A 15-YEAR-OLD entrepreneur from Girlington has been heralded as inspiration for teenagers after opening a successful sweet shop.
Ibrahim Ali, who balances running Snacks ‘R’ Us with his GCSE studies, is bringing unusual candy, crisps and American and Chinese cereals from across the world to Bradford.
He even claims to have sold ‘Flamin Hot Cheetos’ to fashion designer and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, who he says mysteriously ordered the rare snack to a high end London address.
And now, his sweet success is being shared in schools after pupils from Dixons Allerton Academy walked into the shop and said they recognised him from their assembly.
Teachers shared the T&A newspaper clipping with students who later congratulated him on their visit.
His father, Hassan Ali, told the Telegraph & Argus: “The students came into see him and they said ‘We’ve done a lesson about you’.
“It’s amazing because it’s not just about my son, it’s inspiring others to go and do something as well.
“It does show young children to take a risk in business.
“Ibrahim’s taken a risk at a young age.
"I think other people will follow.
“He’s had people contact him. Someone emailed him from Scotland to say ‘Will he help me open a shop?’.
“He’s found something which he enjoys doing and he's doing really well.”
Shop owner Ibrahim is already a hit on Snapchat, where teens share their excitement for new products in store.
But it’s not just his brand and online presence bringing in the cash, Ibrahim has just signed a major contract with a Spanish chocolate milk company.
Ibrahim has swapped a Dutch brand of chocolate milk for the new Spanish supplier, making him one of only three retailers in the UK to stock the drink and the only shop in Yorkshire with a contract.
Hassan continued: "It's amazing. We only opened in November. There wasn't a massive investment and his shop was looking a bit bare. But now he's not got barely enough room to put things in there.
"Since he's started his business, he's realised he needs to study so we've had a tutor coming in to help him extra.
"That's motivated him to do well at school.
"He's still studying at Titus Salt.
"I want them to be proud of him."
Ibrahim first started making moves in the business world as a seller on eBay before his parents handed him the keys to the family’s empty shop unit.
The business-minded pupil, who works on weekends after finishing his maths tuition, has employed the help of his auntie Zatoon and friends for weekday sales.
Ibrahim hopes gain top marks in BTEC business, Maths, English and Science so he can study a business degree at university.
The teen, who has dreamt of owning his own business from an early age, said: " I wanted to open up my own to see if I could do it.
“I was happy my mum and dad wanted to support me and they really helped me.”
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