By Minh Ngoc Le
On Friday, Nov. 8, Fountain Valley High School’s (FVHS) Virtual Enterprise (VE) program hosted a mini trade show in the FVHS gym to provide opportunities for over 30 VE businesses across Orange County to showcase their innovative ideas.
If you were there, you would’ve felt the energy of the bustling booths right around the corner. Among the crowd of passionate entrepreneurs, flashes of pink, friendly smiles and enthusiastic pitches filled the air. It was hard to miss Gummi — FVHS’s brand-new business student-led by the second-period VE 2 class and advised by VE teacher Sarah McCance.
Gummi originated from aspirations to spark change within the food industry through environmentally friendly products. With the passion to combat the 100,000 tons of pollution created by gum every year, Gummi introduces 100% biodegradable gum aimed to create large impacts through small, daily changes.
At Gummi, consumers are presented with various fun flavors, including Mucho Mango, Peachy Passion, Kickin Kiwi and Wild Watermelon, as well as other classics such as Peppermint, Spearmint and Wintermint. Besides gum, Gummi also offers merchandise like plushies, hoodies, t-shirts, hats and tote bags. A bundle package is also available, which includes a combination of every product.
Staying true to their mission, Gummi’s goods are packaged in reusable metal tins, allowing consumers to buy refill packets to meet their chewing needs. This decision not only encourages consumers to be more conscious of their environmental impacts but also contributes to lowering the plastic released into the environment.
Behind the scenes, Gummi is operated by a team of 25 students from all grade levels, with CEOs sophomore Angie Nguyen and junior Michael Carreno Reyes overseeing all efforts.
“We work closely with our CFO Connor Alexander to ensure operations flow seamlessly. Even though we are the administration team, we couldn’t do it without our amazing team. I’m so thankful for each and every person in the company, as each person brings their own unique skills to the table,” Reyes said.
Every day, the team works together to bring their vision to life through a combination of strong design and marketing efforts. With its unique and friendly gumball mascot, Gummi is able to attract customers through its packaging and merchandise, along with the marketing team’s efforts and unique flavor profiles.
Reyes credits strong connections within the company for the business’s success.
“If team members don’t get along or aren’t motivated by their peers, the company suffers. That’s why I strive to ensure our class maintains peace and that each person cares for one another,” Reyes said. “We need each other to succeed and if one person slacks off, it can affect the entire company. I encourage everyone to motivate each other because I believe we have the potential to be the most successful [VE] class.”
Starting a new company, especially in the food industry, is no easy feat. With hopes to better manage the company, this year’s VE class established an additional position called “leads”. Made up of sophomore Karalyn Law, juniors Amy Nguyen and Joslynn Nguyen and senior COO Athena Tran, these members are the backbone of the administration team, helping look over departments to ensure that tasks are being completed diligently.
“My favorite memory so far has to be our first trade show. We really came together as a team to create the booth, even though we didn’t have a concrete plan,” Reyes said. “I’m really looking forward to hopefully making it to nationals in New York. But, more importantly, I’m excited to see the growth in each person and the growth we will have at each trade show.”
Reyes recommends VE to anyone interested in business, as students have the opportunity to explore different departments including Human Resources, Sales/Marketing and Design while learning the expectations of running a business in today’s modern economy.
“Age doesn’t define your ability to lead; you can be a leader at any age as long as you have the drive and never give up, even when challenges arise,” Reyes said. “As a freshman entering [VE], I had that determination and I hope my story inspires others to pursue their goals with the same passion.”
This December, Gummi is set out to participate in the Bakersfield and San Diego Trade Shows. Be sure to follow along their journey at @vefvhs on Instagram.
