Young Entrepreneur On Course for His First Million
By admin
Issued on behalf of Live Enterprise (UK) Ltd
Young entrepreneur Emyr Hughes is well on his way to becoming Wales’ latest millionaire – despite being thrown out of school with no qualifications at the age of 15.
His business Live Enterprise (UK) Ltd launched less than a year ago but is already on target to turn over £2.8 million in its first year.
Emyr’s first product was an infrared Sahara patio heater which he realised would sell like hot cakes once the smoking ban kicked in. Although only 19 years old at the time, he negotiated hard and ended up buying 50,000 of them direct from the Chinese manufacturer.
Now their success is forcing him to move into bigger 30,000 square foot office and warehouse complex in Bedwas but far from resting on his laurels, Emyr has already launched his second product.
Sport Solution, which is being produced in Gwent, cleans and sanitises sports equipment and clothes and Emyr already predicts it will eclipse the turnover of the Sahara heaters – not bad for someone who was asked to leave the highly-rated Cathedral School in Llandaff after a “disagreement” over exams.
“School wasn’t for me,” said Emyr.
“Obviously if you’re going to be a doctor or a lawyer you need qualifications but in other walks of life you can do very nicely without them – I think I’m already proving that.
“I was targeting a turnover of around £250,000 in our first year but the accountants now reckon it could be as much as £2.8 million.”
After trying his hand successfully in several ventures from mobile discos to wedding shows, Emyr set up Live Enterprise (UK) Ltd to buy and sell what he describes as “must-have” products.
“We bought the Sahara patio heaters in bulk to keep the costs down and undercut everyone else,” explained Emyr.
“They tick all the boxes; they are electric so don’t produce CO2 which is not only greener but don’t attract mosquitoes; they’re cheaper to buy and much cheaper to run than gas ones; they heat up to nine square metres and can easily be fitted to a sensor so they only come on when someone stands in front of them.
“The Sport Solution is being produced in Ebbw Vale – we’re going to be producing a million bottles a month. It can be used to tackle all sorts of stains, from grass to blood, and it kills off bacteria to leave equipment and clothing clean, odour-free and sanitised.
“Players of all sports – from football to bowls – will use it. It is non-abrasive and comes in a pump-action bottle so produces no fumes or CFCs, yet there’s nothing like it on the market.”
Emyr has already teamed up with Newport Olympic medallist Jamie Baulch to help sell Sports Solution through his connections in the sporting world.
Jamie Baulch said, “I joined Emyr on this project because it was such a great business opportunity. The Sport Solution does everything it says on the tin which makes it very useful to a lot of people. It’s been very well received by the sales outlets – the biggest challenge we’ve had so far has been meeting the demand for it.”
Inevitably, Emyr is being likened to TV’s favourite entrepreneur Sir Alan Sugar of The Apprentice fame. Sugar also left school young – he was just 16 – and started selling car aerials and electrical goods to build up his empire.
But while Sugar – now 60 and said to be worth more than £800 million – is famous for his catchphrase “you’re fired!” Emyr is more likely to say “you’re hired!”
He already has five employees, including a sales director 30 years his senior, and has just taken on two more sales staff to cope with the demand for patio heaters. Emyr confidently expects to quadruple his workforce by the end of the year as Live Enterprise (UK) Ltd already has several other “must-have” products and services in the pipeline … watch this space.
