idea that family is what matters is the reason why their business managed to rebound. She mentioned that it’s also because meetings and communal activities were limited so the number of people looking for a match has increased.

    Park also noted that the reason why her company can be so competitive is because of the matchmakers. Their experienced matchmakers wear many hats—not only as matchmakers but also as a relationship coach and even counsellor. What’s more, these matchmakers have—on average—more than 7 years of experience as matchmakers.

    Park believes that it doesn’t matter how advanced an AI can be, it simply can’t match with experienced matchmakers. While algorithms can analyze clients’ preferences and come up with recommendations, but finding someone who can become a spouse is a different thing altogether.

    But that’s not the only thing different about Duo lately. In fact, even their client base has changed. Previously, their clients were mainly those in their mid to late 30s who urgently wanted to marry. Nowadays, they have people in their 20s who wanted a family of their own, as well as those in their 40s who are remarrying. They’re even seeing first time marriages for members in their 40s and 50s.

    To read the full article in Korean, click here.

    Original article published by Maeil Business Newspaper.


    (Image source: Pexels, Markus Spiske)
  • UR Students Established Matchmaking Team

    university students to illustrate matchmaking team

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


    UR Matched is a matchmaking service aimed at students at the University of Rochester in New York. UR Matched utilizes Instagram in order to help their fellow students find love.

    The team at UR Matched—whose founder remains anonymous, with only her pseudonym known—don’t use a computer program to find matches for each user who send in their profile. This matchmaking team base their matches on the answers applicants gave from a list of questions provided by the UR Matched team.

    The questions include things such as, their preferences, the type of relationship they’re looking for, and their turn-offs, among others.
    Because the team consists of students, however, the wait time is a particular problem. However, it seems users are fine with the wait.

    UR Matched’s founder’s main aim is to help other students “make meaningful connections”.

    To read the full article about this matchmaking team, click here.

    Original article published by Campus Times.


    (Image source: Pexels, Ivan Samkov)
  • Dating App Hiring Unlucky Daters as Date Advisors

    two cracked hearts to illustrate unlucky daters

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


    While matchmaking agencies and dating platforms have coaches who tell singles what they should do to get a date, one particular app has decided to go a different way. Instead, the dating app, POM, is offering £300 per day for people who have a hard time getting a date.

    Why?

    Because they want unlucky daters to tell other singles what not to do. The app, which is a niche dating app that matches people based on their taste in music, has decided that people unlucky in love would have better advice for looking singles.

    Specifically, these unlucky daters would be able to share their own experience so others can learn from it and refrain from doing the same thing they did.
    Applicants for the position are required to show screenshots of their dating mishaps or to share their disaster stories.

    For the full article, click here.

    Original article published by Mirror UK.


    (Image source: Pexels, Monstera)
  • CarpeDM: New Dating App for Black Women

    .two women working to illustrate carpedm

    Global Love Report – September 1, 2021
    A review article by Pamela Stephanie


    A new dating app for Black women is working with matchmakers in order to create better opportunities for their users. The aim of the app, CarpeDM, is to help Black women find “healthy, stable relationships,” according to one of its founders, Sali Hama.

    They want to help a community that they say is, “underserved”. And they want to do that while improving the online dating experience.

    To use the app, users must answer 50 questions about themselves and what they’re looking for in terms of a relationship. They must also include a photograph and a video of themselves. But this is where this app differs from other apps. This is because a matchmaker will then review their profile and then contact them for a 30-minute interview.

    According to Hama, they’re trying to directly help their users. This is in contrast to the hands-off approach of other dating apps—where users have to swipe and find their match themselves.

    The company is currently carrying out a survey for Black women, to find out about their experience in online dating and what CarpeDM can do in order to fill in any gaps that exist. The app is expected to launch this fall.

    To read the full article, click here.

    Original article published by Technical.ly.


    (Image source: Pexels, Christina Morillo)
  • Japanese Agency Offering Coaching for Men Only

    man in suit to illustrate date coaching for men only

    Global Love Report – September 1, 2021
    Summarized in English by Pamela Stephanie


    Professional “Love Support” company, Last Partner, offers date coaching for men only in Japan. Established in 2020, the date consultation agency is currently offering a Personal Training package exclusively for men.

