History of Entre Nous
Entre Nous was established in 1991 by Rosalind Baker nee Neville, author of best selling Books: Dial A Woman, Dial A Man and Dial A Personality.
Entre Nous offers a one-on-one service for professional single men and single women that provides the opportunity to meet a wide range of Melbourne single men and single women with similar values, needs and lifestyles.
The philosophy behind Entre Nous’ 89% success rate is to:
• support busy single men and single women by saving them time with our meticulous pre-selection and qualifying process
• reduce the pressure of meeting new single men and single women by encouraging clients to meet in an informal, natural way and to make friends first before dating
• meet several single men or single women to ensure each member is exposed to a wide variety of Melbourne single men and single women with similar values, needs and lifestyles
• encourage all clients once partnered to manage the risk in their new relationship by enrolling in the Entre Nous Couples Course which research has shown increases the success rate by 30%.
Meet Our Team
Rosalind, PrincipalAfter writing Dial A Personality I realised I had a formula for matching people and establishing Entre Nous Melbourne almost 20 years ago was a natural progression. I am passionate about my work - my mission is to assist everyone who is suitable for Entre Nous, to achieve their goal. My job has been much easier since my marriage in 2006. My husband Tom has taken over management of the back-end of Entre Nous to leave me more time to do what I do best which is ensuring our service is the very best in the dating service industry worldwide. I am continually updating our methods to keep up with clients needs and relationship educational trends that could benefit our clients.For more information see Rosalind Baker Biography |
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Eliane, Client Relations ManagerQualificationsTrained Relationship Facilitator & Educator Teacher – 11 years, India Social Security Officer – 3 years, Tasmania Computer Programmer – 3 years, Brazil |
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Victoria, Client Relations ConsultantTeaching Certificate;Dip E.C.E; Trainer - Increasing Human Effectiveness Teacher 13 years |
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Adelina, ReceptionistWe believe that our Receptionist is our window dressing. Adelina has a kind word and a warm smile for everyone. Nothing is too much trouble for Adelina. She quickly puts people at ease helping them forget they may be stepping out of their comfort zone by coming to Entre Nous. Adelina manages consultation appointments extremely efficiently. Her telephone number is 9669 6000. |
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About Entre Nous
My name is Rosalind Baker, I created Entre Nous Introduction Service for Melbourne successful business single men and single women and professional single men and single women in 1991.
Below are some of the questions I am asked:
Why are Australia's top IQs not reproducing?
Who are the most difficult people to find partners for?
Do opposites attract?
Entre Nous is in its 20th year of successfully matching single professionals in Melbourne.
Despite the prevalence of online dating, we advocate more traditional methods of finding a partner. Increasingly, those wanting to form long term, successful relationships are attracted to our holistic approach. From Image Consulting to Life Coaching and Relationship Education, it takes much more to match the X and Y Generations than it did our parents. As founder of Entre Nous, I am author of three best-selling books on relationships, a social commentator and am an experienced speaker and writer on relationships.
The reason I started Entre Nous was because I had just written my third book, Dial A Personality about the seven female personality types within each woman. After writing a brief chapter on the seven male types I wondered whether I could work out which female personality type matches which male personality type. I was amazed that I discovered I knew it all. At the keyboard it just flowed out of me. Then I realised that here was my formula for matching people.
I have always been a match maker. I even introduced my first husband to his next wife. When I realised that I had a formula for matching people I rang a few friends to see what they thought about me starting an introduction service – seeing I had a formula. My friends replies were words to the affect: "We've been telling you to do this for years." That is the story behind the creation of Entre Nous. Entre Nous, in French, means 'between us' or 'between you and me'.
How and why we became a cut above our competitors
Like any business, but especially given the nature of our industry, it is important for Entre Nous to reach new clients. One of our greatest challenges is promoting the service we provide – a holistic approach to finding members a long-term relationship – to an audience which is increasingly time poor and looking for a quick fix solution to all problems.
However, improving work-life balance through a long-term, meaningful relationship is rarely something you can achieve through a band-aid solution. Band-aid solutions like online dating or services that aren't thorough and careful in matching. Such services may fill a void in the short term but they will often come unstuck leaving the client back at square one having lost time and missed opportunities.
