October 25, 2007
The “Not ready to retire” crowd, “The Best Kept
Secret” revealed, and being "Grand"
In case you hadn’t noticed, we boomers (a term we're starting to really hate
by the way) are being rediscovered. In some cases by smart marketers, but more often than not by other boomers who are finding new ways for
boomers to connect online. Recently, The Three Tomatoes had a chance to chat with three people who are very
passionate about web ventures they are involved in or have created for various boomer segments. We love what they’re
doing and think you might too. (And P.S. Check out the private designer sales in our right hand column.)
55-Alive, for the not quite ready for retirement crowd
Our first contact with Kelly Lantz, co-founder of 55-Alive, was almost a year ago when she invited The Three Tomatoes to provide a regular column on their web site, which we did, and continue to do every month. We know the web site is doing well,
because it generates lots of traffic to The Three Tomatoes, so last week we chatted with Kelly to catch up with what they’re doing and how
it’s going.
Kelly and her husband, whom she describes as a “recovering attorney”
started this venture a couple of years ago, so that they could have a life and he could actually see his kids grow up. They too
saw an opportunity to tap into boomers, in this case those who were approaching retirement. The web site initially was called “Retirement
Life”. It quickly changed to 55-Alive when they realized that this group isn’t really into “retiring” at least not the way our parents
generation did -- buying their polyester pants, white patent leather shoes and heading to Florida where they played a little golf,
and invented the 4:30 “all you can eat” buffets. 55-Alive reflects the interests of this vital group with great content on everything from health to relationships, to travel
and adventure and a real focus on finding your passions and pursing them. Kelly says the site keeps evolving around the
needs of its users, and the newest and one of the most popular sections is a dating section, which is free to members. Membership to the site is free
too by the way. So take your mouse and spend a little time exploring 55-Alive.
TheBestKeptSecret no more
The Three Tomatoes confess we do love to share
secrets, and here’s one you’ll thank us for sharing. It’s a web site called TheBestKeptSecret, launched this past June by Tornoto based Karen
Hamilton, who started it as a resource for Toronto women over 40. We chatted with Karen last week and immediately realized we were so simpatico
because her simple mission, not unlike The Three Tomatoes’, is to celebrate this stage of our lives.
Karen, a technology consultant by profession, is also a 40 + Mom to school age
children with whom she wanted to spend more time. But in between soccer games and gigabytes she also had that side of her that
still wanted to be that “hot” chick who loves clothes, drinking wine with her girl friends, and hanging out in cool places,
but right for her age. As she says “It started with the clothes. Or lack thereof. Sometime during my early
40’s, I began to notice that the offerings in my usual haunts just didn’t look right. Waistbands were way too low and why would I want
to look ridiculous sporting a top with slashes up the sleeves.”
So she started TheBestKeptSecret, where every week she uncovers the latest information for women like her, and us too by the
way. While we may not be hanging out in Toronto’s hot spots for the 40+ crowd, the web site and newsletter has lots
of other great stuff on style, organizing tips, relationships, passions, careers and more, presented in a fun, lighthearted way.
So here’s a big martini toast from The
Three Tomatoes to our new BFFs in Toronto.
Redefining “Grandparents”
Shocking as it may sound, many of the first-born boomers are actually grandparents,
or longing to become grandparents if only their self-absorbed children would cooperate. And we're here to tell you
that of all the titles we’ve acquired over the years, “grandmother” is far better than any of them -- including
CEO. But what’s not so great is the “image” attached to grandmother. While
we’re always flattered when people say “you don’t look like a grandmother”, we are also always tempted to say
“this is what grandmothers” look like. Although you certainly wouldn’t know that by reading children’s books or watching
some of their shows. Grandmas usually have white hair, tied up in neat little buns, and wear aprons.
Grandpa is always bald, with a pot belly and wears a plaid flannel shirt. Oh, and they do passive stuff with
the grandkids, like baking cookies, or fishing in a creek. The Three Tomatoes on the
other hand, just hope we live long enough to introduce our grandkids to their first martini at the Four Seasons -- when they’re 21 of
course. So, we were delighted to chat with Jerry Shereshewsky, CEO of a robust new web site called Grandparents.com, for “modern, active
“grandparents.
“Today’s grandparents are more tech-savvy
and affluent than their predecessors, but they ultimately want the same thing as every group of grandparents before them – to share their
experience, knowledge and values with the next generation,” says Jerry. “Grandparents.com gives them the tools to pass along their legacy in a way
that is meaningful and easily relatable to their grandchildren.” In addition to online tools, like creating
blogs, journals, and sharing photos with family and friends, the site has terrific content like “101 Things to Do with Your
Grandkids”, “Grandparent Travel Guides”, “Grandparent Approved Gift Guides”, and expert advice.
It’s a fun site, with great content, and you won’t find any little old ladies with white buns and aprons there
either. We wish them much luck with this venture.
So here’s to being “grand”, not quite retired, and living it up
no matter what city you live in.
‘til next week,
The Three Tomatoes
Copyright© 2007. The Three Tomatoes. All rights
reserved.
