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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:
StripeyDeckchair · 08/02/2022 20:26

In my school this would be a serious transgression and the student would have an internal exclusion.

There's a reason why the govt publishes nutritional standards that schools have to adhere to and they don't include sweets and chocolate packed with chemicals & additives & sugar.
You try teaching a class of 30 who have just eaten a packet of haribos at break - nightmare

Benjispruce5 · 08/02/2022 20:27

It’s right that it’s a transgression isn’t it? You can’t have kids selling stuff to other kids without vetting.
Entrepreneurship aside, it’s not acceptable.

Benjispruce5 · 08/02/2022 20:29

How would the ‘go ahead’ parents feel if their children were sold things they’d rather their children not buy and on school premises where they should safe?

Benjispruce5 · 08/02/2022 20:29

*be safe

GlendaSugarbeanIsJudgingYou · 08/02/2022 20:33

Like what?

He's selling Mars bars, not hand guns.

Meatshake · 08/02/2022 20:33

@Benjispruce5

How would the ‘go ahead’ parents feel if their children were sold things they’d rather their children not buy and on school premises where they should safe?
The same way I'd expect my kid to have the brains to walk away from drugs or alcohol on school property. Surely we put in the ground work, give them the tools and instill our values when they're young and then at a certain age it's up to them to deal with? We can't as parents go around bulldozing all challenges and dangers out of their path forever.
itsgettingweird · 08/02/2022 20:40

The trick is to buy the chocolates that are non 2 for £1/£1.50 and then sell for the retail price.

Same with multi buy packs!

I think as long as he knows what he'll do if he's closed down and the income stops there no reason to carry on.

Just be aware it's very hard to go from £50 a week to nothing and can get them into other money making activities that aren't so innocent and legal.

itsgettingweird · 08/02/2022 20:42

@Benjispruce5

How would the ‘go ahead’ parents feel if their children were sold things they’d rather their children not buy and on school premises where they should safe?
I'd realise it's chocolate - that my ds could buy from anywhere!
MrsTimRiggins · 08/02/2022 20:46

@Benjispruce5

How would the ‘go ahead’ parents feel if their children were sold things they’d rather their children not buy and on school premises where they should safe?
It’s chocolate, not crack 😂
MintyGreenDream · 08/02/2022 20:48

@Marmite27 Grin

Jedsnewstar · 08/02/2022 20:53

We always used to buy a pack of fags about £3 for L&B then sell them for £1 a pop. Tidy profit which would be spent on mad dog 20 20! Kids have changed! Grin

Benjispruce5 · 08/02/2022 20:54

Obviously it’s not crack but, it could be, hence the rules. He could be buying out of date stock. I just don’t think school is the right place. Parents have a right to believe that their children are being protected whilst there.

Benjispruce5 · 08/02/2022 20:56

How would you feel if your child was buying sweets from some kid on your street that you don’t know? It’s all very well saying it’s fine but nobody on here knows this boy and where he is getting his stock. He’s a child, he might not make the best decisions.

ZebraHair · 08/02/2022 20:59

First post I saw when I went on Facebook after reading this thread 😂

WWYD - teen running their own tuck shop in school
Luredbyapomegranate · 08/02/2022 21:02

I don’t know which vote is which, but I am team A - you have an epic kid. 🥇

TheWaterNokk · 08/02/2022 21:10

I’d like to think I would be Parent A but I was always a bit of a goody two shoes.

However, I don’t really get the schools’ problem with this. I can sort of see why they might want to gently put a stop to it (diet, allergies, complaints from parents) but I don’t understand at all the heavy handed approach, punishment etc.

HappyDays40 · 08/02/2022 21:13

If he’s serious about it he’ll have to register and pay tax etc. You can’t just run a business illegally
Dear me there is always one.....he is a school kid mate.

ThanksItHasPockets · 08/02/2022 21:16

@YippieKayakOtherBuckets

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.
I'm not a Parent A but I am a teacher. Judging by the number of parents who expect us to investigate when their child's contraband, expensive smartphone or AirPods are lost or stolen I am pretty confident that yes, they would expect us to clean up the mess.
IWasHotInTheNineties · 08/02/2022 21:37
Smile
WWYD - teen running their own tuck shop in school
converseandjeans · 08/02/2022 21:46

DS started doing this few weeks back. He lasted about 10 days but made loads of cash. About £80 profit. His Head of Year wasn't too hard on him & let me collect his stash. He's in Year 7 so was good entrepreneur. He was ordering himself, taking orders, working out VAT from website he was ordering from & working out profit. Seems lots of kids were happy to buy.

converseandjeans · 08/02/2022 21:48

We warned him he would be caught & stopped.

lovelychops · 08/02/2022 22:09

My god there's some proper miseries on this thread !

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 08/02/2022 22:11

What would I do? Start calling him Alan Sugar and humming the apprentice theme when he walks in the room

5keletor · 08/02/2022 22:12

I'm with parent A, sounds like he's doing very well!

erinaceus · 09/02/2022 01:10

Can you and your son brainstorm ways he could scratch that entrepreneurial itch that are less problematic for his school?

If your son goes into business in the future, there will be standards and frameworks for him to navigate. You could frame the situation as learning how to be an ethical businessman now in not transgressing any school rules or requirements. I suspect he would be able to find something more profitable if he thought about it.

He could also look into whether his school takes part in the Young Enterprise scheme, where you start a business at school, he might enjoy that.