A SCHOOLBOY is making a name for himself in the business world with an invention to clean muddy boots – after a telling off from his mum.
Arminder Singh Dhillon, 15, is the youngest person to win investment on BBC show Dragon’s Den, where inventors pitch ideas to a panel of tycoons.
He recently won two business awards for Boot Buddy, a device which combines a water bottle, plastic knife and washing up brush for dirty footwear.
The teenager, who invented the product aged 11, juggles running the business with studying for his GCSEs.
Arminder, from Battersea in south London, said the idea came about after his mother was less than impressed with him and brother Gaz leaving muddy football boots in the house.
He told Eastern Eye: “I never used to do anything about it because I felt it took quite a long time to clean my boots and they were only going to get muddy again.
“When I did clean them, it was in the sink or the bath tub. Mum used to get a hose out and hose me down in the winter, which was unpleasant.
“What are the three things you need to clean your boots? A brush, water and a scraper. It got me thinking and I put those things together.
“Mum always had that problem of muddy footwear with myself, my older brother and sister. She always used to get very annoyed that we dirtied the bathroom and kitchen sink bringing
mud into the house.”
Arminder won the backing of three Dragons – Peter Jones, Touker Suleyman and Deborah Meaden – after appearing on the programme this summer. Each invested £20,000 for 10 per cent share of the business.
The £14.99 cleaner is being sold from its website and the Dhillons are in talks with retailers in the UK and abroad.
Arminder admits it was a “nervewracking experience” pitching the idea to a group of experts on TV.
“In a short space of time, it’s a make or break moment. If you do really well, you get investment. If you don’t perform as well as you can, it doesn’t portray you in a strong light.
“Once you’re in there, you focus and try to do your best. The Dragons are very resourceful. Tuker has given my brother a space in his office so he can ask him any questions while I am studying at school.
“Peter Jones is letting us use his warehouse to hold some stock. Deborah has been talking to a couple of people about manufacturing and other products in the pipeline.”
But Arminder said the biggest role models in business has been his parents, who run two fish and chip shops and supported him and his brother for the Boot Buddy.
“We are very grateful my mum and dad gave us the backing originally to kick-start it,” he explained.
“As we have got older, we have seen how our parents have grown their businesses from scratch.
“It’s really quite inspiring. For role models in the business world, hands down it is my mum and dad.”
The entrepreneur’s mother and brother run the growing company while he is at school.
He added: “It gets tough, however I am glad I don’t have as much business pressure due to support from my mum and brother.
“The Dragons said focus more on the education side, then later on I can work on the business further.
“Mum loves the Boot Buddy. She is happy that she doesn’t have any muddy footwear in the house anymore!”
