From Rock Bottom to Cloud 9

Written By: Peyton Craig

Calm Canvas didn’t start like a typical business. We’re a Junior Achievement company, which means our entire journey happened within the walls of a classroom. At the start of our senior year, all of us enrolled in the Business Management course at Hoover High School—a career tech class that gives students hands-on experience by creating and running their own businesses. In August, we took personality tests, learned the basics of entrepreneurship (like marketing strategies, budgeting, and sourcing supplies), and began building the foundation for our company. From there, everyone created résumés, cover letters, and went through interviews conducted by the newly elected CEOs. After collaborating, the CEOs each selected their teams. Like many entrepreneurs, we quickly realized that coming up with a viable idea is hard—especially when you have a limited budget, specific JA guidelines, and just nine months to launch and liquidate an entire business. By mid-September, we were stuck. We explored ideas like refillable dry-erase markers, air filters, and calendars, but none felt quite right. That’s when our teacher gave us some incredible advice: “Focus on a problem your team shares, and find a way to solve it.” That’s when our vision came into focus. We all care deeply about mental health. Our first idea was a puzzle with coping strategies on the back of each piece—but feedback from our target market told us puzzles were too bulky and time-consuming. We went back to the drawing board. Then came the idea that changed everything: a color-by-number canvas that combines creativity with coping skills. It’s compact, mess-free, and easy to return to. From that moment, we hit the ground running. Once we secured funding, we started production—right in the classroom. We created original canvas designs, laser engraved them, designed and printed our educational booklets, sourced acrylic paint markers, and packed everything ourselves. By December, Calm Canvas was ready to launch. In January, we launched our second design. By March, we introduced our bundle. In just 165 days, we sold nearly 500 Calm Canvases—through online orders, local events, and partnerships with organizations. We’ve been able to reach and support so many people—and for that, we’re truly grateful.