Bradford business owner launches youth entrepreneur program

Adam Ahmadzai’s business Adam’s Lawn Cutting Services was featured on Eye Candy Ads’ billboard in Bradford

A new program launched by a local business owner is aiming to give young entrepreneurs a chance to learn more about business.

Mark Snaper, owner of Eye Candy Ads, is using his company’s electronic billboard at 121 Bridge St. to give free digital ads to youth business owners in the area.

Snaper started Eye Candy Ads in February 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic reached Canada. 

A new program launched by a local business owner is aiming to give young entrepreneurs a chance to learn more about business.

Mark Snaper, owner of Eye Candy Ads, is using his company’s electronic billboard at 121 Bridge St. to give free digital ads to youth business owners in the area.

Snaper started Eye Candy Ads in February 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic reached Canada. 

Snaper first put children’s birthdays on the 10-foot-by-16-foot screen for free while also recognising sponsors.

Snaper noticed on a local Facebook group that Kyle Ahmadzai had lent his son Adam money to buy a lawn mower to start a lawn mowing business.

“I was really inspired by seeing a young entrepreneur who is going to save money and start a business. I called the father and I said, ‘Listen, for your son, can I make an ad for him for free and post it on the billboard?”’ Snaper said.

The response to the ad was so positive that Snaper wanted to do more. He’s approaching different businesses to sponsor the youth entrepreneur program. The idea is the business will offer advice and mentorship to the youth so they can grow and learn.

“I’m putting this all together to try and help young kids reach their potential and their goal of starting a small business because being stuck at home, so if there’s a way that I can boost their spirits, why not use the biggest TV screen in the area?” Snaper said.

Eye Candy Ads uses a graphic designer to create the ads for each business.

Snaper noticed that people were coming around the billboard and taking pictures so he’s revamping the area so it’s more aesthetically pleasing.

Snaper said he launched the program to help young people because they remind him of himself when he was younger and he wants to give them the opportunity to learn and grow as business owners.

Adam Ahmadzai, 10, wanted to start his own business so that he could pay for his own soccer. The business he started is called Adam’s Lawn Cutting Services.

Ahmadzai mows the lawn and his dad does the trimming, and they clean up afterwards.

“We put his ad on Facebook and, because there was a great response from the community, that’s how Mark saw it. There were a lot of positive comments and that’s when Mark reached out to offer him a few weeks of free ads so he can get more clients,” said Ahmadzai’s father Kyle.

If interested in Adam’s Lawn Cutting Services, call or text 416-471-6656.

For more information on the youth entrepreneur program, contact Snaper at info@eyecandyads.ca. 

Laura Broadley