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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WWYD - teen running their own tuck shop in school

504 replies

PinkPansies · 08/02/2022 16:06

We've realised recently that ds1 aged 14 has become quite flush with cash (more so than his pocket money would allow anyway!).

On questioning we've discovered that he's quite the entrepreneur and has set up his own tuck shop in school on breaks and lunches. In short, he's been stopping at the local Coop on the way to school and buying sweets and chocolates then selling them to the kids in his year for double the price. Who are more than willing to pay.

From making the odd quid here and there his 'business' has expanded rapidly in the last 3 weeks and he's got quite a following in school - and he's currently making about ten quid A DAY in profit. I can't quite believe the amounts.

He's taking specific requests from kids that get the bus to school so don't have the opportunity to visit a shop and has a price/order list to show his customers and a book with a record of his sales and profits each day 🙈

He's taking it very seriously and is incredibly organised. He's explained to his parents that his profit is limited only by how much stuff he can physically fit in his bag - so he's currently looking at smaller, higher value sweets and sounding our his customers for interest levels.

Parent A and Parent B have different opinions.

Parent A is thrilled, has congratulated their son for his driven, entrepreneurial spirit and told him to crack on...but that he needs to be aware the school will probably give him a detention if he's caught. It's a risk ds is happy to take.

Parent B is amused and a bit impressed but thinks he should stop as obviously the school would frown on this. Haven't seen any specific school rules about this but obviously the school would probably want it stopped!

WWYD?

OP posts:
MajorCarolDanvers · 08/02/2022 19:45

Parent A: awesome

Ottolin3 · 08/02/2022 19:47

He should be celebrated! Very entrepreneurial! I had friends who did this at my school, they would make sandwiches in the morning and bring them in and sell them!

Lovemusic33 · 08/02/2022 19:49

Lots of kids did this when I was at school, we live in a rural area so only some kids had access to shops.

One boy that used to sell a lot is now doing very well for himself (he must be 42 now), he went on to work in sales and could sale ice to eskimos, he now has several business. So I would say it’s a good thing, he’s thought up a good way of making money, people are willing to pay the extra money. Just be prepared for a phone call from the school one day as they are likely to not be as happy about what he’s doing.

Chelsea26 · 08/02/2022 19:50

I used to sell cheap nightclub tickets when I was 16. They used to send you 20 free tickets if it was your birthday so I signed up loads of times with a different birthday (they never checked) and sell the get in free tickets for £7 in the spoons beforehand (entry was £10) I used to go home loaded!

Added bonus is that if you had the biggest ‘party’ as in the most free tickets used you got a free cheapo bottle of fizz in the club!

Those were the days!

GreenDressRedWine · 08/02/2022 19:50

I’m with Parent A, sometimes it’s better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.

Rosscameasdoody · 08/02/2022 19:54

@MaggieMooh

If he’s serious about it he’ll have to register and pay tax etc. You can’t just run a business illegally.
How can he do this at 14 - he doesn’t get an NI until he’s at least 15.9 years old ?
NeverChange · 08/02/2022 19:56

You know your child best. How likely is it that he will move on to cigarettes, alcohol, drugs etc. If he's fairly sensible in that regard I wouldn't worry.

I know people are talking about allergies and I know most with allergies know what to avoid but I would suggest he avoids peanuts. Let's be honest, gluten or lactose might cause issues but aren't fatal and yes I know this is highly unlikely but you don't want to be on the receiving end of a nut allergy issue whatever happens.

Bakewelltart987 · 08/02/2022 19:58

My ds 14 done this for awhile untill he got caught by the teacher and got a week's detention. He stopped taking things in now but did sell his fairy cakes he made in cookery

snowgirl1 · 08/02/2022 19:59

I'm with parent A, but would discuss how he might make money when this dries up - so he doesn't turn to selling drugs or something.

Gizacluethen · 08/02/2022 19:59

I think it's brill. Good for him!

XelaM · 08/02/2022 20:00

My daughter is doing this at her school! I think it's brilliant Grin

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/02/2022 20:03

As a secondary teacher please can you not allow this to happen, it’s a real pain, having to police it, then argue with the kids to take the stuff, other parents complaining the kids are eating shit.honestly it may seem
Funny at home but it isn’t at school, it’s just another thing we have to
Manage

ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor · 08/02/2022 20:04

I think it’s brilliant. Perhaps start to do it outside the gates so officially off school property then they can’t say much.

tearinghairout · 08/02/2022 20:05

Good for him! His parents should be very proud!

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 08/02/2022 20:06

I would love for a few of the Parent As to tell us if they expect the school to intervene when the business leads to theft, or bullying, or intimidation of vulnerable children.

Meatshake · 08/02/2022 20:07

Parent A all the way. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

I'd be proud if my kid did something like that... this kid has got a bright future ahead of him 👏

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 08/02/2022 20:08

I would be worried about Jamie Oliver jumping out of a broom cupboard and trying to arrest him.

IShouldntPostBut · 08/02/2022 20:11

@FlimFlamJimJams

I used to buy large cakes as Costco and then sell them per slice under the table (sometimes quite literally) at sixth form. I'm in my 30s now and some of my school friends still laugh about it. I got caught, told I wasn't allowed to sell food without an appropriate license so I started selling napkins instead - with a free slice of cake. It's a victimless crime.
Selling napkins! I loved this one!
Theoldwrinkley · 08/02/2022 20:13

Well done to the young man. I used to work in a supermarket, evening shifts and used to do reductions on cookies etc that were loose and hoped to be sold on that day. One young lad came in virtually every evening and bought entire left over stock of cookies etc, made enough to pay for his way through uni. From 'tuck shop's sales. Wish I'd have had the nouse 40 years ago.

YippieKayakOtherBuckets · 08/02/2022 20:13

@GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou

I would be worried about Jamie Oliver jumping out of a broom cupboard and trying to arrest him.
I am reminded of the fateful day many years ago when Jamie’s school reforms were implemented and the kids staged a sit-in in the canteen chanting ‘fuck Jamie Oliver, we want chocolate.’
PickledOnionSandwich · 08/02/2022 20:15

Are you sure he’s buying it? My DS was doing this and I was sure something fishy was going on. I was proven right when the teacher called me to tell me he’d been thrown out of Sainsbury’s for shoplifting 🤔 😤

BattleMyDemons · 08/02/2022 20:17

I am reminded of the fateful day many years ago when Jamie’s school reforms were implemented and the kids staged a sit-in in the canteen chanting ‘fuck Jamie Oliver, we want chocolate.’

And that’s one reason why so many kids are fat. School dinners are still often low standard, it’s strange that so many parents don’t want their children eating better diets and don’t teach their kids to be respectful.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/02/2022 20:19

@BattleMyDemons

Totally agree, this thread is really annoying me!

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 08/02/2022 20:20

Oh dear. :o

OnaBegonia · 08/02/2022 20:24

Good on him, I have to laugh at all the buttoned up PPs with he'll be excluded, big trouble etc, register for tax 🤣
I'm surprised it's just sweets, most schools have single cigarettes for sale at £1 by the local business teen.