New Business Is for Hearts

d.b.a. Heart-Hunters
Owner: Valerie Brussell Cooper
Address: P.O. Box 3739, Fayetteville 72702
Phone/Fax: 442-PATH (7284)
Web site: www.marriagepath.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday
Startup date: May 10

Valerie Brussell Cooper has started a new matchmaking service in Fayetteville that finds mates for selective, busy and successful singles of any age. Marriage Path, Heart-Hunters mixes “old-fashion intuition with solid 21st century technology” to make successful matches.

The matchmaking begins with a background check of each participant through Courthouse Concepts, a Fayetteville research firm. The background check is followed by an extensive interview session and submission of a personal letter.

Then a match is made. The personal letter, photos and other information about the possible match, excluding identification, is first provided to the female. If she approves, the same type of information is provided to the male.

If both agree, they are asked to sign an introduction-consent form. Contact information is then provided.

The company has a Web site, but it’s for information purposes only.

“Everything is incredibly secure and very discreet,” Cooper said. “We don’t have a cattle call here. We’re not displaying our members for the world.”

In just a month’s time she’s gathered 33 members and has another 70 prospects in the approval process. The members are of all ages and all types, and live within 90 miles of Fayetteville.

Although Cooper said Marriage Path has attracted mostly professional-type people, she doesn’t want to exclude others who may be just as committed to finding a mate and willing to pay the fee.

Such matchmaking services in other parts of the country charge $1,000 or more, but Cooper is offering her services for $300 for the first year of service and three introductions.

Cooper is trying to grow her business the first year of operations, so instead of taking a salary, she is putting all profits back into advertising.