Name: Bob and JoAnn Shirilla
Age: 63 and 61
Hometown: Poland, Ohio
When Bob, an IT manager at a Fortune 500 company, and JoAnn Shirilla, who ran a store, retired six years ago, they thought retirement life would consist of golfing, vacations, and dance lessons. Then the 2008 market downturn took a big bite out of their savings, and the Shirillas decided to start a business.
"Even with a reduced nest egg, we could still do everything we want," says Bob. "But we have a youthful drive to compete and wanted a new challenge." Building on Bob's IT skills and JoAnn's retail experience, they launched two websites, Keepsakes-etc.com for personalized gifts and Simply-Bags.com for personalized handbags.
"Owning our own business gives us the flexibility to travel and play when we want and to focus on the business when we desire," says Bob. "Life has never been better."
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