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Even though she has loved tea and the social ceremony of tea-making since girlhood, she was working as a legal secretary as she neared the conclusion-so she thought-of her career. She and her husband moved to Pinehurst for their retirement, and as she looked around, she realized the town was ripe for a tea room. She undertook the task methodically by first working for a tea shop, then taking relevant classes and enlisting a mentor to guide her through the process. In 2008, she opened the doors of Lady Bedford’s Tea Parlour, and her dream became a reality. She’s not alone. CNBC reports that entrepreneurs in the 45-plus age group are increasing in number, even in tight economic times when younger people are starting their own businesses at a slower rate. Boomers and seniors show greater financial stability and have a wealth of human connections to draw on, according to the Kauffman Foundation. Businesses started by middle-aged adults and seniors tend to thrive. Forbes reports that in 2010, one of the two fastest-growing tech startups was founded by a 68-year-old. And of all businesses started between 2004 and 2008, the age of the founder was a strong predictor of the venture’s success, with older entrepreneurs outlasting their youthful counterparts. Lady Bedford’s Tea Parlour has prospered, too, celebrating its lucky seventh anniversary in August 2015.
Precious Moments
Sometimes it’s the bright moments rather than the business successes that make a venture especially rewarding. “A little boy won a date with his preschool teacher and could take her anywhere he wanted,” Caso says. “He chose to come to Lady Bedford’s.” Another time, a young mother took her son to tea so he could practice chivalric behavior. The gracious ambiance of the tea shop allowed a recreation of a bygone era. “She was teaching him manners-how to be a gentleman,” Caso explains. “She had him pull her chair out. It was so cute.” Caso has not only built a business; she’s created a space for conversation and community, adding new friends along the way. “My favorite thing is just how many friends we have made at the tea shop,” she says. “Some of our customers have become such good friends that they feel like family.”
Your Turn!
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OutreachNC.com | JANUARY 2016
After hearing Caso’s story, are there any big life moves you’d like to make? Maybe you have a novel on a thumb drive somewhere in the back of your desk drawer that you’d like to polish up and send to an agent. Or perhaps retirement gives you time to turn your knack for configuring computers into paid or volunteer gigs. Whatever you choose to do, Caso says, it’s worth the effort: “Be prepared to work hard. Do your homework, face your fears and then just go for it.”