Love and Money: Retirees Ride the E-Commerce Wave

Retired couples are starting online businesses, turning hobbies a vehicle for traveling, adventure, income, and renewed relationships. They find adventure in traveling to craft shows and meeting with other business owners and artisans, gain income from selling online, and renew their relationships by spending more time together working towards a common goal.

USA (PRWEB) February 12, 2004 --Retired couples are putting zing back into their relationships by cashing in on the hottest new trend: e-commerce.

In the old days, retirement meant puttering around the garden or golf course trying to find something to do. Now retirees are creating new lives for themselves by marrying traditional hobbies with high tech online sales venues such as American Crafts Online (www.CraftsOnline.com).

Couples who used to be focused on separate career goals are now spending time together, partnering in their own art/craft ventures. In sharing the excitement of discovering new creative talents and running a business, couples experience a renewed appreciation of each other. They develop common goals and share the same hopes, dreams and challenges, while at the same time, rediscover the strengths they and their partner bring to the operation and to the marriage.

There are, of course, economic benefits as well.

Known as e-commerce, the act of selling and doing business over the Internet has given hobbyists access to a worldwide market.

American Crafts Online, for example, gives artisans a place to show their handiwork to more than 50,000 customers worldwide through an online mall. Buyers can search for specific types of artwork or crafts, browse through images and descriptions of each piece before buying, and email Customer Service with their questions.

According to the US Census Bureau, American-based e-commerce retail sales have grown at a rate of almost 30% in the past year, resulting in approximately $12.5-billion worth of on-line business.

This increase is fueled in part by the growing number of people who are turning hobbies into their own successful small businesses after retirement, using the Internet to reach a greater number of potential customers.

If you're a retiree who's been longing for adventure, you can join the thousands of artisans who travel throughout the U.S. exhibiting at art and craft shows. Exhibitors on the same event circuit often become friends, exchanging ideas via email, fax, and phone, excited about their new work and ready to share ways of improving sales.

That these artisans are succeeding proves that it's never too late to put imagination, experience, and creativity to work. They've struck gold in their golden years!
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