Who we are?

In 1991 I took a job as a sales consultant in a busy dating agency. I had always loved the idea of happily ever after and strongly believed that there was someone out there for everyone. Being a hopeless romantic at heart with the notion that having someone to love makes life and everyday experiences much more meaningful I was very intrigued by the concept of matching people.

I have always been a firm believer that whilst we can be content with our lives with are not truly full filled unless with are giving and sharing love.

People would ask me “what are you going to do with your life?” or “what do you want to be when you grow up?’ My standard answer even as a young child was “I want to work with people and I want to help people”. Doing what, I didn’t know ,all I knew is that somehow I wanted to make a difference to people lives.  Social work was of huge interest to me but although it was rewarding it somehow lacked the challenge I desired.

After my first day in a dating agency I knew I had found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.  Work for me was a passion and as such I enjoyed much accomplishment. Within 2 years I had worked hard enough and with the support of my clients and my current boss I bought the agency.

The Peoples Introduction Bureau is very much an extension of me.  Here we are some 20 years down the road  and my focus and dedication remains solid.

What makes us different? Past and present.

From the beginning of business I decided that PIB would stand alone from other agencies and offer people an alternative to the competition.

The industry back in the 80’s and 90’s was very focused around the “Personal Columns”. Agencies would run pages after pages of lonely hearts descriptions in personal columns and business was solely found with this style of advertising.  People were lured by the descriptions agencies would write in the ads like dangling carrots.

The general public would read the personal ad, call the agency and in most cases would pay a fee over the phone to be given an introduction to a person who often didn’t exist. This was common practice throughout the industry and remains similar today. There were no id checks, there was no meeting the person you were recommending and there was no way of knowing if the sincerity of the client was to actually meet someone with the idea of forming a relationship or if their motivation was for other reasons.

I had a different attitude towards attracting customers and so while all the other agencies (and believe me when I say there were SO many) were writing their lonely heart adds I was advertising the business not dangling carrots!

Our marketing and advertising wasn’t done in the personal column instead we advertised our business in the news section of the paper with the view of attracting a clientele who didn’t know that agencies ever really existed.  We therefore attracted a completely different market of clients. Our clients were genuine singles who didn’t want to browse the personal columns; they didn’t want to meet people who were only after one thing. Our clients were and remain individuals who are seeking the very best in customer service, who want genuine advice, a sensible, safe alternative to the singles scene. Our clients didn’t want to be associated with being desperate they just wanted an opportunity to meet other likeminded people.

Once we understood our clients’ needs we were able to build a solid foundation on which to model our business plan on. We didn’t have to compete with the masses of agencies all competing with each other. We had a unique mission, we had a different client base, we had an unrivalled marketing strategy but above all we offered the very best in customer service.

The singles industry has evolved and changed over the years. Whilst the personal columns are still commonly used by agencies to market their businesses the volume of agencies has significantly reduced. The legislation of the Introduction Agencies Act in the Eastern states saw many unscrupulous agencies close their doors which had a positive effect on the industry as a whole.

Then became the age of DYI and the internet.  Many people found by using internet dating sites they no longer needed the personal columns or dating agencies they could do it themselves in the comfort of their own homes, hence the need for dating agencies has reduced even further. This saw even more agencies close their doors. Online dating sites have become a socially acceptable way to meet people and online dating remains the second highest volume of internet users.

As the dating world changes and the internet boom paves the way for singles the needs for boutique matchmaking services is slowly diminishing.  Much the same as the major supermarkets are killing the local green grocer and customer service will soon be a thing of the past.

The cracks have begun to appear in the world of online dating and have left the door open to expose people’s vulnerability.

Internet dating versus online dating.

Online dating is no doubt convenient, affordable with the option the view profiles of other singles in the hope to meet someone special.

Dating agencies offer a personalised service, we do all the leg which many busy professional people don’t have time for. All clients are id checked and screened thus eliminating the sexual predators; rip off artists, con men and women. The clients are all generally local so you won’t be developing a relationship with some fantasy person on the other side of the world. Dates provided by an agency end up with a face to face meeting and not just written correspondence. No fake on line profiles to lure the customers into joining. Guaranteed face to face dates. Getting the real facts about the person and not just the made up stuff people put on their online profiles.

What is our point of difference?

• We are a boutique business offering personal service by real people. When a client needs to ask a question they speak to a real person, not a machine and not a call centre in India.
• From the initial inquiry the customer is treated to service.
• Once the inquiry is made we conduct a compatibility search of our client base, these searches are conducted personally and not computer generated, the results are emailed to the client or can be discussed over the phone or face to face.
• Unlike many agencies we meet ALL of our clients face to face. We do not join people over the phone and we do not join people who we have not met.
• All our members must present ID.
• Our entire members receive a full service agreement so they know what they are paying for and what they are entitled to.
• We are a personalised service and all levels of membership benefit from hand selected compatible matches. All members have the opportunity to accept or decline an introduction. We do not hand out the contact details unless both parties agree. We do not mail out details with private information.
• We keep all clients details confidential with a high regard of privacy.
• We do not on sell clients details.
• We do not place profiles of clients on our website for the world to see. All our members’ details remain confidential.
• We do not make you meet someone you don’t want to meet.
• Our memberships are flexible to suit the individual.
• We only join people who have a genuine desire to develop a relationship.
• All our members must be legally single.
• We are 100% West Australian based owned and operated by same owner for 18 years.
• Our staff industry experience totals  43 years.
• Unlike many other agencies and online dating we commit ourselves to helping the customer achieve their relationship goals.
• Our consultant will do a full personality profile of your individual criteria and help you select the right membership.
• We then hand select compatible people for you to meet face to face.
• You give feedback after the meeting and if the match is unsuccessful we organise another meeting for you.