Entre Nous' service is the opposite of quick-fix; it is our aim to create successful partnerships through a holistic approach:
• Samba Dancing and Zumba Fitness classes allow guests to mix.
• Introductions based on shared values not just superficial traits
• A relationship guarantee
• Reviews, image consulting, life coaching, personal coaching, beauty therapy, speech therapy and counselling
• Relationship education for those in committed relationships
• A value-added website, which is about providing members and prospective clients with valuable information and insights – not just a sales pitch.
These services, establish Entre Nous as one of Melbourne's leading introduction services. However, Entre Nous does more than simply introduce, we aim to ensure long-term, relationship success.
Melbourne singles may be tempted by the cheap and easy online dating option, but once single men and single women realise that this is a short-term fad they will be looking for the better alternative. The alternative where the result is busy people being able to spend time with a partner rather than searching in (often in vain) for one.
Why Yasmine of Channel Ten Failed
Channel Ten's show, Yasmine's Getting Married was unceremoniously dumped after only 2 weeks. Poor ratings are blamed for the show's demise after opening with only 778,000 viewers – well short of the Network's dream target of one million for its opening night. However, this lack-lustre response from viewers could not have been anticipated given the current obsession with dating, marriage, single-dom and how to escape it. Realistically, the likelihood of Yasmine's wedding ending in happily ever after was always going to be slim. Remember, Yasmine spends 9 weeks not with her fiancée but on a raft of blind dates one of which she ends up marrying. So how well does she actually know the man she ends up with?
The blind dates are administered by a panel of people who don't really know Yasmine and clearly care more for pulling the ratings than finding Yasmine a husband. And what if Yasmine didn't want to marry any of the men the panel served up or, worse still, what if the chosen man didn't want to marry her? Nope, Channel Ten was adamant – a white wedding season finale there would be.
The show didn't work – not because of lack of interest in single life and dating but because the audience could tell it was a fake. The show would have ended in a wedding, sure, but probably not in a long term relationship. People understood that this was an unrealistic, unnatural way to decide on whom to marry. But in real life, many people make the same mistakes as Channel Ten. They expect romance (not friendship) to be the hallmark of a good relationship, they believe that a quick fix like online dating can provide a solid, long-term relationship and they believe that physical and often superficial traits like shared age and hobbies are indicators of what will be a relationship success.
As founder of Entre Nous, I believe that seeking a partner with the core values that are required for a long-term relationship is much more likely to ensure a sustainable relationship. Entre Nous is all about understanding your values and needs, encouraging friendships and taking measures like relationship education and life coaching to ensure your relationship is successful. Want a relationship? Perhaps Yasmine and the thousands of men who attempted to join the cast should be calling Entre Nous.
Want to be a dad? Don't wait!
It's a common argument that women should put baby plans ahead of career plans should they want to beat the biological clock and have the best chance of pregnancy success. However, this argument should apply to men as well.
A couple's risk of their pregnancy ending in miscarriage increases along with the father's age – not just the mother's age as previously thought. So, while it has long been thought that a man can be a father at any age – no matter how late in life, this is proving to be untrue.
Men should not put their relationship and family plans on hold with the hope that once the career plans are in place the family plans will smoothly follow. Melbourne Single men and single women should aim for work/life balance; a relationship need not hinder career success. If you're thinking of children you cannot afford to put relationship plans on hold. Indeed, studies have shown that balance between work and personal life improves performance at work. So the lesson for men: don't put off forming a relationship and having children because you are too busy with your career. A meaningful relationship improves your career performance and your biological clock ticks just like that of your female counterparts.
Online Dating is Dangerous
We believe that on-line dating has can be dangerous. Everyone knows of the murdered woman who met her husband on-line. Some of the stories we have heard from single men and single women who have tried on-line dating have told us some hair-raising stories.
