Franchise at First Sight Entrepreneur meets his match in a dating service franchise
By Devlin Smith
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Mark Manlin is single, successful and looking for love--theideal client for dating service It's JustLunch. That's why, after hearing about it on the radio, hedecided to give it a try. What he didn't yet know was that oneperfect match would come only a few months later, when he decidedto purchase and open his own It's Just Lunch franchise inDetroit.
Manlin, 37, also owner of a real estate development company inSt. Louis, was never intrigued by the dating services he had seenbefore, but appreciated It's Just Lunch's mission toprovide quality lunch dates for busy professionals in a discreet,no-pressure atmosphere. "I knew how difficult it was as asingle person to meet quality single people," Manlin confides."I like the efficiency and that it caters to an upscaleclientele."
Dating directors interview clients about their personalities,interests and experiences and usually arrange the first date within24 to 48 hours of membership. Because of the importance of theone-on-one interaction between the staff and their clients, Manlinhandpicks each employee, choosing excellent listeners and"people people."
Expanding with more franchises in Michigan and possibly Canada,It's Just Lunch's 2003 sales are projected at $1.5 million.Manlin is hopeful for the future success of It's Just Lunch,both as a franchisee and a client. As he puts it, "It's atestament to the fact I believe in the company that I would be aclient."
