Joel Drapper

15 year old Joel was one of the regional finalists of the 2007 Make Your Mark Challenge. Like any self respecting entrepreneur he then ploughed his winnings into his own business: 1stclasswebsites.com…

Getting started

So, Joel – describe your business in 20 words:

1st Class Websites provides high performance, bespoke, professional, websites for small businesses,  individuals and charities at competitive prices.

How did your idea come about?

For years I have loved graphic design, layout, 3D modelling, and building websites. So I found a way to make it pay.

How did you get your first break?

Irene Benson at LymeNet Community Learning Centre asked me to have a go at re-designing their website for them. I worked for nothing, not expecting to get paid, and the Board of Trustees loved it. (Robert Kiyosaki, of 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' fame says that you should work for the experience rather than for the money.....They ought to make this book compulsory in schools.) When the site was live they gave me a cheque beyond my wildest dreams. That beats any A+ on your homework project!

Most people would call what I was asked to do a 'lucky break', but a lucky break is actually when preparedness meets an opportunity. I had taken the effort to learn the skills needed and I was already serving people by making sites for free. When opportunity came I was ready.

Has this been an important part of getting you where you are now?

Yes, it helped me believe that my work was worth a professional fee and it has given me some cash to invest.

How did you get access to finance (e.g. friends and family/ banks/ other)?

With 11 mouths to feed there is not a lot of spare cash around in our family. In November our team came in second in the regional finals of the Make Your Mark Challenge.  We shared out the £100 prize money to invest in our business ideas. I invested my portion of the money into my business, by buying a domain name and hosting.

Before this I wanted to buy myself a laptop computer so I worked many hours washing up at a hotel and chopping potatoes into chips for a chip shop. It was poor pay and I was chopping in a  small unheated shed, with gnats everywhere and by the time I finished my 8 sacks of potatoes my jeans and trainers were soaked through. But I saved up and finally bought my own laptop.

My business doesn't have very high overheads, so I can re-invest what I earn to advertise and improve my products.

What was the biggest barrier in getting to where you are today?

Marketing has been the hardest thing to tackle. It is very time consuming, but is essential to keep your business going.

The web design industry is massive. Other website designers who can afford to employ advertising companies get noticed. There are a lot of competitors in my field , and although I think I beat them in quality, and usability of the products I offer, at the price, it is very hard to get heard above all the big boys.

Education & employment

What type of school did you attend?

I have never been to school! My mum and dad have home educated me all my life.

Most of my early years I used the A.C.E paper based, Christian curriculum from America, but now most of my learning is done on-line.

Being home educated is a bit like running your own business. I am free to work when I want, and learn the subjects that will be useful in my life. As well as the usual English, Maths, Sciences and Social Studies I also study Successful Living and Character building. I set my own goals and work hard.

Have you ever worked for someone else?

Yes. Before starting my business I worked for a Hotel in Charmouth, where I washed dishes and prepared starters and sweets for guests for £4.50/hour. Then I worked for a short while for a chip shop chopping potatoes into chips for £3.50/hour. Both jobs were hard work, especially  the  cold wet lonely shed!! But I learnt a lot of character and determination to run my own business.

I don't think that employers allow young people to be creative. Many managers do not know how to help their employees be part of the team and share their input.

Inspiration

Do you think there are enough role models of young people who have set up in businesses?

There are more and more young people setting up businesses, especially with  groups like MYM and Bright Ideas, but not enough are getting into the classrooms to share their stories, set an example to others, and encourage them. My big sister, Rebekah, is 21 and she runs her own life coaching  business. She has been a real inspiration to me.

Who is the one person who has been most influential in your success?

Our family is an amazing team and there are 13 of us!!!,  We all use our different strengths to help each other succeed. Dad is the technical advisor and my mentor; mum helps with PR, cooks the dinner and washes my socks; my big sister is my life coach and encourager; my big brother is an author and so makes a great proof reader, checking my grammar; and all my little brother and sisters help me let off steam when I take a break.

Our breakfast table is a great place to talk through problems and come up with new ideas. I spend all day with my business mentor and I would like to give thanks to God for the gift of my wonderful family.

I guess the one most influential person would have to be my dad though. He left school at 16 unable to read and write and went from dead-end job to dead-end job, including MacDonalds Crew, pig sty washer, oven cleaner, youth worker, double glazing salesman, to name just a few. Eventually he had had enough and started to find out how to run his own business. Now he has taught us all these skills so we don't have to live on benefits like he did. He's the best!

What would your advice be to someone thinking about setting up their own business?

First of all I would say that you cannot fail. Every failure is another step towards success, another way you have learnt doesn't work. You can only fail if you give up and never try again. So if you have an idea for a business then prepare as best you can and then just do it. You can learn along the way.

It is very important to be selling from day one. You may have the best product or service but if you can't sell it then you will soon shrivel up and die

And finally…

Tell us five things about yourself:

1. I am a Christian and go to church on Sundays
2. I am a St John Ambulance Cadet
3. I love to spend  my time upside down in trees
4. I'm already an uncle
5. I love swimming and running

You can find out more about Joel's business at www.1stclasswebsites.com