Two teenage entrepreneurs have been hailed the world’s youngest publishers after launching a magazine for their home town with a readership of over 5,000.
Schoolboys Sean Spooner, 15, and Louis Porter, 14, launched their quarterly publication in June after noticing a gap in the market in Corby, Northants.
Since then the enterprising media tycoons have raked in thousands of pounds in revenue by selling advertising space in their free ‘Corby Magazine’ to local companies.
The pair, who founded their mag when both were aged 14, were recently interviewed by an American website which named them as the youngest publishers in the world.
Production editor Sean, from Corby, said he and Louis decided to launch their magazine after noticing Corby did not have its own publication.
”When I found out we were the youngest publishers in the world I was surprised but definitely very proud,” he said.
”We wanted to start up our own business and we decided on a magazine because there was nothing else like it in Corby.
”The magazine focuses on the local area and I research and write all of the articles as well as designing the magazine and doing everything on the production side.
”We want to expand the brand to reach every single home in Corby and we also have a photosharing website and a new search directory planned.
”In the future we’d like to start an advertising or media company. You could call us the Rupert Murdochs of Corby.”
The Corby Magazine now boasts a readership of 5,000 and the quarterly issues are delivered to local shops, dentists, doctors and hairdressers.
The 36-page glossy A4 magazine is entirely produced by the two boys, who are to increase their colour printing run from 300 to 1,000 for the fourth issue in March.
Sean and Louis refuse to disclose how much advertising revenue they are collecting but the next print run of 1,000 will cost £2,000 alone.
The pals, who are pupils at Brooke Weston Academy in Corby, hope that in the future production will increase to 25,000 copies – enough for every home in the town.
Sales director Louis secures advertising revenue from local businesses while editor Sean fills the magazine with ad features, local events, news and competitions.
Louis added: ”It was hard to convince businesses to part with their money at first because all we had was an idea.
”We were just a couple of teenagers and for all they knew we could have run off with the money, but I managed to get them to trust me.
”It’s great that the magazine has been success because now businesses can see that advertising with us is working.
”They have told us that people are taking up special offers in the adverts and companies have started recommending us to other businesses.
”It’s a great feeling to know we are the youngest people doing this and it’s been great experience for the future.”
Corby Magazine has its own website while Sean and Louis also post regular news updates on Twitter and Facebook for dedicated readers.
American website juniorbiz.com, a site for young entrepreneurs, has interviewed Louis and Sean as the world’s youngest publishers.
The previous record holder was 15-year-old American teenager Savannah Britt – who is now 17 – with her magazine Girlpez.
Sean and Louis were rewarded for their success with a Young Entrepreneur Award at the Northampton Children and Young People’s Partnership Award in September.
gay
What’s so ‘gay’ about having a business at a young age? Go and tell Lord Sugar that.
hunny you don’t even no them an you hav’nt seen there work i no that an they are smart clever people and their magazine is actually amazing
Haiiiiii,
have you actually done anything! If not, go and do something and then you can comment.