On-line dating is unregulated and poses many risks to Melbourne single women as well as single men. A 50 year old divorcee told me she had a series of photos air-brushed to make her look 25 years' younger. Not surprisingly she received more than 150 replies. However she only met three of them. I think the embarrassment of not being who she had depicted herself to be must have come as a shock to the men and rather hard to handle.
We have all heard of some Melbourne single men or single women who were successful in finding a partner online, but there are hidden dangers with male predators trawling online. Obviously I have my own barrow to push but an introduction service, such as Entre Nous, ensures the dating process is much more selective and safe. At Entre Nous we screen our clients to eradicate risks and dangers for both single men and single women. When single men and single women come to us we can create a profile of whom our prospective clients are and what they are doing with their lives, their personality, their lifestyles, goals and values.
I was dubbed by the press in 1988 as one of Australia's leading authorities on courtship, and have written three best-sellers "Dial A Man" a sequel, "Dial A Woman" and “Dial A Personality”. With online dating, there is always the risk of misrepresentation. We are told by Life Works that the main reason for divorce this century is due to one partner being unfaithful over the internet and on-line dating.
People lie about their age, their weight; they produce old photographs or airbrushed photos. One-on-one dating services in Melbourne are regulated. We are told that many people often wile away their time trawling online. People looking for partners, however, need to be warned that there are inherent dangers searching for 'Mr or Ms Perfect' online.
Relationship Education – Key to Success
At Entre Nous, in my experience with relationship issues, I believe that it should be mandatory for couples to undergo government accredited courses aimed at managing the risk in relationships before being issued with a marriage license.
If governments were prepared to fund such courses, it would save taxpayers and the economy millions of dollars brought about by divorce. At Entre Nous in my experience at assisting professionals form successful relationships over the past 20 years, I believe relationship education teaches couples to seek help before it is too late to save a partnership.
Even minor issues must be resolved because unresolved small issues can accumulate until communication reaches an impasse. Ninety percent of couples who seek counselling have left it too late.
Young adults need to pass a test before they can drive a car. It's not unrealistic to expect couples to undergo relationship training before making serious personal commitments.
A simple eight-hour course in relationship education increases the success rate of a relationship by 30%.
A government-funded course may save taxpayers millions in the divorce courts as well as grants for single parents.
An accredited course teaches a couple how to seek help if need be. Even more importantly to recognise an issue and take the action needed to resolve it.
At Entre Nous we believe the next generation will have a much lower divorce rate. We will see a turnaround with marriages again lasting a lifetime.
The next generation is the product of divorce – it scarred their childhood to the extent that they will go to great lengths for a solution. New generations are taught to seek answers and they will want answers on relationships and how to make them work.
Entre Nous is 20 years old
Leading introduction service, Entre Nous is 20 years old! For 20 years Entre Nous has had a hand in over 1360 marriages and thousands of long-term partnerships. Approximately 300 people each year form a permanent relationship through Entre Nous. I was dubbed by the press in 1998 as Australia’s Leading commentator on courtship before I started Entre Nous. I noted when I started Entre Nous that busy people would rather spend their time with a partner rather than searching for one. We noticed that it was not our clients who came to the social events we organised because they had were already meeting people and preferred that to attending singles events alone. It was the non-members who attended our social events.
Entre Nous' services are more popular than ever with more and more Melbourne profession single men and single women turning to a dating service for support in finding a partner. Despite a boom in online dating, people are realising that the service Entre Nous offers is a safer and more successful option. The on-line dating industry has created a huge boom in business for Entre Nous. People who may have never ventured into Entre Nous take the courage to try on-line dating in the comfort of their own home. However, busy people will soon tire of it because it is not only time-consuming but mainly unsuccessful.
The natural progression for those same time-poor professionals is to look for an alternative avenue to fill their needs. That’s where Entre Nous flourishes. Two thirds of people who walk visit Entre Nous have unsuccessfully tried on-line dating. Those who have not are intimidated by the hair-raising stories that could befall them or fear for their privacy.
Entre Nous saves Melbourne single men and single women time and provides the necessary support in this delicate area. Entre Nous also offers almost instant success, not Mr/Ms Right immediately but pleasant, agreeable, attractive people with whom to go on enjoyable outings, and share activities. The fun and the company start straight away at Entre Nous. Choosing a partner takes longer and we show Melbourne single women and single men how to recognise their long term needs in a partner and how to look for those core values.
