Singletons meet under a Coco Moon

A dating agency run by a North East entrepreneur has enjoyed the busiest period in its history as singletons vow to make 2010 the year they find their match.

Gateshead-based Coco Moon, run by Sharon Kell, has seen a surge in business since the festive period and is now looking to expand its reach.

The company, which currently targets single professionals in the North East, now plans to spread its reach as far North as Edinburgh, South to Harrogate and across the country to Carlisle.

Ms Kell’s days as a high-flying business executive made her realise that people put far more effort into getting their careers right, than making their relationships work.

She saw a gap in the market for a dating agency for busy professionals in senior roles with relationship training and more focus on finding the right match for people.

After four months in business the company had surpassed year two’s financial targets and has since reached the final of several national awards including Grazia’s Female Entrepreneur awards.

Ms Kell said the recent boom following the festive period, was down to singletons who have started the new year with a fresh desire to find love.

She said: “January is often a crunch time for people that have just experienced a lonely Christmas and, alongside New Year’s resolutions, there is also Valentine’s Day [on the horizon].

“This January has been our best month on record and we are now much more established in the market.”

Meanwhile, a North East solicitor yesterday warned that divorce rates look set to rise in the coming months in tandem with the economic recovery.

Victoria Moreton, partner and family law specialist with TBI Solicitors said divorce rates continued to decline in 2009 as couples stalled the process because of financial worries.

The concern was caused primarily by low property prices, but also by funding professional fees. However, if house prices continue their recovery and economic growth is sustained, it is expected that this will provide couples with more confidence in relation to their financial affairs and therefore enable them to agree it is now an appropriate time to go their separate ways.

Ms Moreton said: “In the last year, the simple fact that properties have been much harder to sell, raising less cash in the process, has meant that couples literally could not afford to divorce.  However, if a relationship has broken down it is always worth seeking professional advice as soon as possible.  We are aware that the economic crisis has affected families and can suggest alternatives to ensure as stress-free a divorce as possible, assist in organising the financial settlement and help you through the entire procedure.”

Subscribe to news feed

bdaily tv

Sign up for the bdaily bulletin

Join 6296 other business people in the region and sign up to the free bdaily bulletin.


Upcoming events

More from the Business sector

February 2010

  1. 2009
  2. Jan
  3. Feb
  4. Mar
  5. Apr
  6. May
  7. Jun
  8. Jul
  9. Aug
  10. Sep
  11. Oct
  12. Nov
  13. Dec
  1. 26.Feb.10

    £100m boost for region’s green credentials

    A bumper month for the region’s aspirations to become a hub for green energy has been rounded off with news of a £100m project which could create hundreds of jobs. Business…

  2. 26.Feb.10

    Flu vaccine lifts GSK

    Revenue from the swine flu vaccine and flu medicine boosted GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) fourth-quarter profits up by 66%, the company said yesterday. GSK, which employs around 1,000 in Barnard Castle, County Durham,…

  3. 26.Feb.10

    Fairtrade blog: Day five

    Sally from Newcastle-based Shared Interest - the world’s only 100% fairtrade lender - continues her blog to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. Guilt free chocolate? I am a self confessed chocolate lover. I have…

  4. 26.Feb.10

    Property ‘Oscars’ shortlist announced

    The shortlist for awards recognising the region’s top property projects have been announced. Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors(RICS) received a record number of entries for this year’s awards in the North…

  5. 25.Feb.10

    Market comes to life

    A dilapidated market hall in the North East has been given the kiss of life after a dozen new businesses came to its rescue. Hartlepool Market Hall was officially re-launched in…

  6. 25.Feb.10

    Green energy trader wins new investment

    A company which funds green energy technologies and trades the power they produce has raised £13m in new investment as it expands its empire into the Far East. Sunderland-based Clean Energy…

  7. 25.Feb.10

    Ink maker spreads its mark across the world

    Northumberland-based ink firm Multichem has revealed plans to open a manufacturing facility in China as it deals with soaring global demand. The Hexham company started life as a small family firm…

  8. 25.Feb.10

    Vertu accelerates ahead of expectations

    Motors group Vertu today said it is on target to beat market expectations at its upcoming annual results, despite an uncertain future as the scrappage scheme comes to an end. The…

  9. 25.Feb.10

    Go-Ahead endures dip

    Bus and rail firm Go-Ahead Group’s interim pre-tax profits fell 70.2% to £12m.Pre-tax profits before amortisation and exceptional items fell 16.5% to £50m. The Newcastle company saw revenue in the six…

  10. 25.Feb.10

    Electric vehicle plan supercharged by new fund

    Almost £8m in public funding has been set aside to roll-out electric vehicle charging points across North East. The investment, which comes via regional development agency One North East and the…

  11. 25.Feb.10

    Fairtrade blog: Day four

    Sally from Newcastle’s Shared Interest - the world’s only 100% fairtrade lender - continues her blog to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. Washing unfair trade away Traidcraft assure me that by using their rubber…

  12. 24.Feb.10

    New funding for Wearside

    Ambitious plans for business creation in Sunderland have been boosted by a new £1.78m funding package. Sunderland City Council is launching the package of pre start-up support to develop enterprise, work…

  13. 24.Feb.10

    Ashley’s talks with Blacks stall

    Retailer Black Leisure has reportedly failed to reach agreement with Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct, its largest shareholder, over a £20m cash call. The company told the market that today’s scheduled key…

  14. 24.Feb.10

    Developer brings more hope for housing sector

    Housebuilder Barratt Developments has brought more signs of recovery for the housing sector by reporting reduced losses for the second half of last year and making an upbeat forecast for…

  15. 24.Feb.10

    National win for SCSL

    A fledgling health and safety consultancy has won the biggest deal in its history that will see it protect the welfare of over 10,000 people in 200 care homes. After less…

Comments 0

Have your say