Vinko Anthony and Andrea Zaza started Beau Brummell Introductions in 2011 with three credit cards.
Within a year their gay dating agency had 100 clients. Six years later they have 1000, each paying almost $5000 dollars for the exclusive service.
An elite dating agency, Beau Brummell prides itself on having a clientele of high achievers and calls itself the largest private database of successful and discerning gay men in Australia.
Their exclusivity is reflected in their company name, inspired by the real-life 18th century icon Beau Brummell who was famed for his style, wit and charm in Regency England.
The founders’ own love story inspired the pair to help others find the happiness they share.
“It’s incredible when you have an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. It’s literally life-changing what we do,” Mr Anthony says.
Vinko and Andrea are partners in business and in life. Source: Supplied
The pair says their company is different from other dating agencies because they make an effort to get to know every client; they essentially ‘date’ their clients in their first few meetings.
This is a part of the service in order for them to understand a client’s values, interests and needs, and to ensure they find the perfect match.
A partner is then hand-selected for client, as the company takes on the role of what the founders describe as a ‘Personal Relationship Headhunter.’
Despite a proliferation of online dating apps, Mr Anthony doesn’t view them as a competition to his business because Beau Brummell aims to take the hard work out of the dating process.
“[Clients] give the responsibility to us and it’s a very humbling experience to be a part of everyone’s private life and their journey,” Anthony says.
Beau Brummell Introductions has grown between 28-35 percent each year since starting in 2011.
"If you stay positive and have determination towards what you do and the passion, you can achieve anything."- Vinko Anthony Source: Beau Brummell Introductions Facebook
Though the founders seem to have discovered a niche, they admit it was a gamble in the early stages.
“[We] maxed 3 credit cards by the end of it; we had no fear and no money in the beginning,” Anthony says.
“We like to make the business grow, we like to achieve a certain success, so that’s why we have to invest everything we earn into the business,” Mr Zaza says.
Both co-founders hail from international countries with Mr Zaza coming from Bitonto, Italy and Mr Anthony from the Adriatic Sea in Dubrovnik. They brought their love story to Sydney and attribute their cultural backgrounds to their determination and positivity.
“You will always have judgement on background and partially also with what we do. If you stay positive and have determination towards what you do and the passion you can achieve anything in Australia,” Mr Anthony says.
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