We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jackie Melfi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jackie below.

Jackie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?

The story is one of necessity. When my now husband and I were dating, he owned a night club called colette. What made his night club different was the audience. The venue catered to open minded couples and singles.

Whereas my husband had years of experience in the world of CNM (consensual non monogamy) my upbringing was polar opposite. I’d heard about “swingers” and what little I knew of the community was not anything complimentary. Like most of society, I had a negative view of couples in open relationships. I assumed these couples didn’t understand the concept of marriage, were incapable of truly loving their partner, nor must they grasp how to have a good relationship if they were “always looking for someone better.”

I hate to think I was judgy of this group of people but there I was judging without having all the facts. Enter my husband and his club. Because I loved my would be husband and valued who he was as a person, the possibility that I’d misjudged an entire sect of the community came into view. Maybe, just maybe I’d been wrong about swingers. Maybe, just maybe what I’d been force fed by society had been coming from a place of fear.

The more I began to learn about these couples (and singles) the more I had to admit, these people had a very clear grasp of their relationship. Not only did these couples have incredible communication skills, but they put enormous amounts of attention on their union. I found myself drawn to what these couples possessed. I’d given traditional marriage the ol’ college try and it had been a less than stellar outcome. What if I gave my husbands lifestyle a try? I was in my late 40’s and felt more than ready for a life shift. But, how to go about learning the in’s and out’s of the “lifestyle,” as swingers often called their relationship model. At the time of my introduction into the lifestyle, there wasn’t a lot of printed material. As much as I enjoyed learning the ropes, at times it felt like a one step forward, two steps back journey.

I had been taught relationships operated one way and one way only. Introducing a new concept, took a minute. I began compiling what I could find. Scientific journals, studies, and books became my goal. I realized I wasn’t the only one trying to forge a new relationship path. I felt inspired to learn as much as I could and then spread that knowledge to those who were eager to learn.

My husband and I realized our club was the perfect backdrop to introduce some much needed information. But how to do it? We came up with a plan to reach out to those couples (and singles) curious about what our club offered. John (my husband) and I decided to record some videos about our club (coletteclubs.com) and what to expect. We also focused on dismantling some of the stereotypes of those in open relationships and offer options for those seeking to deepen communication, foster intimacy, and grow sexually.

We chose the name, Openlove101.com to emphasize the knowledge and commitment to learning something new. Just like a college course, we hoped couples and singles would come away with insight they didn’t have before.

You can imagine our surprise when we realized we’d tapped into a market that was sorely under served. Couples were hungry for alternative relationship information. They needed reassurance their hoped for relationship model wasn’t “crazy” or “strange” or “unsustainable.” These couples were driven by a desire to create a long lasting love with a partner while also being honest and vulnerable and realistic about what that looked like for both of them.

We had lots of singles who also wanted to break the bonds of a tired worn out dating cycle. What did they want for themselves? How could they create a strong satisfying single life, while still engaging with others?

The floods gates opened up when we started releasing more and more videos. I also began writing articles and eventually a book. Today Openlove101 has been a go to site for hundreds of thousands of couples domestically and internationally who want more from their relationship and aren’t afraid to create what they want. I’m so grateful and proud of what we’ve been able to offer those who seek excellence in their marriage.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was introduced to the world of consensual non monogamy by my husband. He’d had swinger clubs for years and was well versed in running them. While, I don’t get into the day to day running of the clubs, his business runs parallel with Openlove101. In a pay it forward mindset, I positioned myself as a go to when it comes to couples or singles visiting their local club in addition to providing them with sustainable information about a more open relationship. Not only do we provide videos through our Youtube site, but we also have numerous articles about everything from how to start a conversation about opening up a marriage to jealousy and how to set boundaries. We provide one on one services for those couples or singles who have more indepth questions or need some coaching. As an author I also wrote, “Swingers Lifestyle: The Questions You Are Afraid To Ask.” A follow up Gratitude Journal can be found for purchase on our site or through Amazon.

What I love more than anything is the feedback we get from couples and singles who have benefitted from what we offer. So many women who grew up sheltered and religious like me, finally have permission to tap into a side of themselves they’d always been told to keep hidden. Like watching a chrysalis transform into a beautiful butterfly, these women find out more about themselves then they ever dared before.

Not only do I see more confident women, but the men become reassured as well. You see strength builds up, no matter who is doing the growing, the by product will be a stronger bond and more assured couples. When you allow adults to have the reins of their own relationship and essentially tell them they can trust in what works for them, the possibilities become infinite. No more trying to keep up with the Jone’s, instead we let these couples know the power and importance of creating a relationship tailor made for them. Talk about empowering.

What sets Openlove101 apart from other sites is our attention to the relationship. Sure, it’s super fun to dress up and go clubbing. It’s fun to meet new people and engage with others, but in order to do this, the relationship between the couple has to be top notch. How are you going to introduce the concept of swinging if the two of you aren’t on the same page? How are you going to navigate the changing landscape, if neither of you are committed to enhancing the relationship? Openlove101 zero’s in on the importance of communication, transparency, vulnerability, boundaries, and maneuvering through a new and exciting relationship model in a way that fosters growth and trust.

When a couple approaches us in public or in one of our clubs and tells us how much our site has helped them, I still get so excited for them. I love seeing a couple grow together. To see a couple sprout new bonds that tie them even closer to one another. To see their love deepen is so satisfying and reminds me why I do what I do.

For 10 years Openlove101 has been producing weekly content. Whether you read an article, watch our Youtube video’s, listen to our podcast or join our exclusive membership program you will learn not only how to be a more complete individual but how to grow your relationship with others.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Building a positive reputation embodies several different qualities. I would say the largest advantage was our clubs. With decades owning and operating clubs, we already had a reputation for excellence in our field. Adding a point of reference for those new to our clubs or the world of swinging not only benefitted new customers, but reaffirmed why so many of our current members continued showing up week after week, year after year.

Another valuable quality is consistency. Every single week for over 10 years, Openlove101 has delivered content. Not only is the content consistent, but it’s relevant to the needs of our audience. What makes us so different from other content is our focus. We dig down into the nitty gritty of relationships. We get into the nuts and bolts of what makes a relationship successful, no matter what kind of relationship model you aspire to have. For example: want great communication with your partner? Then you have to learn how to face fear head on so you and your partner can begin having conversations centered around truth, transparency and understanding. Openlove101 will teach you how to achieve this.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Due to our niche in the community, building our own was essential. As I said earlier, our clubs play a significant role in attracting clientele to our website. Couple our clubs with a large footprint on social media and Openlove101 has a steady stream of new eyes daily. We are consistent in posting video’s, reels, shorts, inspirational and informational content as well as answering questions from an ever growing audience. Staying visible is vital in today’s world. Offering alternatives for those ready to try something different in their personal lives can be attractive to those searching for change.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Openlove101.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openlove101/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openlove101
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/openlove101
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/openlove101
• Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@openlove_101