James Wong
Founder | inventor | ceo
The GUPPY, swimming against an ocean of currents. Starting with it being a completely accidental discovery and even more astonishing, James had no interest in bringing it to the market!
Fast Forward. Two years of family and friends telling him they wanted one and hounding him to sell them, he thought.. ' I might have something here’!
James spent 25 years in Banking & Finance before he decided to follow his real passion of running his own business. It was the serendipitous invention of the GUPPY that gave him the confidence to do so. He knew he had 'something big and unique' when the global flower community welcomed his ECO innovation- especially now, when the flower industry is under a microscope for all of its single use plastic waste AND transporting fresh flowers around the world (leaving behind a carbon footprint) instead of relying on local sourcing.
In 2022, FloraGUPPY received the most difficult patent to attain- a Utility Patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Shortly after, in March of 2023- the EU patents were granted. These patents, as well as the huge amount of single use plastic the GUPPY REPLACES confirmed he had made the right career decision.
"It was an overnight SUCCESS that only took 6 years to create!" It's now being called a 'game changer' and the next 'Post-it-note' success story. FloraGUPPY has customers in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, South Africa and most recently Papua New Guinea! Not too bad for an 'accidental happening' between he and his Chihuahua from hell-Coco.
James is not satisfied with just success of the GUPPY, he is already developing two new ECO Sustainable, user-friendly- home flower products. He is determined to make FloraGUPPY a Global Brand, a household name and a company that participates and promotes Sustainability.
THE SERENDIPITOUS SOLUTION
I stumbled upon the solution for a 'design tool' while changing water to a gifted bunch of typical boring grocery store carnations.
The Serendipitous situation occurred in a very brief moment involving - my dog Coco, her chewed up dog ball and a water change.
One morning while refreshing water to the carnations at the sink, I glanced over at Coco chewing on her ravaged dog ball. It took me a few seconds of processing, then I reached for the ball and threaded the stems through it.
'Voila.. it worked"- the stems all held exactly in place, making a bunch of dull carnations into a stunning tabletop arrangement.
This moment led to the start of a solution three years in the making of a product eventually called- 'the GUPPY'.