    CEO Makoto Toki initially started the service because he was concerned about how men were looking for love and saw that there was a need for full support for Japanese men. After initially working with dating app Pairs to help male users take professional pictures to help them on their search, he decided to establish Last Partner.

    In terms of appearance, their training includes: a professional fashion coordinator for clients who will help them find suitable clothing. They have also partnered with a local hair salon so their clients can have a haircut and have their hair styled. Clients will also have their profile picture taken by a professional photographer.

    For training purposes, clients will have date coaching with a female trainer for a total of 4 sessions. They will also have online coaching through Zoom with a female trainer for 12 total sessions. Furthermore, they will also be able to have 24-hours unlimited consultation with a female trainer on the LINE messaging app.

    To top it off, they’re also able to attend Last Partner events for free and they will be able to have a face-to-face date with 9 women in order to put their newly learned skills to practice.

    To read the full article in Japanese about Last Partner’s date coaching for men only, click here.

    Original article published by PR Times.


    (Image source: Unsplash, Hunters Race)
  • Irish Dating Experts: Singles Wary About Contact

    two people holding hands to illustrate irish dating experts

    Global Love Report – September 1, 2021
    A review article by Pamela Stephanie


    Two Irish dating experts are claiming that Covid is causing people to forgo dating apps and also to be wary of physical contact.

    Jennifer Haskins, Introductions Director of Two’s Company, a matchmaking agency, explains that people are fed up with other users’ behaviors on dating apps. They’re tired of the constant swiping, and negative behaviors such as ghosting.

    This sentiment is echoed by dating coach, Frances Kelleher, who believes that the fact that people are fed up with online dating was speeded up by COVID. At this point, she believes that people are tired of communicating online.

    However, the constant online communication is making singles more wary of being closer to someone new; someone who’s essentially a stranger to them.

    Haskins herself has noted that her clients nowadays would choose to first have a video call with their matches before meeting in person. It may take some time before people will be comfortable enough to go to pubs or clubs, according to Haskins. So more “traditional” way of meeting people may take a backseat during these post-lockdown times.

    Furthermore, people are less likely to have physical contact with their date, according to Kelleher. She believes that it would take longer for physical contact to occur now—whether it’s hugging or kissing or more.

    However, Kelleher thinks that it’s not necessarily a bad thing. If anything, people are more inclined to get to know the person better before taking the relationship further. And she also believes that face-to-face meetups will make a comeback after a period of post-lockdown adjustment.

    To read what else these two Irish dating experts have to say, click here.

    Original article published by Irish Mirror.


    (Image source: Unsplash, Dương Hữu)
  • Match is Beta testing New Features, Including Human-curated Matches

    Match is beta testing

    Global Love Report – August 25, 2021
    A review article by Pamela Stephanie


    Dating platform Match is beta testing their newest feature, “Matched by Us”.

    This new feature is aimed at users who are older and who are generally tired of swiping, sending and receiving messages, and not getting the results that they want. According to Match’s chief product officer, Dushyant Saraph, this new feature helps eliminates the need for users to swipe through countless profiles before finding someone who matches their preferences.

    Currently, the feature will give one “customized” match every week to the app’s users. The recommendations are based on questions that users have answered regarding their preferences and things like their five-year plan. Although it’s still based on algorithm, Saraph did mention they’re also testing using humans to pick these custom matches.

    Thus, using more traditional means of matchmaking and not relying on the algorithm fully. Though Saraph did mention that it’s still in its testing phase.

    But Match is beta testing other features, such as date coaching.

    The other feature is to deter ghosting. So, when one user fails to respond after a set amount of time, the app will nudge the user to respond before the conversation is archived. Or it will give them the option to unmatch.

    For the full article, click here.

    Original article published by TechCrunch.


    (Image source: Pexels, ThisIsEngineering)
  • LGBT Matchmaking Service Being Offered in Japan

    LGBT matchmaking

    Global Love Report – August 25, 2021
    Summarized in English by Pamela Stephanie


    The Japan LGBT Support Association, has started their own LGBT matchmaking service in order to help their members find life-long relationships. The service is now accepting registrations from members of the Association.

