A Newcastle student has started an innovative new business – selling rare, out-of-stock trainers. And his customers include some household names.
Ollie Simpson, 21, started his business – The SoleScene – two years ago, as part of an assignment for his degree in Entrepreneurial Business Management (EBM) at Northumbria University.
Ollie now has over 9,000 followers on his website and his Instagram account and his fans include some pretty famous names.
His company has become popular among England’s footballing elite, past and present. Ollie has sold his trainers to former Chelsea and England defender John Terry, as well as Newcastle’s Matt Richie, Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay.
Ollie said, “Attracting customers like John Terry has been incredible and has given me an enormous amount of confidence.”
Senior lecturer and leader of Northumbria University’s EBM course, Lucy Hatt, said, “Ollie has worked so hard to make his passion for trainers into a successful business and his determination, business acumen and hard work are really paying off.”
“The EBM programme provides the optimum learning environment for enthusiastic students such as Ollie to maximise their entrepreneurial business success and maximise their personal development.”
“I’m really delighted for Ollie that his business is securing such high-profile clients. It’s very exciting for all of us!”
Associate Lecturer Sam Clegg said, “Ollie has worked tirelessly on his business for over two years whilst still balancing the requirements of the course and student life.”
When he graduates in nine months’ time, Ollie would like to expand his customer base further by getting more Premier League and Football League players interested in his rare trainers.
You can learn more about The SoleScene by visiting Ollie’s website at https://www.solescene.com/ or following him on Instagram @thesolescene.
(This article’s featured image is courtesy of Julian Mason, from Wikimedia Commons.)
