BIZ SHORTS - NZ Business Magazine - March 2008

The art of match-making

Sasha Madarasz runs a successful business introducing single people and makes a lot of clients very happy, as Glenn Baker reports.

As businesses go, sure, it's a little unusual, and it makes a great topic of conversation.

But for Sasha Madarasz, chief match-maker for Two's Company, a one-on-one introduction agency for single people, the key business principle is no different to any other business. Look after your clients' needs and they in turn will ensure that new business keeps coming through your door.

Let's face it - if Madarasz wasn't skilled at matching up individuals, her business wouldn't have lasted five minutes - let alone the five years that Two's Company has now chalked up.

It started in 2003 when, after running New Zealand's largest talent agency Show Off for six years, Madarasz acted on an idea from her entrepreneurial partner to put her match-making skills to better use, and generate less stress in the process.

"For years I had been matching people with a brief - which was largely at a physical level. Now, with Two's Company I was matching people on an emotional level" she says.

Madarasz never for a moment thought she would be introducing people for a living, although ironically one of the couples featured on her website was the result of her introductions some five or six years before Two's Company.

She's a natural for the job - four marriages, three engagements (just last year alone) and at least 80 couples still blissfully together are testimony to her skills. And while her website initially helped the business gain traction (along with a major launch party), research reveals that around 40 percent of new business comes via word of mouth and referrals, with the tiny balance courtesy of Google and the Yellow Pages.

There are other one-on-one introduction agencies out there, Madarasz knows of at least three. But her target market is primarily busy professionals who're looking for long-term relationships but don't want their photo bandied around the Internet or to attend organised dinners that could see them bumping into a client or colleague.

"These people are high calibre people leading very busy, successful business and social lives, who don't ordinarily have time to fit in meeting new, eligible people," says Madarasz. "They love the fact that they can join Two's Company where I have personally met every single individual who has joined and leave it to me to make the right introductions."

While she cannot predict 'chemistry' for her clients, she can guarantee that they will meet other singles with complementing lifestyles and personalities.

Madarasz is diligent at keeping it up to date with new testimonials for her website (www.twoscompany.net.nz). She makes this her own personal task. Couples that have been together more than three months are encouraged to submit a testimonial.

Madarasz says the greatest challenge is to get people to the second date - and this may often necessitate a follow-up call from her.

"It can be a struggle because peoples' expectations may have been too high, or they simply weren't relaxed enough. One couple had a first date that lasted five hours, during which there was much talking - but I still had to intervene to facilitate a second date," she recalls.

Couples like the fact that there is total confidentiality with the introduction service - it has been likened to the doctor/patient relationship.

"I recall being at one function where a woman was describing a friend's 'lovely new boyfriend', and I had to resist the urge to tell her that I had introduced them!"

More potential

Madarasz admits that her business is largely a numbers game - despite membership growing from zero to 1700 in five years and organising 80 to 100 dates per week, the pressure is always on to secure new clients. She believes the business has huge potential and has ambitious growth plans for 2008 - including a target of ten additional clients per week. Business is largely confined to Auckland at this stage, because of the population density - but she hasn't ruled out setting up in Australia.

Madarasz attributes her success to her enthusiasm for the business.

"It's great working in a business you love - it doesn't feel like a job at all. And it's very satisfying making people happy. I can't wait to take this business further."

She is also grateful for the assistance of her business mentor who's "worth his weight in gold" and the free business courses hosted by WHK Gosling Chapman (fully funded by NZ Trade & Enterprise).

"These courses and the one-hour follow-up sessions always leave me coming away with new ideas for my business."

Glenn Baker is editor of NZBusiness.

"It's great working in a business you love - it doesn't feel like a job at all."