He opened a grocery store at 16 and became successful at Thetford Mines

Chaudière—A grocery store in Appalachia stands out both for its prices and the age of its owner. In fact, at 17 years old, Charles-William Delisle was the youngest grocery store owner in Canada! Its business in Thetford Mines, Econo-Club, offers products at economy prices.

“I have always dreamed of owning a business. My father gave me the opportunity, so I followed him,” he said on the À vos affairs program on LCN on Friday.

To say that he was studying in Secondary 5 while running his business in the evenings and weekends while accumulating 20 and 35 hour jobs. But Charles-William lacked the will. Even less ambitious since he started his business at the age of 16.

“It’s still a lot,” he admitted. Sometimes I come back and I’m tired, I go to bed late, then I wake up early. Youth, the sooner you start the better.

“If I start building a little cushion right away with money and everything, I’ll be able to retire sooner and have less work to do when I’m older and be able to have fun.”

Charles-William’s father was very proud of his son’s efforts. A professor of business startups, he instilled this entrepreneurial spirit in him while financing the business.

“I advise him and sometimes lead him in direction. My goal is that later this company belongs to him, says Jean-Francois Delisle. Me, I’m going to retire and come and help him from time to time.

At Thetford Mines, the business model works and Delisless Liquidation is feeling customers’ appetite for products.

“We have cheaper products than other places. There are products that are really less expensive than elsewhere (…) and basically we have regular products that we have all the time. We are also less expensive (than other regions)”, noted Charles-William.

As for income, the young man vows not to compile his hours.

“I pay a small salary,” said the student.

“Certainly if he didn’t have a business he would work harder in his school stuff. But I think the school of life, the school of entrepreneurship will bring him a lot,” his father said.