A 17-year-old making £15,000 a month shares how a Christmas gift helped him quit school to start a six-figure business.

A 17-year-old teenager is earning nearly £15,000 a month, and he’s shared how his life transformed thanks to a thoughtful Christmas gift from his mother.

Caelan McDonald’s journey began two years ago when his mum, Karen Newsham, 49, gave him a Cricut Joy machine worth £150 as a Christmas present.

This small but powerful device is a digital tool that can draw, cut, and print on different materials like vinyl, fabric, cardstock, and adhesive sheets. It’s widely known for its versatility, and during Black Friday sales, it’s become a popular buy.

While the Cricut Joy is typically used for making cards, invitations, and labels, Caelan took a unique approach in 2022. He started using the machine to print custom transfers, which he applied to glassware and acrylic items. After showcasing his creations on Facebook, he quickly began receiving orders for personalized products.

At the beginning of this year, Caelan was selling around 200 personalized items each month, working just three hours a day after school. His business grew so rapidly that he decided to leave school and invest in industrial-grade printers to meet the rising demand.

Since July, Caelan has sold an incredible £74,000 worth of products through TikTok Shop and other online platforms. He now works 16-hour days, six days a week, and is expected to generate £100,000 in sales by the end of the financial year. His most popular product for the Christmas season is a bauble decorated with personalized angel wings.

Caelan calls the Cricut Joy “the best Christmas present ever” and reflects on how much his life has changed.

“I never thought it would come to this,” he shared. “If someone told me last year I’d be here, I wouldn’t have believed them. It started off as a bit of an experiment, but by June, everything just took off. Now, my days are so packed I hardly have time to stop. The past few months have gone by in a blur.”

He reinvests all his earnings back into the business but appreciates being able to upgrade his gadgets like his phone and iPad when needed.

Currently, Caelan sells around 2,500 items a month, with individual transfers priced between £1.20 and £3.50, and some items costing up to £100. In January 2024, he purchased a £4,000 UV printer and has since reinvested £30,000 into buying two more advanced printers.

Karen, who works in hospitality, couldn’t be prouder of her son. “I’m so proud of him for following his own path,” she said. “At first, I was worried and wanted him to stay in school.

But he was unhappy, spending long hours commuting in the cold when all he wanted was to work on his business. By June, he was so clear about his goals that we decided to take advice and let him give it a shot.

“He’s always had an entrepreneurial streak. He’s excellent at understanding customer needs, spotting trends, and working hard to deliver great results. Honestly, he’s taught me so much.”

Caelan’s success story is proof that determination, creativity, and a simple Christmas gift can truly change a life.