By Frank Schott

Special to the Reporter

The Mercer Island High School (MIHS) International Entrepreneurship presented its annual report to partners, school administrators and parents on June 10 in the Mercer Island School District Administration board room.

The class, operating as Mercer Trade Inc., starts a variety of businesses throughout the year, gaining experience in business planning, supply chain, logistics, finance, marketing and data analytics.

The 54-page annual report recaps the highs and lows of each business throughout the year and includes a financial recap for each business. The most successful business in each of the last three years has been the Holiday Tree Lot partnership with the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) Foundation and Mercer Island Presbyterian Church.

Mercer Trade Inc. CFO Quinn Harper said, “The MI Trade subsidiaries all helped with various aspects of the Tree Lot, including procurement, logistics, marketing and managing the volunteer pool.”

Amy French, MIYFS Foundation Executive Director, was effusive in her praise, saying, “Managing all of the moving parts around the Tree Lot requires commitment and creativity. The students really came through for us.”

Mateo Mar, Mercer Trade Inc. CEO, recalled, “We actually learned a lot from the mistakes and setbacks in starting these businesses. We encountered real world problems with inventory being on back order and rising costs because of tariffs.”

Mercer Trade finished the school year with more than $100,000 in revenue and $18,900 in net profit. Each year, the class earmarks some of the profits to support Burao Academy in Somalia and sets up reserves for start-up expenses for next year’s Mercer Trade Inc. class.

Many in the class are also members of DECA, which is also part of the MIHS business and marketing pathway. The annual report highlighted that 323 MIHS students competed for spots in the state competition with 125 students qualifying for state honors.

Mercer Trade Inc.’s Max Laban, Chloe Simpson, Elan Gotel, Sean Kern and Quinn Harper present the class’s annual report on June 10. Courtesy photo