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An Ageing Population Creates a New Customer Base

In 2012 Revenue declared annual income for people aged 65 and over was €10billion, in addition to 75% of Ireland’s disposable income residing with this demographic. The Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme looks at how Irish businesses can reach this changing customer base, and how its spending power can positively impact local business.

Age Friendly Business Recognition is a national programme run with the support of Chambers Ireland and Local Authorities. It is part of the wider Age Friendly Ireland Cities & Counties programme, and aims to expand business demographics to focus on our growing older population.

Research by Age Friendly Ireland has found that older customers tend to be loyal customers. The objective of the Age Friendly Business Recognition programme is to attract and retain the older customer base, and adapt their services and operating systems to attract customers with high levels of disposable income.

The Cork Age Friendly Office and the Cork County Council’s Local Enterprise Offices are inviting businesses to attend a free Business Training workshop to inform and assist businesses transition to an age friendly model. The training is being run across four towns in Cork – Cobh, Mitchelstown, Bandon, and Kinsale – across four days. A list of dates, times, and locations can be found on local enterprise websites. There is a maximum attendance of 2 people per business to each workshop, and each session can facilitate 50 attendees.

Training Sessions lay out simple, low cost practices that make a business age friendly. Changes can be as straightforward as making your business easier to find, easier to enter, and more manoeuvrable.

The Age Friendly Business Recognition Programme has been rolled out in over 15 counties in Ireland to-date and has educated thousands of Irish businesses in how to engage this powerful customer base.

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