14 www.homebusinessnetwork.co.uk Issue 2July 2009
PROFILE :: INTRODUCTION COMPANY
Lesley is in no rush to find the right man
By Philip Smith
Lesley Brewer: Matchmaker
“I connect people using
intuition. There are no computer
LesLey Brewer tries to meet a programmes involved so I like
different single man every day. to spend ages really getting to
“Only one – these things can’t know someone. My office has two
be rushed,” she says. “It’s just fabulous leather reclining chairs
a friendly chat over a cup of but they usually sit on the edge
coffee.” she’s been doing it for a of their seats when they come.
few years now. But her husband, After all, how often do you get
Geoff, doesn’t mind – in fact he’s the chance to spend four hours
rather grateful. talking about yourself?”
you see Lesley, 51, runs The Clients come across Lesley via
Introduction Company from her website, local networking
her North yorkshire home. “I events, word of mouth and good
introduce professional men to old-fashioned ads in local papers.
professional women,” she says. “I do tend to concentrate on
she met Geoff, a builder on a business and professional people
blind date and have now been as they do seem to be finding
married for 25 years. “Today I it harder these days to find
met a really interesting and good- someone. They say: ‘where do I
looking businessman. Not bad for go? I don’t want to go clubbing.’
an old bird like me.” so many spend too much time on
Her business generates a their careers and neglect their
turnover of £100,000 from the personal lives. But I do turn away
500 or so on her books who pay some people if their social skills
£490 to register. Once listed are not up to scratch.
there is no further cost and “I am always here for them, a
they can benefit from as many bit like a mum, and I am always
introductions as they wish. The getting phone calls. They let me
only thing Lesley asks is that know what happens on the dates.
would-be suitors trek up to her A gentleman phoned yesterday
remote village home for a four to say he has never fallen so far
hour ‘interview’. “It has to be in and so fast. It was his second
my office,” she says, “I don’t like introduction and the lady’s first.
meeting in hotel foyers – they are
understand what makes them tick former company secretary and
“The job is very labour intensive
too impersonal.
and be absolutely clear about the
❝
Today I met a really
admin manager with a training
and emotional. I see five people
“I insist on meeting every man
sort of person they are looking for. interesting and good-looking company, who quit the budgets
a week – sometimes six, which
and woman personally before
“And it’s only after three and spreadsheets four years ago
means I can’t really grow the
offering them an introduction
hours that you really get to
businessman. Not bad for an
in favour of face-to-face contact.
business without growing me.”
to someone because I need to
know someone,” says Lesley, a
old bird like me.
❞
“I’m a people person,” she says.
www.theintroductioncompany.co.uk
SNAP SHOT
Name: Diane Hogarty
Location: Christchurch, Dorset
Company name: Esteem Mastectomy Lingerie
Age: 59
Most useful item: My lovely little brochure
Home worker tip: Make time to go to a
spa and chat to friends
Web: www.esteemlingerie.co.uk
“I was a special needs teacher, working
with profoundly disabled children. I had
breast cancer in 2005 and my working
environment involved a certain amount of
moving and handling heavy children so I
had to retire.
But I had became very frustrated
trying to buy a good fitting bra via mail
order or in a store where I had to wait
up to a month until they put an order
in! So, off I went to enrol on a Business
SNAP SH
OT
Link Women into Business course which
told me everything I needed to know to
start up. I can’t speak highly enough of
the thorough grounding this gave me.
sports, camisole, everyday, non-wired and
Two years ago I started Esteem
wired bras – something to suit everyone –
Mastectomy Lingerie. Now I fit and
plus swimsuits and satin nighties to take
sell mastectomy bras, nightwear
on that special cruise!
and swimsuits. I offer individual
I am recommended by the breast
appointments where ladies can spend
care nurses of both local NHS and
lots of time trying on, chatting, having a
Nuffield Hospitals. I distribute my
cuppa, then go out feeling more confident
brochures to GP practices, health clubs,
and feminine! It is especially important
chemists, hairdressers, chiropodists
to get the correct fitting bra after a
and community centres. I have just
mastectomy and buying mail order or
become involved in a new NHS cancer
from the internet can often be a very
survivorship project which is being piloted
hit and miss affair. I have lacy, T-shirt,
from the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.”
“IBM has a great ‘free’, that is Open source, productivity suite available that rivals
Microsoft Office. For all of us feeling the pinch I’d suggest checking it out.”
TOP TIP
James Kelly, Everule Ltd
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24