Entrepreneurship is not just for youngsters. An increasing number of older people are using their retirement to launch businesses. Three years ago, aged 65, Simeone Salik, a former PR executive, had the idea for Blindsinabox, a company selling temporary blinds. After appearing on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den and receiving investment from the programme’s James Caan and Duncan Bannatyne, the company has doubled its predicted first-year turnover and is negotiating with several international distributors.
“It took us two years to get going, during which time the [economic] news just kept getting worse,” Mrs Salik said. “I did think we are mad to be doing this now. But we had the right product (cheap temporary black out blinds) and made sure we didn’t take too many risks. People of our age are used to being careful with money
