Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Acacia123 · 08/02/2022 16:44

Well, my DS and best friend took this to a new level. After selling sweets for a few weeks they spotted a gap in the market and started bulk buying pot noodles, taking several flasks of hot water to school and making them up to order. Teacher said he could no longer turn a blind eye as it had become a health safety issue. He made them donate remaining stocks of unopened pot noodles to the food bank!

SirenSays · 08/02/2022 16:45

My school was so overrun with kids doing this that I switched from cakes to condoms and made a killing. I charged £1.50 for normal condoms. Flavours, textures and lubes cost more. I never had a shortage of customers
Everyone else was scared to put a condom on the fake willy at the sexual health clinic and that was the only way they'd give them out for free.

MrsTimRiggins · 08/02/2022 16:46

@MaggieMooh

If he’s serious about it he’ll have to register and pay tax etc. You can’t just run a business illegally.
For fucks sake 🙄

I’m with parent A, good on him. My brother used to do this when he was at school, he’s now 32, is still a wheeler dealer of sorts with his own business, has never worked for anyone else and does very well for himself!

BungleandGeorge · 08/02/2022 16:46

The reason a lot of schools stopped having their own tuck shop and don’t allow kids out at lunch is to improve the kids diet and limit their access to junk. For that reason I’d tell him to stop!

RobertsRadio · 08/02/2022 16:47

What would I do? I'd buy him a bigger rucksack so he can fit more stuff in, thereby increasing his profit margin.

Blossomtoes · 08/02/2022 16:48

I’m team parent A all the way. He’s got a brilliant future.

Iamanicepersonreally · 08/02/2022 16:49

I’ll watch out for him on Dragon’s Den 😀

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 08/02/2022 16:51

A friends teen dd did this when she was at school. To the point where her mum would run her to the cash and carry once a month for stock!

Brilliant!

Satingreenshutters · 08/02/2022 16:52

Well Done Mate!!

RincewindsHat · 08/02/2022 16:52

Parent A, this skill could potentially help him earn a lot more in life than say a university degree! Encourage his entrepreneurial spirit.

LadyPenelope68 · 08/02/2022 16:52

@Frlrlrubert
Just a word of warning that in schools I've worked in 'selling on site' isn't a detention offence. It's a one day fixed term exclusion.

Same at any school I’ve taught at. Would be seen as a significant breach of school rules.

mrsm43s · 08/02/2022 16:53

Hmm. I see the entrepreneurial spirit and applaud it (although it's not exactly an original idea!).

However, he's at risk of being excluded, which I don't think is good. Plus I don't think that making money by skirting the rules is a good thing to be encouraged. If he'd come up with a business plan, presented it to a the Head and managed to get permission to run a "pop up" shop, I'd be blown away by his skill set. But doing something that anyone could do, but other people don't because they know its not allowed, is thin ice to me, and is more likely to teach him that doing stuff you're not supposed to is more rewarding than developing a good work ethic and doing things by the book.

thenewduchessoflapland · 08/02/2022 16:54

Your kid is awesome;this is how some of the biggest entrepreneurs have started out.

lucillelarusso · 08/02/2022 16:54

I did this. Best job I ever had, the power, it was brilliant. I made a bloody fortune. Had to pay my dad a cut for access to Macro thou, and my brother for helping me.

RegardingMary · 08/02/2022 16:55

I'm glad I'm not the only one housing a del boy.

My oldest does this, he gets a lift to the cash and carry once a month or so to stock up and has a storage area in the garage. He'll take anything in to sell that he can get for cheap. He also cleans trainers after school, I have to take them home Monday morning, he lcenas them and brings them back Friday ready for the weekend.

I'm all for encouraging it, although I drew the line at delivering choc ices to school at lunchtime.

ThanksItHasPockets · 08/02/2022 16:55

Yes, good on him blah blah blah but be aware that when he gets caught it'll be a fixed-term exclusion which will go on his permanent record.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 08/02/2022 16:55

@MaggieMooh

If he’s serious about it he’ll have to register and pay tax etc. You can’t just run a business illegally.
Does that also apply to teenage babysitters? Confused
PepperMcPeppermint · 08/02/2022 16:55

My DD does this and I'm very proud of her. I'm with parent A and if I were them I'd let him know he can buy stuff way cheaper online to improve his profit margins and get him a bigger backpack too.

WeBuiltThePyramids · 08/02/2022 16:56

DS’ friend did this throughout school, started with sweets and drinks and moved onto a refrigerated backpack so he could sell sausage rolls etc. If any teachers went past he would chuck them a sausage roll and they’d turn a blind eye Grin

His mum helped with cash and carry runs until he passed his test - at which point he’d saved up enough to buy a car Shock

elbea · 08/02/2022 16:56

My friend at school did this, he used to go to a wholesaler to buy sweets and drinks. Used the profits to buy his first car.

Sharrowgirl · 08/02/2022 16:57

@RobertsRadio

What would I do? I'd buy him a bigger rucksack so he can fit more stuff in, thereby increasing his profit margin.
He should buy the bigger rucksack out of his profits. First lesson in ‘you’ve got to speculate to accumulate’ Grin
SundaysinKernow · 08/02/2022 16:58

Parent A for sure. My sister did a similar thing at camp once. Came back with more cash than they went!

RishiRich · 08/02/2022 16:58

I'm with Parent A but would assume that the school will put him in detention at some point when they realise what he's doing. As long as he recognises that risk, is willing to take it and will deny that his parents knew anything about it when they're called in to see the HoY then carry on Wink

bellsbuss · 08/02/2022 16:59

I did the same along with a boy in my class, we would go to the bakery and buy cakes and sausage rolls and sell them at break time. We did this for 2 years and made what seemed like a fortune to us.

Ishouldreallybeonholiday · 08/02/2022 16:59

Parent A all the way!! I'd be thrilled if this was my kid!