LUNCH FORHIGH FLYERS
You’re successful, single
and attractive, so why is it
so hard to meet someone?
Believe it or not, with 2.5
billion singles worldwide,
this is thesituation formany
of thebestandbrightestbusy
professionals.
Enter It’s Just Lunch, a
unique dating solution that
seems to have smoothed
out many of the issues of
moderndating.Thecompanywasestablished in
Chicago in 1991. After a broken engagement
left the company founder suddenly single, she
began the tedious search for a way to meet
‘normal’,well-educatedprofessionals. She tried
personal ads. Her friends set her up on
blind dates. She even thought about a
dating service but wasn’t comfortablewith any
of those options.
THEPERSONAL TOUCH
The premise of It’s Just Lunch is simple:
the lunch date is the ideal first date. It’s a
no-pressure, relaxed situation, where you can
actually talk. The company’s dating solution is
based entirely on personalized screening. After
aclient calls for information, aone-hourmeeting
is set up todiscuss the typeof person they’d like
to meet. Usually within 48 hours, the company
calls to tell theclient all about their first date. It’s
Just Lunch arranges for the couple tomeet for a
lunch or a drink after work at a restaurant
convenient tobothof them– theyevenmake the
reservations. Then, clients check in with the
companyandgivefeedbackon thedatebefore the
next one is chosen. There is no photo or online
profile for theworld to see.
MAKINGACAREEROUTOFDATING
Company President IreneLaCota believed so
strongly in the concept after reading about It’s
Just Lunch in the
Wall Street Journal
that in
2001 she left her role as President/CEO of an
international restaurant to invest in the
company and join its executive team.
LaCota’s business pedigree spans a
bachelor’s degree from Cornell University,
an MBA from University of North Texas
and many years building businesses all
over the world.
“When I first read about the company I
thought, what a spectacular concept.Working
as I did in international business and traveling
all the time, I certainly didn’t have time to set
upmy own dates. It made sense for singles to
hire someone to do all the work!” says
LaCota. “Because of my position, I liked the
fact that nopicturesorprofilewaspostedon the
Internet for theworld to see.Most importantly,
I liked the personal touch the company
offered—something the online dating sites do
not provide—a person to talk to.”
Itmust be true.TheCalifornia-based company
has grown over the past 15 years to be the
largest and fastest-growingdating service in the
world, with over 100 offices worldwide. In
response to thegrowingdemand for their servic-
es, they are now expanding throughout Europe,
Asia and Australia. Some of their franchisees
were once clients of It’s Just Lunch. Talk about
believing in the process!
LaCotawas not the only onewhose attention
was caught by IJL after reading an article on
the company.
Senior Vice President Nancy Kirsch has
always had thematchmakinggene. In fact, she
made her first ‘match’ at age 10 by setting up
a familymember with her best friend’s sister.
Fast-forward several years later, Nancy was
working as an actor inTVcommercials when
a
People Magazine
article about It’s Just
Lunch
grabbed
her
attention. Shemoved from
her acting career to IJL
and opened the second
branch of It’s Just Lunch
in New York City. That
was 14 years ago.
Ask her what she loves
about what she does and
shewill light up, tellingyou
about her favoritematches.
“I get to do something that
can change someone’s life in abigway.”
She adds, “Our clients are the most
interesting people I’ve ever had the
pleasure of meeting. And I believe there’s
absolutely somebody for everyone.”
Kirsch has been interviewed by
publications andTVshows across theworld.
It’s Just Lunch has been featured
on various TV talk shows including
Oprah
,
CNBC
and
CNN
as
well
as
articles in
The Wall Street Journal
,
USAToday
and others.
All WorkandNoPlay?
“It’s Just Lunch”has been introducing busy professionals for 15 years
Intelligent Dating
Irene LaCota
President
Nancy Kirsch
Sr. Vice President
76%
of men
believea relationship
is more important
than their career
