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Lookin4Love.com.ar: Argentines Smitten With Online Dating

On October 9, 2010, In lifestyle, technology, by InvestBA
Zonacitas Website

When Gabriela Met Diego: Zonacitas & Match are the Telecom/Telefonica duopoly of BA online dating.

Anytime the Argentine press says something “hace furor,” you know it’s all the rage. From Ben 10 in BA to malbec in the U.S. to Fake Maradona in Japan, the HaceFuror Factor knows no geographical bounds.

But as our friend Mariano Sardans of FDI Advisors recently cautioned, it can also be indicative of a fad that draws mass interest in BA and ultimately leaves small players and late movers out in the cold. (Think canchas de paddle, rapipollos, maxikioscos, apartment rental agencies, etc.)

So when La Nacion says online dating is the latest hace furor dujour in Argentina, what are we to make of it? From the sheer standpoint of subscribers and growth, it’s hard to argue with the numbers. La Nacion’s own dating site, Zonacitas, has over 300,000 registered users and projects 400,000 by the end of 2010, while Match.com reports 50,000 new subscribers per month who are exchanging over 800,000 love missives a day throughout Latin America.

These stats are impressive considering the cultural obstacles that had to be overcome for Argentines to fall for online dating, namely the initial social stigma of searching for a sweetie online and personal safety fears. The former was overcome through word-of-mouth success stories while site reporting features help weed out the locos lindos from the locos malos.

As to whether the online dating boom is a fad, Zonacitas Director Sebastian Gorin lists some valid reasons why it’s probably here to stay: “Convenience, the ease of meeting thousands of people at one place, the time shortage we all face, (and) the ability to know someone’s likes and interests before initiating contact.” So if you’re young, single and looking to mingle, give online dating in BA a try. Just don’t tell anyone about your Fake Maradona fetish. (Full Story in Spanish)

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Is 40 the new 60? Buenos Aires Job Seekers Fight Back

On June 15, 2010, In competitiveness, culture, by InvestBA
When 40 is the new 60

Age discrimination in the workplace is a cause for concern among Argentina's unemployed.

For most, turning 40 is a great milestone in one’s career. You’ve got at least fifteen years of solid work experience with multiple employers, you’ve developed a rich network of contacts in your industry, and you’re well positioned to achieve even greater success over the next twenty years.

With such a wealth of real world experience and industry savvy, any employer would be lucky to have you. Unfortunately for many workers in Argentina, turning 40 isn’t a jovial rite of passage. In fact, in a society that covets the beauty and virility of youth, it’s something akin to a death sentence for those seeking employment.

When he recently started looking for a new job, Buenos Aires computer programmer Roberto Matera met a wall of age discrimination. He was rejected repeatedly for being over 40 by several companies who aren’t shy about their totally archaic “No Hires Over 40″ policy.

Undeterred, Matera launched E+40, an employment website for Argentine workers over 40. It turns out Roberto wasn’t alone. In less than a year almost 6,000 job seekers have joined E+40, and more than 70 employers post openings in industries ranging from IT to Finance to Design. What began as a personal protest against corporate ageism has blossomed into a thriving website and social network movement. To date, over 43,000 Argentines have joined the facebook group opposing age discrimination in the workplace. (Full Story)

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Score! Argentina Meets China in the 2010 World Cup

On June 10, 2010, In a-bric, arts & entertainment, lifestyle, by InvestBA
Chinese Models World Cup 2010

Chinese advertisers are banking on scantily-clad models draped in Argentine and Brazilian jerseys.

Much to the delight of fans here in Argentina and Uruguay, the 2010 World Cup begins its month-long run tomorrow in South Africa. Earlier this week, we looked at Argentine and U.S. brands spending millions on sponsorship deals and advertisements to create an emotional connection with fan bases whose loyalty knows no bounds.

But what happens when you have 1.3 billion fans and you don’t qualify for the 32-team field? Well, according to People’s Daily, you should capitalize on two truisms in advertising: 1.) Sex sells, and 2.) Associate yourself with winners.

Toward that end, Chinese networks, advertisers and websites are all featuring dozens of local models draped in jerseys of Argentina, Brazil and other tournament favorites. “First off the plane will be the ‘Soccer Super Babes’ group G3, who are being touted as the first Chinese dancers to perform at the opening ceremony of the World Cup,” writes the Daily adding one minor detail, “there does seem to be a certain amount of ongoing discussion about when they will actually perform.”

While CCTV will broadcast all 64 games, other Chinese networks will go a different route. Model Zhai Ling will host a program on World Cup fashion. Ironically, the article notes, she became famous for not wearing clothes on the Internet. Not to be outdone in the soccer skin game, another Chinese website “released 32 pictures of babes representing the squads, dressed in just bikini bottoms and body paint.”

So even if they won’t be fielding a team this year, it seems China is setting a new standard for World Cup exposure. (Full Story)

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