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Original poster

Is this a good(small) business idea?

24 replies

notoosure · 14/03/2006 14:59

Have changed name as a good friend knows me here and in RL and she's a bit gossipy and may pinch the idea herself! Aren't I charming?

I was thinking about setting up a local matchmaking service but for mums? Hiring out a venue and running it very similar to a M&T groups. Like an introductory service. As many mums moan that only groups and couples go to local groups and if you are shy it's very hard to get the confidence to approach other mums

Good/bad idea?

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 14/03/2006 15:00

There is already MAMA (Meet aMum Association), te NCT, Netmums. Not sure there's any money in this tbh.

kitegirl · 14/03/2006 15:01

so how would you make money? charge a fee?

Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:02

But it wouldn't be done online.Also I would arrange the meeting places so that they are safe - it wouldn't just be connectin gpeople IYKWIM.

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Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:03

A small fee for the intro service and then for the use of the M&B hall/coffee etc.

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starlover · 14/03/2006 15:05

yeah mama does that

i do thinm it's a nice idea though... specially if there isn't a mama service in your area

Callisto · 14/03/2006 15:06

Hate to be negative, but I would never use a 'meet-a-mum' type dating agency - far too easy to be targeted by the wrong kind of man iyswim.

Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:08

Thanks. There's not much here at all. To be honest I wasn't looking to make a killing just enough to cover my expenses and cover childcare.

I didn't think the others matched different people up though. I thought it could be loosely based on a dating service and that you could match people according to profile/age of kids/interests etc
???????????????????????????????????????????????

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Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:09

How Callista?

If the meeting place was a regular venue and there were only arrangements to meet up there by phone with the organiser and the other mum/s?

It would be a public place?

Thanks for the feedback all of you BTW.

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 14/03/2006 15:10

perhaps you could do speed dating for mums?

Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:11

Isn't MAMA the post natal depression support?

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Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:12

Ha! Very good Z!

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starlover · 14/03/2006 15:12

no, mama is meet a mum association. we have a local branch

Callisto · 14/03/2006 15:15

Is it going to be for all single parents then? I think you will have more girls than guys so how will you go about getting the men for the women to meet? If you advertse it as a meet a mum thing then, sadly, I do think it could possibly attract the wrong men.

Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:15

??????
\link{http://www.mama.co.uk/default.asp?id=56\this is the only MAMA I could find}

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Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:17

Callisto it would be for mums to meet other mums(during the day) for friendship/support days out in the local area.

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starlover · 14/03/2006 15:19

i think that was its original purpose notoosure...; but it has changed since then
ours is certainly open to anyone who wants to meet other mums... no mention of pnd!

starlover · 14/03/2006 15:19

Name of Group: Meet A Mum Association (MAMA)

Group Purpose: Provides friendship and support to mothers and mothers-to-be lonely or isolated after the birth of a baby or moving to a new area.

Groups across the UK.

Also supports women and families through postnatal illness with our special helpline.

Plus publications

Callisto · 14/03/2006 15:20

God, obviously got men on the brain atm. Sorry, sounds like a fab idea in that case, and good luck with it.

starlover · 14/03/2006 15:21

We have since evolved, and now provide support and information to ALL Mums and Mums-to-be, as well as their families. National MAMA keeps a database of all the mothers who contact the organisation, in order to put mothers in the same area in touch with each other. It also encourages mothers to set up local support groups and a New Group Starter Pack is available from the national office.

Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 15:25

That's great SL.

But I still think my idea is slightly different because there is a bit of profiling to attempt at matching mums up (not masses) and it wouldn't just be a question of giving a mum a phone number and saying phone this person and arrange a meet up or come to this coffee morning and blend in.

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starlover · 14/03/2006 15:27

do you think there would be enough people ocming to it?

just thinking that in order to match make you need quite a lot of people... i mean, you could get 10 or 15 people who are diff ages with diff interests etc etc

so think it needs to be plenty of people to make it work.

i do think it's a good idea though... how much would it cost?

Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 19:19

Thanks SL. Can see your point. May start off a little less stringent Smile

This idea came to me really as I have come across so many mums who have felt really lonley despite attending a number of different groups/classes, especially local ones that have been quite established and for want of a better word cliquey.

I suppose sometimes it would be nice if you were introduced to someone rather than having the courage to just go it alone?

Does anyone else have any other thought on this?

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Original poster
notoosure · 14/03/2006 19:34

bump pls.

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Oliviab · 18/03/2006 20:55

Don't think I'd use it, don't use MAMA so probably wouldn't pay for it either. Although I did make friends through an NCT postnatal tea group so I guess I paid for that!
TBH the mums I have made friends with are all sorts of ages, backgrounds and interests etc - things that probably wouldn't have matched me up by any system and that's something I value actually.

How about a baby bag? Get businesses to pay for their fliers to go in and give them out to mums at suitable events. Maybe host a parents' fayre where local businesses can hold stalls for a fee and you can have coffee and a bouncy castle (in return for free advertising etc.) My Real Nappy Network does one similar, cotton shopping bags paid for by the Council's Waste Minimisation dept and including their waste min leaflets. Haven't got round to charging businesses yet though Blush
Or this if you've got the cash... \link{http://www.my-mag-uk.com\MyMag}

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