Articles

This is our fourth installment on Matchmaking and Matchmakers of LA. Here are two more very prominent matchmakers in Los Angeles.

Svetlana International-This matchmaking company got its start not in Los Angeles, but in St. Petersburg, Russia.

From its start in 1996, it expanded to Newport Beach, CA in 1998, and to Beverly Hills, CA in 2002.

Before starting the business, Svetlana Novikova worked for a real estate company in St. Petersburg that catered to the real estate needs of executives from top worldwide corporations, such as Pizza Hut, KPMG, Ernst & Young, and Phillip Morris. She found that businessmen with busy travel and professional schedules often did not have the time or access to the social situations that might bring potential mates into their personal circle. This was the motivation behind her starting Svetlana International.

Svetlana’s business is very hands on. She personally works with members so that she knows exactly what would work for them. She learns about personal interests, life goals, sense of humor, etc. She feels that she has a special gift for knowing when couples will have chemistry, something you can’t get from filling out a form. When she makes a match, she is confident that there will be chemistry and compatibility.

Part of her success, she says, is the on going interviews and one-on-one sessions that she has with clients where she listens to their preferences. She stays with each client throughout the entire process until they ultimately meet their soul mate.

Their most popular program is the one-year “Svetlana International & Social Club” Membership, which provides access to the following:

1-Passes to Social Club events.
2-Access to a Svetlana International Concierge during regular office hours to assist you.
3-Unlimited access to the current database of female clients in California and around the USA.
4-Unlimited dating opportunities.
5-Prompt updates about new compatible female clients.

The average age range of male clients is 35-55, and for the female clients it is 25-45.

There are about 800 members in their database with an 8 to 1 ratio of women to men.

References are available upon request. There is a three-day refund policy. Pictures are shown to matches before they meet.

There is a two-month on-hold policy if the client is dating someone exclusively or he is going out of the country for a trip longer than two months. If he falls ill for a long time then they will reimburse him back the time that he was not using his membership, but they need to be notified in advance in order to make the adjustment.

Searches can be made outside of their database at an additional charge.

For more information go to www.svetlanaagency.com

Amy Laurent International-In 1989 when Amy Laurent was only 12 years old, Kevin Costner was told in the “Field Of Dreams” that, “If you build it, he will come.” Eighteen years later the matchmaking company she created in 2005 could easily fulfill any man’s dreams.

Amy learned first hand about matchmaking services; she tried three of them herself right here in Los Angeles. Ever the perfectionist, she saw areas that could be improved upon. After working on her own concept and philosophy, she fast tracked her business start-up 2 ½ years ago with partner, Alysia Ellin, 35, a former fashion model.

Their strategy has been quite simple: Find the most attractive, dynamic and desirable women in the marketplace, and the men will come. And, just like the line in the movie, they have. Between their Los Angeles and New York (started 1 ½ years ago) offices, the duo caters to over 80 male clients at any given time. The men are generally between 35 and 55, and the women are between 25 and 38. They have over 2700 women in their database.

The men are usually CEOs, successful executives, and up and comers in the business world, as well as physicians and attorneys. They are affluent, highly rated and exceptional men, as well as being the most commitment minded and selective. At ALI they get very personal attention to determine their needs and desires. This usually takes place over several meetings. The ladies want to make sure that they and their service are just right for their clients and vice versa. They make a habit of visiting their prospects at their home or office. It helps them to understand their clients better, while assuring that the men are who they say they are. In addition they do extensive background checks.

Amy and Alysia never forget that it is the women who attract their potential clients to them. They take substantial time to get to know the woman very well. After all, most are their contemporaries, who soon become their friends; and they instinctively know what most of their wishes and wants might be. They, nevertheless, do background checks on the women as well. Their youthfulness and passion come in handy because they are out daily attending high profile events, corporate functions, mingling at private parties, the trendy nightlife scene, making daily visits to upscale restaurants, browsing at the city’s busiest shopping boutiques, as well as networking with other women at popular hair salons, gyms, day spas, coffee houses, and nail salons around the city and beyond.

They charge the men $10,000 to be a member of either the Los Angeles or New York offices. If the men are so inclined, and are willing to see the women at least twice per month that they show interest in, they can use both offices interchangeably. The cost for being a bicoastal member is $20,000 per year. Unlimited introductions are available. And, the men can see as many pictures and profiles as they wish. They are allowed a two month hold if they start to see someone special. Lastly, the ladies will routinely meet women outside of their database in order to make the right match.

For more information go to www.amylaurent.com