Hi again, Fiona here.

So I guess you're wondering what this is about? Well the business idea I've had goes back to 1999 when I was looking at doing some renovations on our dilapidated single fronted Victorian house. Like most of these houses, the kitchen needed upgrading and bathroom needed to be moved so that we had more living area over the back yard. We were also considering adding an extra bedroom and study by extending upstairs. So of course, we needed to find an architect / draftsperson, builder, plasterers, plumbers, painters, ...everything. We didn't really know where to start but we also thought about all the other people who must have gone through exactly the same process (and done exactly the same type of renovation). Which is what got me thinking... Wouldn't it be great if there was some sort of central repository for everyone's recommendations. And as I thought about it more, I realised how much value I personally place on a recommendation and how much broader this could be than home improvements and tradespeople. For example, I often go out for dinner but will very rarely choose a restaurant just because of the way it looks or its location. Usually, it's because someone else has recommended it or has taken me there. And then I thought about other types of services - doctors, dentists, hairdressers, even the business school where I'm currently studying was partly chosen based on a recommendation.

Remember, this is all at the end of 1999 - the time when every internet idea was going to make squillions. So did I quit my job and dive in head first? Well I quit my job (at the time I was working as a Strategy Consultant for Accenture), and I started learning how to develop websites (from my good friend Luke), but really, I went to work with Paul (then my boyfriend) and his business partner, Brad Bond.

About 3 years earlier, Paul and Brad had started a computer repairs business (Invizage) which was very small at that stage but growing steadily. We thought that instead of advising other businesses (through my consulting work at Accenture), it made more sense for me to help this business. For a while I continued learning html, sql, asp and began putting together a rudimentary website for recommendations, but after a few months, my time became all-consumed with building Invizage. (Over the years, this grew to become Australia's largest IT support provider for small and medium businesses.) I never forgot the idea of a website for recommendations throughout my time at Invizage (and in fact registered and kept the name www.seekingservice.com.au for many years).

Anyway, to cut a long story short, in 2005 we sold that business and then for a while Paul and I focussed on our dream of climbing Mt Everest. But after our climb in May 2006, I began looking for a business idea to pursue. During a recent trip to the US, we stayed with Paul's brother Tim who lives in Boston, and he spoke about a website which enabled people to rate of all kinds of trades and home improvement businesses. You had to pay a subscription fee to get access to this but Tim had used the service several times and swore by it.

So now, having just returned home from this trip, I've decided that the time is right to pursue this idea again - and this time follow through with it!