Vol. 9, No.18, April, 2004/ 9 IYAR 5764
THE SEARCH FOR YOUR SOUL MATE
By Shoshanna Rikon

Name: Shoshanna's Matches
Type of Business: Jewish singles matchmaking service
Address: 521 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1705, NY, NY 10021
Telephone: (212)-292-4403
Number of Employees: Two
Founded: 2000
Top Officers: Shoshanna Rikon, general manager; Melissa Seitelman, director of client services

Vol. 7, No.26, June 28, 2002/18 Tammuz 5762
AT WORK--->SHOSHANNA'S MATCHES
By Alana Karpoff, The Jewish State

Name: Shoshanna's Matches
Type of Business: Jewish singles matchmaking service
Address: 521 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1705, NY, NY 10021
Telephone: (212)-292-4403
Number of Employees: Two
Founded: 2000
Top Officers: Shoshanna Rikon, general manager; Melissa Seitelman, director of client services

How would you describe your business?

"It's strictly Jewish matchmaking," Shoshanna Rikon said. "We match single Jewish people in the metropolitan area who are non-observant, Reform, Conservative, Conservadox, and Modern Orthodox, ages 22 to about 60. To meet with me for the first time is a free consultation. I make day, evening and weekend appointments, so I'm very accommodating. Everyone fills out a profile page. The first side is about the person and it's very detailed. We ask their status--single, divorced, widowed, etc., religious status and their ethnicity - ashkenazie or sephardi. We also ask eye color, hair color, height, if they smoke and their education level. We then ask what kind of relationship they are interested in: Long term relationship or marriage. And then, of course, their hobbies and then also how they would describe themselves. The other side of the page is about their match. What is the age range of the person they are seeking and the status they are looking for? Can they be single? Divorced? Or does not matter? We ask what kind of body type they are looking for. Do looks matter to them? How would they rate it on a scale of 1-10? And also the religious status. We also ask location preference. Where does this person live? Can they live in all the boroughs of New York? Can they find someone in New Jersey and as far as Boston, Maryland and Florida? And are they willing to relocate for the person? Then also, are they kosher and how kosher? We get into detail here. What kind of education level does the person have to be? Do they have a minimum height requirement? And the last paragraph is about the special qualities they are seeking. So that is the profile. What we do is call them on the phone after they purchase a package and give them potential profiles according to what they specified. And they have an opportunity to accept this profile or decline. When both accept, it's considered a match and the man has seven days to call the woman on the phone. They talk on the phone once, maybe twice, and set up a date. And after the date, they call me with feedback. We're always hoping for good news. And that's how the service works. It's really old fashioned but they are doing a lot of the matchmaking for themselves. There are no pictures involved.

"I got started because I was matching people before I started the business. I noticed that I became quite good at it and had a few couples who were married. It's a fun business and I said to myself I needed to do it for a living, so I went ahead and started it two years ago. Originally I was a headhunter, a recruiter, and I didn't feel like I was helping anyone. I wasn't giving myself back to the community. Yes I was getting people jobs, but it felt like it was a sales job. With this, I'm working with people on a personal level, really getting to know them, befriending them and making them happy. It's cool because these people would never meet if it weren't for me. It's very rewarding to me. In the past two years, I've had two marriages, but in the last year, four engagements."

What makes your business special?

"Its one-on-one undivided attention. It's a service-oriented business and people need to know that they are the ones who are dealing with people on the other end and I'm here to guide them. I don't think there are really a lot of old fashioned Jewish matchmakers like there used to be. Now everything is on the Internet and I feel that doesn't always work for someone. Online doesn't promise dates. Shoshanna does. And we care. We really want to make people happy. We're here for them. We're two hip, urban, young Jewish women, who are very ambitious and happening and we understand what is going on out there. We also have a lot of fun. We have a great working relationship and when we sit down with a person, it is easy for us to befriend a person. We relax a person and make them feel comfortable."

What goals do you have for the business?

"I definitely want to expand and try to have offices in different states. One that would be great is Florida. Some people have complained that it is difficult to meet in Florida. Maybe even California and Boston--just different places that would be terrific."

How has your business changed?

"I don't think it has really changed. It's grown for sure. We get a lot of referrals and I definitely have a name for myself. People say, 'I've seen you in so many more publications. How can I not call?' It's like my ad is in their face."

What was your most important deal?

"I can remember that there was a couple for sure who weren't going to meet at all. They didn't even l.ike each others' profile, but I knew in my heart this was a terrific match and I just felt it. Sometimes I can't let go...because I always feel like people need to open up and if they really like me and believe in me, they should trust me. I did make a shidduch and this couple has been dating for six months. They are perfect for each other and they are very much a like in a lot of ways. They are a match made in heaven. I pushed it and made it happen. I believe in myself and I'm very headstrong when I want to be."

What changes do you expect in your business in the next 10 years?

"I don't expect anything to change. I have a good thing going on right now and I like the way my operation works. I like the fact that I'm not computerized and everything is manual and verbal. I don't want to change that way. I want to stay the same and that is what gives me an edge to the other services that are digital or online."

What is the most important thing you've learned in your business?

"You really do have to be like a chameleon and adapt to different personalities and be able to work with all types. Sometimes I just have to take a deep breath and understand that everyone is different and I have to just deal with it."

What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work?

"First, I would give advice to people thinking about going to a matchmaker. I know that a lot of people coming to a matchmaker feel down about it. They feel 'something is wrong with me'. They shouldn't feel like that. Dating is hip right now. It's the thing to do. Explore your options and have fun with it. My advice to someone going into the service is I definitely think that it's a lot of fun and rewarding. We try to make a difference in the world. It's a good people-oriented business and can be very rewarding, so why not go for it."

Is there anything else you would rather be doing?

I'd rather be at a Gadassah or Israeli Bond event, mingling with the moms. I've got to find out where all these moms go! The majority of my calls are from moms and I actually bond with the moms--they are the ones I hit it off with. So I'm actually trying to find out where they socialize and I'm thinking I might have to go to some of these non-profit agencies and mingle with the moms. I get about 5-10 calls a week from moms who want to set up their children, and I love them because they care so much about their children. It's so adorable to me. I start calling them mom at the end of the conversation."