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The largest franchised personal introduction agency, Searchmate has been bought by two of its Midlands franchisees, Jaci Barton and Julie Blakemore, who originally joined the network six years ago.
They see the dating industry as a growth market with over 16 million singles in the UK and the figure steadily growing as the divorce rate increases and people have less time to develop their own social circle.
“We know what a satisfying business Searchmate is to run”, says Barton, a former women’s editor of the Sunday Mercury, Birmingham. “Now we can share our wealth of experience and passion for the business with other franchisees.
“As franchisees ourselves, Julie and I understand exactly what we need to offer to ensure anyone investing in Searchmate gets the support and commitment required to make a success of their business.”
Home-based
The pair took out their Searchmate franchise in 2001 when they were both looking for a home-based business that would fit in with the demands of their young families and they subsequently opened a chain of local offices, covering Gloucestershire, Worcester and Birmingham.
Searchmate has 30 franchised territories and as it acquired another dating agency, Avenues last year has a large national database of members that makes it well placed to develop its geographical coverage.
“We’re actively looking to expand into new areas with the right people,” says Barton. “In return, we can offer them our experience, management support and comprehensive ongoing training.”
Two of the longest-established branches, Birmingham and the Cotswolds are available as resales.
“One of the biggest problems facing many singles when it comes to finding someone with whom to share their lives is that they simply don’t have the time to get out there and look,” explains Barton. “At Searchmate, we do that for our members.
Home visits
“After someone has contacted us - and we realise how a big a step that can be - one of our franchisees, or one of their consultants, will visit them in the comfort and privacy of their own home to find out all about them; the kind of person they would like to meet; and which of our tailor-made introduction packages would best suit them.
“Unlike most agencies, which just invite their clients into their offices, we visit them in their home, checking their identity and proof of residence. This reassures our clients as they know that everyone has been through the same process.
“We also take a photograph, ensuring that there are no blind dates based on 20-year-old photos - just genuine people, genuinely looking for a long-term relationship,” says Barton.
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