Meet Harrison Nott, 16, whose bedroom towel business now makes £750,000 a year

Harrison Nott, a 16-year-old entrepreneur from Essex, has opted to forgo college to concentrate on his bedroom-based towel business, CoolTowel. Launched in 2023, the venture has generated an impressive £750,000 in revenue this year, fueled by a surge in demand during Britain's summer heatwaves. Harrison's success was propelled when he won the Alibaba.com CoCreate Pitch competition, outperforming 15,000 competitors worldwide to secure a £150,000 prize.

Notably, former England footballer Rio Ferdinand, a judge in the competition, was impressed by Harrison's efforts and subsequently invested in his business.

CoolTowel's product line consists of reusable cooling towels that cool through evaporation. Users wet the towel, wring it out, and snap it to activate the cooling effect. The business has seen an increase in sales via TikTok Shop and Shopify, with approximately 80,000 transactions recorded so far this year. Despite the impressive revenue, CoolTowel has yet to turn a profit.

Harrison made the decision not to attend college after discussing the matter with his parents. Although he valued his time in school, he believed that leaving the traditional educational route was the best choice for him. Rio Ferdinand's investment and a visit to Los Angeles further bolstered Harrison's business, as Ferdinand connected him with other celebrities and entrepreneurs.

However, Harrison has encountered challenges such as stock shortages, issues with pre-orders on TikTok Shop, and copycat businesses mimicking his efforts.

Despite the difficulties, Harrison remains optimistic about the future of CoolTowel. He believes he has transformed his bedroom operation into a proper brand that genuinely helps people. The company has inventory and other assets, and Harrison aims to break even as the business continues to expand.