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Teenage LAD Who Started £50,000 Tuck Shop Empire Reveals Secret To His Success

Teenage LAD Who Started £50,000 Tuck Shop Empire Reveals Secret To His Success

He's only 15-year-old.

James Dawson

James Dawson

The 15-year-old wheeler-dealer, dubbed the 'Wolf of Walthamstow' because he's making £50,000 ($64,600) a year from a tuck shop business empire that started in the toilets of his London school, has revealed the secret to his success.

Speaking to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield on This Morning, Nathan John-Baptiste explained exactly how his business was able to grow to its current stage, with the 15-year-old employing 11 people across three schools.

Watch a clip of his appearance here:

ITV / This Morning

He said: "I made a turnover of about £20-25,000 ($25-32,000) before we got caught.

"I usually go into school at 7.30, but I got in really late, and everyone started following me, like, 'Nathan's here!'

"I opened the shop, and it was just an innocent thing I got caught with - my brother asked me to change up a £10 note for the change machine.

"A teacher saw, and my brother said, 'No, he's just giving me change,' and I thought nothing of it.

Credit: ITV / This Morning

"The next day in Drama [class], an exam invigilator came and took me to the interview room, opened my bag and found everything - £50,000 worth of stock."

Nathan also explained how he chose which other school children to take on as employees.

He said: "At the time I was just looking for someone to sell for me. I asked them why they wanted to sell.

"If they really want to make money and are eager, and from humble beginnings, and they have the drive, then that's what I wanted."

Credit: The Sun / News Syndication

As part of his business, pupils make orders of Lucozade, Chewits, Kit Kats and Fruit Pastilles via Snapchat, before picking up the treats at break time.

But after recently having been told to stop selling on school grounds, Nathan, who lives with mum Sharon, 43, and dad Peter, 46, is considering branching out into the property market.

He told the Sun: "I've saved £5,000 ($6,400). I'll invest in sub-letting property."

Nathan's mother Sharon, who works in the transport industry, said: "He was disappointed when he could not get a job. They kept telling him, 'come back when you're older'.

"That's when he decided to sell bath products, handmade soaps and bath bombs."

She told the Mail: "He did go off the rails at the end of primary school and he's had quite a few people helping him to get to where he is. The school have been very supportive.

"Of his entrepreneurial skills, I'm very proud. He's a very strong-willed child."

Featured Image Credit: ITV / This Morning

Topics: This Morning

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