Entre Nous is a leader in the industry and well-respected for its holistic approach to solving single men and single women’s relationship needs. We not only provide a safe environment we also teach couples how to manage the risk in relationships. "Our clients are professional people with high standards and we keep those high standards too." Entre Nous is Australia's only introduction agency with their own EN Value System. For years we had Quality Management System accreditation. This system was not ideal and eventually we decided to develop our own system that is more appropriate and keeps us providing a superior service. Entre Nous is trusted amongst its clientele who know and expect superior, well researched advice and service.
Entre Nous' research shows that, for busy professionals, finding a like-minded partner can add balance to an otherwise hectic lifestyle.
Of my own recent marriage 4th June 2006 to Tom Baker, "we highly recommend it… our good times are 10 times better and our problems seem to be halved when we share them.” I look forward to every night. My husband, Tom has an office at Entre Nous. He supervises the bookkeeper, manages the administration side and brandishes a sharp pencil to cut costs. The staff is fond of Tom who is a willing ear to all staff members.
Since Entre Nous' beginnings in 1991, the company has added to its one-on-one introduction service by implementing dancing classes, a Zumba exercise group, a complete Entre Nous Training Program tailored to suit each client’s needs, a Couples Course for committed couples and for those with the need, elocution lessons, in-house mentoring, and the official Entre Nous Personal Trainer, Image Consultant, Beautician and Hairdresser.
The Business of Relationships
- Entre Nous does not encourage immediate "romance." It recommends an initial coffee, then activities rather than late night wining and dining. The reason for this is because we believe in offering a choice. Entre Nous’ philosophy – having a wide choice is the key to choosing wisely and well.
- Its research shows there are 166,000 single professionals in Melbourne. Several hundred people show an interest in Entre Nous each year.
- The organisation attracts females more than men.
- Entre Nous only markets to men because women, actively seek out its services because of the safety factor Entre Nous offers
- Entre Nous believes it succeeds because it matches personalities, values, long term needs and lifestyles as well as style and appearance.
- Entre Nous is focussed on relationships, long-term relationships and shows their clients how to develop relationships with a lasting quality in mind.
- Entre Nous shows clients how to look for their ‘long-term needs’, the core values necessary to make a relationship work.
- Entre Nous coaches those clients who need it, in life skills in order to increase their chances of finding a partner. Each client is provided with a tailored Entre Nous Training Program.
- Entre Nous refuses membership to people it feels are not ready for a serious relationship or are not prepared to take our process seriously.
- Males tend to be more nervous about coming to an introductory service. They feel there is a stigma associated with joining up believing they should be able to find a partner themselves
- Entre Nous accepts clients of all faiths and respects their needs and wants in this area. Some faiths do not suit our clientele and we warn prospective clients that we may find it almost impossible to help them.
- Over 95% of men and 90% of women are successful/professionals
- Over 95% of professionals are aged 25-65 years
- 98% would like a committed relationship with the right person
- A national survey by Relationships Australia found that Australians regard "companionship/friendship" as the most important aspect of their relationship. "Honesty and trust" are second most valued. (Source: Australian .Institute of Families, 2004; Relationships Australia)
Background
Aside from extensive information about Entre Nous, we include a number of success stories and staff profiles, so that potential clients can find out more about the service we provide.
Resources
We have a live Forum which allows anyone to ask questions of our experienced panel. Personalised answers are posted within a week. The Men's Forum addresses issues relating to men's health, legal issues and more. Finally, the monthly newsletter is openly accessible to members providing them with a wealth of information.
Member's Corner
This allows Member's to instantly leave messages and feedback. It is important for our busy clients to be able to contact us whenever it is convenient for them. Although we encourage our members to telephone in whenever they need to discuss a conversation or experience they have had with a fellow member, it is not always convenient to do so from work,nor send emails from work. Therefore the Member’s Section can be accessed privately. When we email our members either with a reply or an introduction profile each email is sent in an attachment for security and privacy of our clients.
