Dating Service News
Valentine's Day - these are two words that can strike fear into some of the most manly of men. The pressure of having a date on this day is so great that, according to a recent survey by dating agency It's Just Lunch based in the United States, more than a third of single men avoid being in a relationship between November and Feb 14.
The online survey polled 3,400 single Internet users across 100 cities in the US and Singapore.
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- Straights Times
SINGAPORE : Matchmaking agencies in Singapore are thinking out of the box to stay ahead of the competition.
Some are going beyond just providing dating tips and are trying to find ways to help their clients build up relationships.
Over 170 dating agencies are cashing in on the growing pool of singles in Singapore. And as more come on board offering similar services, they are seeking new ways to sustain growth.
It's Just Lunch - which caters to high-income singles like bankers, lawyers and doctors - saw its revenue grow by 25 per cent last year. To stay on top of the game, it has launched Singapore's first "Intercity" dating. For the full story click here.
- Channel News Asia
TO add a dash of romance to work trips and extended work stints, dating agencies in Singapore, it seems, are finally catching up with their jet-setting clients.
From setting up overseas offices to targeting Singapore-bound expatriates, these agencies are crossing borders to find matches for their single and eligible clients.
Dating agency It's Just Lunch announced yesterday the launch of its Bangkok branch, as well as the concept of inter-city dating to get its Singaporean and Thai clients acquainted with each other.
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- TODAY Online
The essence of It's Just Lunch's matching system lies in the personal touch of the dating consultants who pair each individual with a carefully selected partner, not through a computer matching software but with intuition, dedication and a detailed hour-long interview session during the initial sign-up.
A new and added advantage of having a new IJL branch in Asia is that now the clients have an opportunity to date a bigger pool of eligible singles from not just one city but two: Singapore and Bangkok.
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- Bangkok Credit Card
Looking for love but your hectic schedule just doesn’t allow it? Episode five of Rouge explored the dating culture in Singapore with Anisa Hassan, a former TV journalist who now heads the Singapore office of “It’s Just Lunch”.
She talked about the revolution of the dating culture in this day and age where singles have turned to modern day matchmaking services as a means of finding their other half. And “It’s Just Lunch” is just one of the many avenues today where singles can meet up with like-minded individuals!
Click here for pictures of the show and more.
- Rouge (Channel 5 MediaCorp)
Thai singles are becoming more open to meeting new single people to date through a personal introduction rather than an online dating site. This is why Anisa believes that her second office will attract just as many clients as her local one.
“We are very excited about this latest development and we are looking forward to get singles in Bangkok hooked up. We are very surprised that even before we are officially opened, we have so many professional singles expressing interests in our service. Indeed, our global brand recognition has preceded us,” Anisa enthused.
Click here for the full article.
- PR Web
Tired of mismatches and disaster dates or too busy meeting people outside your workplace? Then maybe, it’s the right time to seek professional matchmaking services to find a suitable date for you.
It’s Just Lunch (IJL), an upscale dating service that caters to well-heeled individuals who almost have everything except time, has just launched its Bangkok office, the second in Asia.
Click here to read more.
- Asia News Network
Being single doesn't mean you have to hide under your covers on this day or any other day.
Take a cue from the other 1,770 singles polled in the same survey, who say they will instead surround themselves with the love and camaraderie of good friends on Valentine's Day.
After all, there is no longer a stigma attached to being single, or to approaching a dating agency for help in hooking up, says Anisa Hassan, 35, managing director of It's Just Lunch Singapore.
Click here for the full story.
- The Straits Times
"It's Just Lunch, a specialized dating service for busy professionals, with 65 franchise operations throughout the U.S., announced its entrance into the global marketplace with the signing of its first international franchise agreements in Singapore and Toronto. The Singapore office plans to open by June 2004; the Toronto office, in July 2004. Singapore has an estimated 1 million adult singles and is anticipated to act as a launching pad for the entire Asian region, with talks for Master Franchise Agreements already underway in Hong Kong, Malaysia, China and Japan. Said Dolan, 'We are looking at a number of other regions and expect to open franchises later this year in Australia and Western Europe.'"
- Entrepreneur Magazine
"Former TV journalist, Anissa Hassan, who was in the news recently as the owner of [the dating service It's Just Lunch], has co-authored a book. The handy, 100-page Guide to Dating in Singapore…'It's the perfect gift for singles in Singapore, especially now [Anisa said]."
- EasyStreats
"One dating service has seen a surge of Singaporeans trying to spice up their holiday season by meeting new people. The festive season can be hard on a singleton like 30-year-old Corrinne Lim, but she is not about to spend it alone. Thanks to dating service 'It's Just Lunch!', people like Corrinne get to find out if romance is in the air...Ms Anisa Hassan, Managing Director of 'It's Just Lunch!' [in Singapore], said: 'Our clients have told us the holiday season is the most stressful for them especially if they are single.'"
- Channel News Asia
"The dating scene in Singapore looks set to be spiced up. The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports wants to energize the local dating industry to give singles more opportunities to meet a life partner...Dating agencies say it is high time the dating industry gets energized. Many are eager to work with the Ministry. Ms. Anisah Hassan, 'It's Just Lunch' (Dating Agency), said: 'What we need to do is build on that awareness that there are so many to choose from, that there is online dating, there is off-line dating, there is speed dating and there is other traditional matchmaking and ours is a personalised matchmaking or dating service that puts two persons together.'
- Channel News Asia
"More people are searching for love in the month of February. Private dating [services] say they have been getting more enquiries and appointments in the lead-up to Valentine's Day... 'It's Just Lunch' - a 13-year-old American dating franchise - which was set up in Singapore last year, has also reported better sales. The agency usually has a total of 12 to 18 appointments daily, but say business has increased about 25 pecent this month."
- Channel News Asia
"It's Just Lunch (IJL), located in Ocean Towers at Raffles Place was founded a year ago by former broadcast journalist, Anisa Hassan…Ms. Anisa said her client list of about 500 includes the cream of Singapore's executives. 'They include doctors, lawyers, civil servants and other high-ranking executives who have been very successful in building their careesr but are left with little time to meet and socialize with other singles outside their professional circles,' she said."
- The Straits Times
"What's the No. 1 excuse for singles not having met The One? "Who's hot time?" Sound familiar? Dating service It's Just Lunch found that 52 percent of 7,000 singles surveyed worldwide say thay're too busy to meet other singles."
- Her World Magazine, Singapore
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