Major cash boost for entrepreneur

A young entrepreneur has won a six-figure investment from a private equity fund.

Suleman Sacranie won the substantial investment to help him launch 99p Wholesaler.com, which went live earlier this month.

The cash and carry site sells soft drinks to corner shops and independent supermarkets from its office at the De Montfort University Business Innovation Centre.

It will start selling crisps and sweets in the next few weeks before moving into other products such as cigarettes and alcohol.

The investment was overseen by Luton-based Equity Plus Partners, which was launched by partners Atul Devani and Richard Scott in 2008.

Mr Devani said they had brought together a number of investors to put between £50,000 and £100,000 each in the business and take a majority stake.

He would not divulge the total amount, but said the investors included Peter Carpenter, a former director of telecommunications firm One-2-One.

Mr Sacranie already runs a online discount supermarket called 99p Shopper.com, offering food and household products for 99p or less, which secured £100,000 of in-kind help and support from Nottingham web development company Eventure in 2010.

He was encouraged to launch the wholesale website after pitching to Equity Plus Partners at a Dragon's Den type event last year.

He said: "It's been really exciting but a lot of hard work and lots of long hours.

"99p Shopper.com is still going but the main focus now is the wholesale website, where the profit margins are higher."

He said the site offered deals and sourced straight from the manufacturer, guaranteeing the highest quality products.

The 21-year-old, from Uppingham Road, Leicester, quit a chemistry degree at the University of Leicester to go into business.

He said offering an online service meant he could undercut traditional cash and carries because there was no need to pay for store premises and warehouses.

It is also more convenient for customers and the business has a delivery contract with Broughton Astley's Cobley Transport.

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Asian Today Young Achiever 2010 - How Suleman Sacranie Quit His Studies To Become 99p Entrepreneur

99 problems…but shopping ain’t one! Asian Today Feature 99p Shopper

99 problems…but shopping ain’t one!

How student Suleman Sacranie quit his studies to become 99p entrepreneur!

A YOUNG Leicester entrepreneur is becoming a household name – thanks to his budget online shopping website!

Discount shopping website 99pShopper.com caused a sensation when it launched on the web in August, offering popular brand-name items at just 99p or less.

The site was launched by 21 year old Suleman Sacranie who is already hoping to franchise the concept and expand into shops across the UK and Europe.
The site is proving to be a hit with ex-pats eager to snap-up their favourite British food brands online and is also already popular with UK based bargain hunters with an amazing 12,000 orders taken in the first two weeks of trading.

Suleman said the idea for 99pShopper.com was inspired by his father Aziz, a former shopkeeper from Leicester.
“I grew up above a small supermarket so it's fair to say retail is in my blood,” Suleman told The Asian Today.

“My Dad opened the shop on the day I was born – dashing out of the hospital to sign a contract and then dashing back again to be at my mother's side.
“My Grandad also has a string of shops in Leicester so I grew up around business and that certainly rubbed off on me.”

But despite this family background in retail when it came to launching his own business Suleman said he faced some opposition from his family.
He said: “My parents urged me to go into one of the professions rather than go down the business road. So I ended up studying chemistry at Leicester University but the academic life just wasn't for me.”
He was so unhappy that he decided to launch his own business and has now placed his chemistry studies on indefinite hold while he concentrates solely on 99pShopper.com.
He said: “The idea came to me last summer. I was lying in the bath racking my brains. I knew I didn't want to return to university where I was bored and unfulfilled.

“I was thinking about my Dad's shop and the rise of discount stores such as Poundland during the recession. It hit me like a bolt of lightning. Why don't I build an online discount store? A shop that sells everything you can get in a supermarket but all for 99p or less.

“I jumped out of the bath and ran to tell my dad. He immediately said, 'Brilliant idea let’s make it happen.' His support was really fantastic.”
Family connections helped when it came to sourcing suppliers but turning his business dream into a reality wasn't all plain sailing. Suleman had problems with web developers before finally finding the right company to build his site.

He said: “The one piece of advice I would give to any other entrepreneurs is don't outsource your web development outside the UK. I tried and it was a terrible experience. It's taken every ounce of my determination and self belief, to come back from that and make the site a success. I finally found a great UK based developer who has helped me to create a site I'm very proud of.”

Suleman's web developers have helped him create an easy to use site which presents his bargains well and which has already had a huge impact with British shoppers.
A return to chemistry studies looks unlikely.

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99p Shopper Feature On BBC News

Entrepreneur age 21 aims for boost to household name


A young entrepreneur from Leicester, who started his first business at 17, is hoping to develop his latest venture into a household name.

Suleman Sacranie launched his third company, 99p Shopper, in July 2010, shortly following his 21st birthday.

The online discount store is targeted at ex-patriots living in the EU who miss British food and drink brands.

Sacranie is keen to encourage other young people to transform their business ideas into reality.

The former University of Leicester student said he sympathises with the difficulties graduates face when confronted with tuition fee debts and a battle for jobs.

However he believes that it is important people take a proactive approach to their future careers.

"While you're a student you have so many ideas in your head.

"If you take what you want to do forward and you gain that experience before you go into the world of work, you stand out from the crowd way before you've even completed your degree."

Keeping focus

Sacranie puts his own success down to passion and perseverance.

"I think it's just being driven and knocking on the door as much as anyone shuts it on you.

"Just keep going and going, and eventually someone will open it."

He is now focused on building his web business into a recognisable brand, buoyed by its initial success.

"We've started to build a very strong online presence, we've got a lot of orders coming through, a lot of repeat customers coming across.

"I think we really want to build a firm platform on the internet now because the internet seems to be the next step forwards for everybody.

"Everyone does their shopping on the internet these days."

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99p Shopper Feature In Woman’s Own Magazine

This week we featured in Woman’s Magazine with food prices up by 58% we have helped thousands of shoppers slash their weekly shopping bill

Get your weekly groceries for 99p per item or less at this marvellous online store - Web User Magazine Feature 99p Shopper

Get your weekly groceries for 99p per item or less at this marvellous online store.


Putting Amazon’s over-priced Grocery arm to shame, this site lets you buy a broad selection of food, drink and household products for less than a pound per item. Although 99p Shopper won’t win any prizes for design, the savings are amazing and there are plenty of familiar supermarket brands to choose from. The ordering process is easy, with bigger discounts if you buy in bulk, and UK delivery costs a flat rate of £5.99 and takes just two days. The site also delivers across Europe, which makes it appealing to ex-pats who miss their Bovril, and is sure to prove popular with bargain-hungry shoppers, especially as its stock expands to include more products.

Reviewed in: Issue 248 (9 September 2010)

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Home Treats For Less Than A Quid - Living Spain Feature 99p Shopper Officially The Cheapest Supermarket In The UK!

As we continue to deliver British Ex-Pats weekly shopping to Spain the word is going round, Living Spain Magazine picked up on this and featured 99p Shopper in this month’s edition