EventsWe offer our clients regular weekly dance classes, workshops, excellent workshops and forums and the occasional “Bring A Friend “Cocktail Party and the Relationship Education Couples Course.
Self Help
Find out more about how Life Coaching, Personal Training, Members’ one-on-one Briefing and Relationship Education Program and how an Image Consultant , Beautician or Speech Therapist could improve your chances of relationship success.The Entre Nous website is your bible when embarking on the dating journey. There are many relevant articles by myself, other articles and recommended reading to take the risks out of your journey.
Entre Nous – An Overview
Entre Nous is Melbourne's leading introduction agency. Entre Nous' success rests in its careful selection of clients. Catering specifically for professionals, prospective clients know that they will be meeting like-minded, successful people.
With the unique Entre Nous Value System, Entre Nous takes a professional approach to the initial stages of meeting Melbourne single men and single women.
Relationships and love don't necessarily match with the time-commitments of busy professionals and so Entre Nous takes the work out of finding a partner.
We work to understand each single man and single woman’s personality and match based on shared values. We provide tools to ensure clients have the best chance at relationship success. These include life coaching, image consulting, personal training, beauty therapy, elocution, relationship education and counselling when necessary. An holistic approach.
Entre Nous caters for every age group as well as niche markets such as practicing Christians, other faiths and other nationalities.
Entre Nous also offers events each month to cater for those who want to increase their social networks and increase their confidence.
Rosalind Baker identified the need for a quality introduction service for Melbourne's professionals 20 years ago.
Entre Nous is based on Christian ethics and succeeds due to its commitment to understanding the personalities and needs of members as well as its commitment to innovation and improvement. The Entre Nous process has proved to be enormously successful with over 1360 marriages and the weekly formation of many relationships.
How Entre Nous Operates
Entre Nous was Australia's only introduction agency with Quality Management Accreditation. In October 2010 we developed our own EN Value System which we believe is far superior. This system ensures that this delicate and personal service is always handled in the most professional manner.
Entre Nous attracts members to its large data base through strategic marketing campaigns and word of mouth.
In order to sufficiently match the needs of clients, at any one time Entre Nous targets people of a certain age, religious background if necessary, personality and other characteristics such as education, height, appearance, distance from each other, whether or not they have or want children and so the list goes on.
New Entre Nous Members, (Melbourne single men and single women) are given a one hour in-depth, personalised briefing as well as a Guide Book to ensure they feel comfortable with the process. In addition, Entre Nous staff ensures that they gain a full understanding of the personality and needs of each client by creating a matching profile which is added to continuously from feedback and other insights.
Then using many "long standing" techniques relating to personality similarities, interests, educational backgrounds and even appearance, the matching begins.
When meeting for the first few times, Melbourne single men and single women are asked to adhere to a series of rules such as respect of privacy, keeping initial telephone conversations brief and a request that every introduction leads to at least a second meeting.
It's strongly advised that "romance" not be on the agenda at the initial meetings. Melbourne single men and single women are encouraged to focus on the journey and learn, grow and enjoy that journey rather than focussing on the end result.
The Entre Nous service requires an investment of time as well as a financial investment and thus it has many Melbourne single men and single women to establish, successful, long term, loving relationships. Considering the importance of our long-term relationship in the equation of life’s happiness, family, health and career success, the investment is well worth it.
Mission Statement
Entre Nous is committed to providing Melbourne singles with superior service to achieve each Melbourne single man and single woman’s desired result and at the same time continuously expanding and updating the services we offer Melbourne singles.
Whilst providing opportunities for Melbourne singles to meet, we recognise that not only introductions but also interactive skills, presentation and self esteem help create the initial rapport on the journey towards a successful relationship.
Entre Nous offers Melbourne singles every opportunity to enhance their necessary interactive skills, presentation and self esteem to reach their goal.
Entre Nous encourages Melbourne single men and single women to:
• Set realistic goals
• Commit to their aims
• Recognise their full potential to attract a worthwhile partner
• Learn new skills and hone old ones to expedite the end result
