MANY people start to think about taking it easy when they reach their 60s, but Christine Roberts certainly isn't one of them.

Not content with already running one business, she started two more.

And despite the recession hitting soon afterwards, she is targeting a combined turnover of £1m as the new enterprises become established in the giftware and tourism sectors.

Christine, 63, was already the owner of a long-established electronics power supply distribution company, Roberts Warr Electronics, which she established with her late husband Ron.

Two years ago she decided to set up La La Luna Porcelain, with her daughter Sarah Carter, 35, after securing UK and Ireland distribution rights for South Africa designer Lynne Lange's work.

At the same time they launched the Old Vicarage Bed & Breakfast, renovating the property adjoining their home in Broadhembury, near Honiton, after it became available to rent.

"The main reason for doing it was that my daughter had just had a baby and she was a teacher, which is a hard job," said Christine. "We were both aware that going back to that job was not going to be conducive to being a young mum.

"The opportunities presented themselves at the same time and it occurred to me that it was something Sarah and I could do together that would one day give her a good income and she would have her own business, and I know that makes bringing up a family a lot easier."

The idea for La La Luna came after a holiday in South Africa, where Christine saw the products on sale in high-end boutiques. After returning home, she contacted the designer, who was already preparing to visit a trade show in the UK in search of an agent.

"At the time in early 2007 the electronics business was going great guns and I felt I had the wherewithal to launch something else, but unfortunately the electronics sector was affected quite badly, like everything else, by the economic downturn, which was not good from the cashflow point of view," she said.

"But since our first exhibition in 2007 we have worked hard to expand our portfolio and now have approximately 300 associated retailers throughout the UK, Ireland and France."

The electronics and porcelain businesses are based in a converted barn in Broadhembury, employing four staff.

This number is expected to rise as the companies continue to grow, and a housekeeper is likely to be taken on to help with the B&B after two more rooms open in the new year.

After going through a strategic mapping process with Business Link, Christine is looking forward to growing her companies.

"The porcelain business has suddenly started to take off after an amazing trade show at Olympia in September," she said.

"I don't think that's because things are easy on the High Street but we are a young company and we are getting known.

"The aim is to build up a database of 1,000 customers, with 10 per cent buying at any one time.

"The last three months have been better on the electronics side and we are hoping to get the business back up to its pre-recession turn- over of over £500,000 by the end of 2010."

Christine said she has no plans to retire, but would like to hand over the day-to-day management of the businesses in five years.