Elite Introductions - Media Room

Single Solutions – VIVE Magazine
April May 2007

Possibly one of the most annoying tips to be given to singles is that you will never meet your Prince Charming at home.  It is usually imparted from well-meaning friends and family.  However, in many cases an active social life is not the problem.  It is simply that other suitable, eligible singles are not entering into it.  It's certainly a situation to which Trudy Gilbert, founder of Elite Introductions, can relate.

"When I was single I found it hard to meet like-minded professionals," recalls Gilbert. "I tried online dating, going to bars, I let my friends set me up but I never met my match." And by that she means she was not meeting men with a full life both professionally and personally.

In the end Gilbert met her husband through friends two years ago, but she never forgot her experiences.  She then began setting up her friends and had some success with that, which got her thinking about doing it for a living.  She had always wanted to be her own boss and dreamt of starting up her own company. And so she took the plunge and set up Elite Introductions in October 2005.

Gilbert was adamant her agency would offer something different.  "I tell my clients to view me as a well connected friend," she says.  "I wanted to offer a more personal service, which introduces professional people who have more in common than their marital status."

She says she is honest with prospective members before they join about whether she is able to match them up with people she currently has on her books.  And she is also honest about delivering positive and negative feedback to both parties.  "I don't want to waste anyone's time and I think people appreciate that I am upfont and honest," says Gilbert.

Visit www.eliteintroductions.com.au

Interview: Gabrielle Nancarrow