A unique organization: GUMA makes a difference to startups

BY SKYLER OBISPO
Journal Staff

Since its inception, Guam Unique Merchandise and Arts has been effective in supporting startup small businesses. 

GUMA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization designed to help artists, individuals with a creative concept and budding entrepreneurs in developing a business from start to finish.

Monica O. Guzman, GUMA’s executive director, said she saw that artists on the island needed help selling their work.

“I’ve been a supporter of the arts for many, many years, I have lots of artist friends and I see that they’re very, very talented,” she said. “They try to sell their art, but they were more focused on creation of art rather than running a business and … generating revenue. So, I thought, ‘What’s something that we can do to help artists create businesses and be sustainable?”

The organization launched in 2013 was a collaboration between DFS Guam and Galaide Group LLC, of which Guzman is the CEO and managing director. 

She said DFS had similar programs in its other locations and the company gave GUMA seed money to get started.

To date, between its two programs, the I Bisinun Mami program and the Training and Mentoring Program, GUMA has accepted 751 participants, awarded 82 micro-grants, and issued more than $1.2 million in startup funding.

Through the Training and Mentoring program, GUMA has incubated 50 businesses ranging from clothing shops to automotive services, and jewelers.

While 42 are still in operation, those that closed did so for various reasons: due to the drop in tourism, personal reasons, or the COVID-19 pandemic.

Success stories include The Coconut Tree Company, Bonita Baby, Leche Drip, and It Takes a Village.

Growing up, Sidney Acosta, worked in and around clothing. She worked at her aunt’s clothing store and later at another clothing store while she was in high school. Acosta said she thought to herself, “Once I graduate, I want to do something like this and start a brand.”

Acosta is the CEO of Leche Drip, a street and swimwear brand centered around local slang and culture. She was one of around 100 participants in her cohort who applied for GUMA’s Training and Mentoring program, which taught her the basics of starting a business and she was able to get funding and guidance to open her own business. 

The 16-week program starts in the second week of February with applications accepted for that year’s cohort through January, when applicants meet with GUMA for orientation. Afterwards, those who are still interested in the program can apply for the classes.

Upon completion of the program in August, applicants must get their documentation in order. This will include their business license, plan, summary of their businesses, resumes of key personnel, company literature, and a budget form with financial quotes to include in their final application packet.

In addition, applicants must also meet with the Small Business Development Center and review their business plan. After every step is completed, the finished application with supporting documents will be submitted to GUMA and applicants will present their business before GUMA’s board of directors known as the “shark tank.” If awarded, GUMA will order the business’s requested items and arrange delivery.

Angelica Rabino was in the same cohort as Acosta and is the owner of It Takes a Village, a baby thrift store. Rabino wanted to find a way to earn an income while not being away from her son, so she applied for the Training and Mentoring course.

“While I was in that class, I had a million ideas,” she said. She credited Lorraine Okada, training consultant at GUMA, with helping guide her in opening her store.

“She heard my idea about this and was just like, ‘No, this is perfect for you,’” Rabino said. She said that the classes were an excellent opportunity to network with fellow applicants.


Acosta said she felt extremely nervous on day one of the 16-week program. She recalled presenting herself and her business idea before her entire cohort, but from that she said she learned how to become more confident about her business idea.

When Acosta first started Leche Drip, she had around $700 to invest into the company. By the end of the program, she had become an incubated business and was awarded $9,590, which to her was a significant boost to her operation.

“Getting this grant — it means a lot, because I’m able to have inventory and have stuff that I need to work,” she said.

Rabino’s company was awarded $12,775 which she said helped cover the cost of rent for three months and helped her stock her shop in Chamorro Village.

Some of the growing pains these businesses face were some of the upfront costs such as equipment and property services, but the biggest challenges the businesses face are legal and accounting frameworks, Guzman said.

For Rabino getting quotes from Chamorro Village to submit as a part of her business budget was difficult and for Acosta it was learning how to manage her  books.

“I’m still new at doing this,” Acosta said. “I had to really search [online] on my own, on YouTube and learn [this] stuff.”

Arceo said some young businesses often misprice the costs of doing business.

“Pricing for expansion, moving from the cottage industry into something bigger — they don’t know how to price how much extra work they have to put into [the business],” she said.

For more information on It Takes A Village and Leche Drip, follow them on Instagram @ittakesavillagegu and @lechedrip. To learn more about GUMA and its programs, visit www.gumaguam.com.

GUMA continues to see support from federal and local grants, recently being one of 112 organizations across the U.S. selected to receive the $130,000 ArtsHERE Grant. mbj