A group of local teenage entrepreneurs are on a mission “to spread love and kindness while giving materials and flowers a second life” with their BloomInk handmade cards.
Sahana Grover, Maggie Zhang, Reiji Osu and Catherine Hassanein launched their student-run business at Canyon Crest Academy this year, creating small batches of greeting cards made from recycling wasted paper, hand-pressed with dried flowers.
BloomInk cards can be found in their online shop and locally at The Cakery at The Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch. They have also led a handful of community workshops, hoping to teach younger children the importance of caring for the environment.
Handmade cards from BloomInk, a company created by Canyon Crest Academy students. (Courtesy BloomInk)
The student-led company sprouted in Brian Baum’s advanced business course at CCA, where many entrepreneurs have gotten their start over the last several years. Reiji and Catherine are both rising seniors at CCA and Sahana will be a junior. Maggie, who graduated in the spring, is headed to Northeastern University.
Sahana said once they were paired up, the team wanted to create a business that was focused on the environment and making a sustainable product.
“We know that there’s a lot of waste in the gift-giving market so we’re helping the community understand how it’s great to be environmentally friendly… buying cards is a great way to start,” said Sahana, who serves as the company’s chief marketing officer.
Reiji Osu of BloomInk shows kids how to make recycled paper at Slam Summer Camp at San Dieguito County Park. (Sahana Grover)
BloomInk has learned that over 67 million tons of paper unfortunately end up in U.S. landfills each year. With an eye on reducing waste, their handmade cards are made of recycled paper sourced from discards from local schools and businesses, partnering with Del Mar Florals for the dried flowers that uniquely decorate their cards. Custom messages are made with stamps.
Their initial breakout event was held on Valentine’s Day, growing their business throughout the spring with a Mother’s Day pop-up shop on campus.
“We really enjoyed the team that we were together with so we wanted to continue promoting sustainability in our local community,” said Sahana of their efforts that have continued into the summer.
This summer BloomInk has gotten involved with the community, teaching kids how to make sustainability fun by making recycled paper and flower crowns with guest spots at Cal Coast Academy, Sycamore Ridge and, most recently, at Slam Summer Camp at San Dieguito County Park. The camp is yet another teenager-run business led by Canyon Crest Academy students Sona Minocha and Ari Vega.
“Our goal is just to make people more aware about how specific business markets can affect the environment in a large way,” Sahana said.
Shop the cards at bloominksd.weebly.com or follow along on Instagram @bloominksd