Franchise matches rich American men with beautiful Czech Women

By Nancy Weingartner
As published in: Franchise Times - May 2007

We don’t know who should be more insulted—American women or Czechoslovakian men.

A new franchise exhibiting at the International Franchise Expo, Hand In Hand, is a matchmaking/travel service for single men who wish to marry a “true life partner who is beautiful, intelligent, educated and unspoilt (sic), and whose culture is one of support and respect for their husbands,” according to their brochure. In other words: No women libbers need apply.

If you’re wondering why these beautiful, unspoiled women can’t find husbands in their own country, it’s because Czech women don’t like Czech men—“They don’t treat them right,” according to Martina Jirkovska, who handles the Hand In Hand operations in Prague.

Apparently there’s a big demand for unspoiled women: “Most men would like to live with or marry a beautiful, intelligent, educated woman who will be devoted to him. For a lot of reasons this does not happen to 95 percent of these men,” their Web site reveals.

Just think, if only 5 percent of men have married the woman of their dreams, that leaves a huge population who could use your services as a franchisee. The franchise fee is only $16,000, and you can work at home—perhaps even wearing silk pajamas like Hef.

The women pictured on the company’s Web site—www.eastern-europe-women.com—live up to the hype. Most are in their 20s, many are models, and almost all listed numerous athletic pursuits under interests—although one definitely was pandering by citing sports and watching TV in the same paragraph. Men reading the profile could easily jump to the unfounded conclusion that she will enjoy watching sports on TV with them. The one woman we spotted who was a little older—44, but still in good shape—skipped the pouty pose and went for a shot of her pouring a cup of coffee. “I may be older, but I still know how to please a man,” she seems to be saying.

Fortunately, the bios are accompanied by photos, because the future brides’ height and weight are listed in millimeters and kilograms. Oh, and did we mention, they all have college degrees? Because they do.

Men who sign up for the service can either travel to the Czech Republic to meet the women in person or view the photos and profiles online. For men with the means to travel to Prague, the Web site promises they will “feel tremendous ‘energy’ the very moment you meet” these ladies…“You may immediately choose to spend a romantic evening together.”

But, if you can’t travel, no problem. Bride seekers “can still make your dreams a reality by simply sending for her.”

Visas are no problems for Czech women, Jirkovska says, which is part of Hand In Hand’s sales pitch because that’s not true for other hot spots for brides, such as Russia, the Ukraine, Asia or South America.

The franchise company, which is based in England, has 16 franchises currently open, one in the U.S. and the rest in the U.K.

While it’s obvious what’s in it for the potential grooms, what’s in it for the ladies? The Web site answers that, too: “The women are looking to enrich their lives.” But somehow, FT readers, you knew that, didn’t you?