The Dating Franchise Trailblazer

Susan Constable, the longest serving franchisee of When the Music Stops, turned her passion for matchmaking into a business.

Inspired by her first speed dating even in 2004, Susan approached Mike Parker, MD of the dating franchise and convinced him to franchise his business.

Six years down the line Susan is still regularly running highly successful dinner parties, speed dating events and singles party nights in her exclusive Midlands area.

Susan gave up her job at Royal Bank of Scotland to buy the forerunner the company’s current franchise opportunities.

FS Blog: What do you enjoy most when running your franchise?

Susan Constable: I enjoy organising the speed dating events most of all, because it’s always so intriguing who gets together at the end of the evening! I have always been a bit of a matchmaker for people I know and this is just the dream job as a consequence of that.

I also love a nice dressy occasion and so I do enjoy the dinner party’s too, I try to organise them to a very high standard and that hard work behind the scenes does pay off – particularly when there is some chemistry around the table and two people meet, that can be so pleasing for me and I get a real buzz from that aspect of my work.

As an example I introduced Robert and Carolina in 2007 and they’re still together today, just one of dozens of my successes.

FS Blog: Aside from your matchmaking passion, why did you choose this franchise?

Susan: It’s a brilliant franchise for working mums and fitting it around other commitments. My son Mark was only 11 when I first took on the franchise and now I have a grandchild too, Brooklyn whose only 18 months old.

FS Blog: How do you manage to keep a work/life balance?

Susan: Xanthea my eldest daughter has now come into the business too, which I’m very proud about. Xanthea specialises in running the younger events, which gives the franchise an extra dimension, and she’s a great help in taking off some of the pressures of running a business.

FS Blog: Would you recommend this franchise to other entrepreneurs?

Susan: Oh yes – and I have done to many people over the years, it has worked very well for me and I’m now just about to undertake my training for our new Matchmakers product. It’s all free within When the Music Stops, which is brilliant!