Aberdare Teenager Eleri Williams Funds Law Degree With £35,000 Vintage Football Shirt Business
Eleri Williams, 18, has launched a successful vintage football shirt enterprise, yielding more than £35,000 in profit. The Aberdare teenager aims to complete her law degree at Cardiff University without accumulating debt, utilising the earnings from her business.
Williams initiated her online resale venture from her parents' spare room whilst undertaking her GCSE examinations. Three years on, her business has progressed to a physical retail unit located within one of Cardiff's arcades.
Initially, the business served to provide 'pocket money'; however, its unexpected success has positioned Williams to finance her higher education. She recounted commencing the venture by selling some of her father's old football shirts, subsequently reinvesting profits to expand her inventory.
Student Debt and Side Hustles
Williams's proactive approach aligns with a growing trend among students. Data from Aviva indicates that 65% of students engaged in a 'side hustle' in the past year, a substantial increase from 38% in the 1980s. This surge is largely attributed to escalating living costs and concerns over student loan repayments.
Welsh students typically incur around £40,000 in debt upon graduation, a figure lower than the £53,000 faced by their counterparts in England. The Welsh government has opted not to follow the UK government's decision to freeze the loan repayment threshold for English graduates, though it did support a subsequent cap on interest rates at 6%.
Williams acknowledged the challenges of balancing her business operations in Cardiff's Royal Arcade with her academic commitments. Her family provides substantial support, managing the shop during her school hours and examinations. Williams anticipates adapting shop opening hours once she commences university.
Her business sources shirts globally, including local acquisitions and traditional resale platforms. Among her notable sales was a vintage Juventus shirt, featuring Alessandro Del Piero, which fetched £150. Williams also expressed her personal delight at acquiring a rare Super Furry Animals-sponsored Cardiff City shirt, a piece she intends to retain rather than sell.
