It's never too late
Growing rise in Granpreneurs
Author: Professor Joyce Harper
Picture: Keith Jones
I recently read in our local paper (Cambridge Evening News) about Marion Foreman (pictured right), a nurse and grandmother who at age 58 retrained as a personal trainer and has set up two gyms. Marion is among a growing number of people who are setting up businesses later in life – dubbed granpreneurs.
Marion set up the gyms, Forefront fitness, with her husband after he was diagnosed with cancer and stopped working. Most personal trainers are young men and they may not be sympathetic to the workings of an older woman’s body. Marion’s gyms specialise in helping women over 40 but her business attracts a wide range of customers. Marion urges those with business ideas to take the plunge. ‘You need to be bold and brave and just do it; you’re usually better than you think you are’ says Marion.
The Daily Mail reports on Pam Palmer, who at age 68 set up a luxury handbag business (Peony & Moore) with her daughter and also Tricia Cusden (pictured on the homepage), aged 67, who is founder and chief executive of the booming global cosmetics empire Look Fabulous Forever, which is aimed specifically at women over 50. Tricia says ‘I couldn’t have done this when I was younger. I was too busy raising my children, plus my business idea came as a result of getting older. Now I’m in my 60s, I have the financial and personal freedom to be an entrepreneur’.
Read More:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridegshire-grandmother-says-s-late-training/story-28414894-detail/story.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3368164/Retire-No-way-rise-granpreneurs-inspiring-grandmothers-prove-s-never-late-launch-business.html
Image credit: Cambridge Evening News (Keith Jones) and www.fabafterfifty.co.uk
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I love the concept of Granpreneurs – it is never too late and I certainly do not want to retire. I want to keep achieving for as long as possible. I started Global Women when I was 52. I wish someone had told me when I was younger that I should think big and try to develop an idea. I was told this by Graham Snudden a few years ago. Graham set up a very successful Biotech company which he told a few years ago for a huge sum of money. Do you have a big or small idea – something you have always dreamt about doing? Why not do it?
What a great idea! I definitely think its going to be positive for older women to have older women trainers – sometimes you get them for less active classes, but it is quite rare. I think when I get older I would feel more comfortable with an older teacher rather than someone fresh faced and spritely.
I am not sure of the point of retiring – I need a sense of achievement each day. Starting a project like this sounds perfect.