    Currently, the association is in partnership with 78 matchmaking agencies throughout Japan. The Association first worked with 56 agencies back in April before working with a further 22 agencies in July. The matchmakers involved are all professional matchmakers who completed training with the Association and have signed a contract with them.

    In fact, the training is continuous. The main aim for these matchmakers is to become matchmakers that the LGBT community can work with. And to help people in the community to find a life partner.

    The Association aims to expand their cooperation with 100 companies for their third round of recruitment on September 2nd.
    Their plan is to rely on the traditional hands-on style of matchmaking for their members.

    What’s more, the counseling and registration are currently offered free of charge.

    One of the people who registered, a 40-year-old woman in Kansai, was amazed that they offered this level of service for free. She also stated that she had been waiting for this kind of LGBT matchmaking service to help her find a life-long relationship. She also added that it made her think that she wouldn’t have to give up on having a family in the future.

    To read the full article on in Japanese, please click here.

    Originally published by Sankei Sports. 


    (Image source: Unsplash, Jason Leung)
  • A Profile of Russian Matchmaker Galina Karaseva

    heart balloons in a street in moscow to illustrate Russian matchmaker

    Global Love Report – August 25, 2021
    A Summary Article by Pamela Stephanie


    The number of singles in Moscow has multiplied, according to Russian Matchmaker, Galina Karaseva. Dating apps aren’t sufficient in helping singles find their match. In fact, matchmakers are in demand, thanks to the sheer number of singles currently looking.

    Before becoming a matchmaker, Karaseva worked as an Accountant. However, she found the main work depressing—she would rather be out meeting and talking to people. Instead, she became a matchmaker.

    She worked at one of the oldest matchmaking agencies for three months before she decided to purchase it for herself and run it as her own.

    Client Types

    Karaseva opts for clients who will have a long-term relationship and thus, dissuades older male clients looking for a young match.

    She claims that nowadays these ladies can earn their own living. And the young ladies who decide to match with older men would end up leaving the men for someone their age.

    Method

    Karaseva asks any potential client to fill in a questionnaire with general questions. After that, she asks more detailed questions regarding the client’s relationship history.

    A warning sign, for her, is when clients criticize their ex because these kinds of clients are difficult to help. She stated that if the client has had a negative experience previously, that they should first find a way to overcome that before they start to date. In the end, it’ll be a hindrance.

    Karaseva has her own database of singles for her clients. She also collaborates with other matchmakers in order to find a match. But for the truly difficult case, she does turn to dating platforms but she states that it’s difficult to find a match using those platforms.

    In those cases, she would inform the client that they will set up and run an account on their behalf. Though this type of case is quite rare.

    Date Coaching

    Although she is a matchmaker, Karaseva does give some pointers to her clients. For example, she gives them advice about what to do and what to talk about. She tells them that a first date should not go over one and a half hour. This way, it would leave them with enough to talk about but hopefully they won’t accidentally spill too much information.

    The first date should leave the person a little hungry for more, she stated.

    The Negative Side of Things

    Because she’s responsible for two strangers, Karaseva says that if there are any problems, they come directly to her. So, it’s a very precarious position to be in. Even big agencies have had issues with clients before.

    Some clients even complain that their match could be “better”. However, she has had her share of couples who matched and then ended up married. “Otherwise, we would have closed a long time ago,” she added. With matchmakers who have worked for a long time in the industry, they won’t even need to advertise. They’d have people approaching them based on recommendations alone.

    Recent Changes She’s Seeing as a Russian Matchmaker

    Previously, her client base tends to be older however Karaseva mentioned that nowadays she’s getting women in their mid-twenties who are looking for a match. She mentions that it’s more difficult these days to find a match by themselves in the real world. What’s more, people tend to be too busy to actually look for someone to meet. And even dating platforms are still a hassle for some people.

    To read the full interview with Russian Matchmaker, Galina Karaseva, please click here.

    Originally published by Moskvich Mag. 


    (Image source: Pexels, Slava Matveenko)