Opportunities abound

October 2, 2009 – During the second day of the Asian Gerontology Experience (AGE) symposium, organised by the Institute of Policy Studies, Council for Third Age and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, in the session on Gerontological Training and Research in the Business Sector, Kim Walker of the Silver Group in Singapore (pictured here in the dialogue session, far right) said that the 50+ group will by grow by 35%. "This group has more disposable income than any other [age] group. ... Nobody is talking to them. The market is wide open." He explained that they are older but they are "not old" and they differ by demographics, culture, gender and attitudes. Also, not all seniors are fragile, either. He added that messages that target them will fail as they don't want to feel old – "They are in denial and they don't want to get old." He gave an example of a product that has done well – a universal design that accommodates the practical and emotional needs of not just the older cohort but the young as well – the iPhone.