The student company Sweetgems, focused on selling crystal candies called Gems and the educational game (made from reclaimed wood) GemHunt during the 2024/2025 school year. As is often the case, nothing lasts forever, and our story is also coming to an end – on May 27, 2025, we held the Liquidation General Meeting. The management board of the student company Sweetgems informed the shareholders about the company’s activities over the past year and also announced the payout of dividends. The great news is that the investment in a share for € 5 paid off, because thanks to dividends our shareholders earned an additional € 4.50 – a total of € 9.50!
Sweetgems continued the long-standing tradition of successful companies at school. We sold more than 450 pieces of candy Gems and 7 sets of the GemHunt game. We also organised many events that served well to promote our products. We introduced 8 flavours of Gems candies, which appealed to many students and adults looking for healthier alternatives to regular sweets. I have to mention that some people even tried Gems driven by curiosity to try something new and unfamiliar – and that makes us appreciate all the support and feedback even more.
At the beginning of October, we held a Founding General Meeting, where we presented our business plan. We continued with a Halloween party, the auction “Offer above gold”, later went to Verdi’s opera La Traviata, and organised a company’s overnight teambuilding event at school, where we prepared for the International Fair Trade in Hradec Králové. As in previous years, a volleyball tournament and a trip to a Christmas market were organised before the holiday season. This time, we had the opportunity to experience the Christmas markets in Prague. These were not the only activities we managed to prepare during the first half of the year – in Hradec Králové, our efforts paid off, and we won 3rd place in the Presentation on Stage category and achieved an impressive 8th place among 45 participating companies!
The second half of the year ushered in one of the most eagerly anticipated events since the very beginning. In February, we hosted a Masquerade Ball that turned out to be an unforgettable night. Not only did we have a fantastic time, but the positive reactions from everyone who attended made the time even more special! Before we knew it, the regional round of the Business Talent Fair in Banská Bystrica was upon us in March. Along with smiles on our faces, we left the event taking home two amazing awards – 3rd place in the Product category and 2nd place in the Marketing Presentation category. These wins also secured us a spot among the TOP 10 student companies moving on to the national finals.
While building our company, our mission went beyond business with a priority to give back – that’s why we organised charity drives for children from the Elementary School in Muránska Dlhá Lúka and the Children’s Home in Tisovec – we were always happy to spend time with them. In March, we hosted a book exchange and in April, we held an event called “A drop of blood”, where donors gave a part of themselves for the good of others. Thanks to good planning and teamwork, we not only managed to pay salaries to our team members for their work, but we also set aside funds to support the children from Muránska Dlhá Lúka and Tisovec. At its heart, our business was not only about success, but about giving back – demonstrating that even in commerce, compassion has a place. Through our charitable work within the town! Throughout our journey, we also participated in various webinars and training sessions prepared by JA Slovakia. These helped us work on what is most important in any team – communication, cooperation, active listening – and so we always aimed to find common ground, solutions and build trust within our team.
All that effort paid off at the national finals of the Business Talent Fair in Bratislava this April, where we secured a remarkable 1st place in the Financial management category and 3rd place in the Management Team category – competing against 28 of the best student companies from across Slovakia! We are still thrilled about these achievements, as they reflect our creativity and endless desire to grow. To finish our journey on a joyful note, we hosted a May Day celebration – another event that brought everyone together in a Spring time mood, just like our unforgettable Masquerade Ball.
Finally, as the student company Sweetgems, we would like to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to our dear coordinator, Martinka Paľová, and our amazing consultant, Erika Hrušková. Thank you for everything – for your support, guidance, kindness, empathy and patience. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping us grow – it has truly been a privilege to learn from both of you and we are grateful to have you!
We would also like to thank the non-profit organisation JA Slovakia for the opportunity to get in touch with the business world. Our sincere gratitude goes to our secondary school for allowing us to be part of the Applied Economics programme and for their outstanding support throughout our journey of having our own company. We especially appreciate the teachers’ understanding and patience towards our occasional late arrivals and missed classes.
And of course, the biggest thank you goes to every member of our student company Sweetgems – your dedication and hardwork made all our successes possible. Let me say it once again – you truly are the dream team!
At the beginning, each of us was like a single puzzle piece, working independently and following our own paths, but as we were building the Sweetgems company, we learned how to cooperate, communicate, listen and respect one another. Together, we formed a beautiful picture made up of 27 pieces – it is a symbol of the fulfilled goals, vision and mission of our student company, Sweetgems. We are leaving this chapter with invaluable experiences, lessons as well as memories that will stay with us for life. I am already looking forward to the day when we will look back and remember the times we spent together working at Sweetgems – moments that once felt so present. With that said, a big thank you for the last time to everyone who supported us throughout our journey!
Text: I. Ďurišová (IV.B)
Foto: L. Piliarová (IV.B)