Jump directly to the content

A MAN who earned £5,000 a month at 16 doing a job that terrifies people has revealed how he's been spurred on by his phobia.

Cameron Reardon, now 22, began raking in huge sums while he was still studying at college in 2020.

Young entrepreneur Cameron Reardon set up a bug selling business as a teenager
4
Young entrepreneur Cameron Reardon set up a bug selling business as a teenagerCredit: Media Wales
He is now launching his own skincare range
4
He is now launching his own skincare rangeCredit: Instagram

Following in the footsteps of his idol David Attenborough, Cameron turned a childhood hobby into a business when he began selling bugs from his home in Llanelli.

Bug Box sold exotic insects to Brits and even shipped out to Europe as business quickly boomed.

The company also offered "fear classes" to help people overcome phobias and educational sessions for local schools.

Cameron revealed how bugs always used to escape and would head for his mum's bedroom when he first started the business four years ago.

Read more news

His collection of species included bees, tarantulas and centipedes.

Bug Box achieved particular success during Covid as families were left with little to do during lockdown.

Such was his success, he was able to open a New York franchise before selling Bug Box for six figures just two years after creating it.

Now Cameron has turned his attention to a new venture - a skincare brand.

The business idea stemmed from his fear of needles, with many Brits wanting to avoid undergoing procedures for a similar reason.

He told : "I wanted beauty without needles. One of my products we describe as botox in a bottle.

"There is a trend for cosmetic procedures but I have a massive phobia of needles and some people don’t want procedures."

Cameron, who appeared on the BBC's Young Welsh & Pretty Minted, said his mum is also now much happier her house is no longer filled with exotic bugs.

His products include anti-ageing cream, face masks and cream fillers.

Cameron has used the money from Bug Box fund the development of his news business, CR Beauty, along with his work as a freelance business adviser.

The businessman, who first started selling toys and bears from a stall outside his house as a child, is now seeking investors for his new venture.

He added: "Selling bugs was not me anymore. It was fine for a 16-year-old but I wanted to do something different.

"I’ve always had a passion for skin care but knew opening my own skincare range would be complex."

Cameron said the inspiration for his new venture is a fear of needles
4
Cameron said the inspiration for his new venture is a fear of needlesCredit: Media Wales
Cameron has over 50 species of bugs at his property at one point
4
Cameron has over 50 species of bugs at his property at one pointCredit: Media Wales
Topics