A dream of two girls floating in one canoe has now become an international business celebrating its new headquarters in Fulton's Brick District.
But this isn't 1Canoe2 owner Beth Snyder's first business adventure.
"I have an art degree and an art background, but I'm a life-long entrepreneur," she said. "I made friendship bracelets in the fourth grade."
She also made jewelry in high school and it paid her way through college.
The paper-goods business was started in Snyder's Fulton basement and then moved it into a barn at Shryock's family farm.
"For four years, we were in the basement of my house," Snyder said. "My husband and I would spend two hours shipping product every evening. I had a full-time job as an art director at a magazine in Mexico."
At the end of 2015, Snyder bought out her partners, Carrie and Karen Shryock. Then last spring, she found a neglected former bank building at 413 Court St. and decided at 5,000 square feet it would fit the growing company's needs for years to come.
"It's exciting for me," she said. "I live in Fulton, and downtown could use a little help."
The new location is the former South Bank of Fulton, built in 1902, and includes the bank's original, ornate vault. When Snyder first saw it, the space was a rabbit warren of small offices, and it had been abandoned for seven years, she said.
"In 1930, Farmer Mutual Insurance bought the building, and they owned it until March," Snyder said. "I'm only the third owner of the building."
The space was refurbished by local contracting company Glove Con Inc. People will get to see the space for the first time during downtown Fulton's Nov. 11 holiday festival from 5-8:30 p.m. The front area will include a shop full of 1Canoe2's products, including cards, calendars and even quilting materials and art supplies.
"We'll have our own stationary and products made by other friends," Snyder said, noting that includes jewelry and chocolates.
"The whole store is sort of an experiment," she said.
Snyder said the store will have regular hours and will be open both Fridays and Saturdays until 8 p.m. From the business' humble beginnings, orders now come in from shops in most major cities.
"We're in over 1,000 retail shops and all over the world," Snyder said, listing countries such as England, Japan, Australia and Canada.
"We have 34,000 followers on Instagram and 9,000 on Facebook," she said.
People also can order off the website at 1canoe2.com. Gretchen Fuhrman, who handles external relations, said a list of stores also can be found on the website.
"I've been here for a year," she said. "I started in shipping and production - everybody starts at that level. Beth has really taught us to pay attention to the details."
Fuhrman said she recently went to Waco, Texas, to hobnob with Chip and Joanna Gaines, who host the popular "Fixer Upper" show.
"They're just as you would expect," Fuhrman said of the Gaines.
Chip and Joanna Gaines refurbished an old silo complex in Waco and reopened their Magnolia Market in that spot. They recently hosted their Silobration home show attended by Fuhrman. Magnolia Market also carries 1Canoe2 products.
"We custom-designed tea towels for them," Fuhrman said. "We also were able to talk to some of our super fans there, and it was very positive and fun for us to be around them."
When orders get crazy busy, Snyder said she relies on her two aunts, retired school teachers, and their friends to come help out.
"They bring their friends and sleeve cards," she said. "My mom cooks lunch for us."
Snyder is 36 now and said she feels her business is on track for growth.
"My proudest achievement is the team that I've built," she said. "I'm not going to cry, but I could. We're providing jobs and treating people the way they should be treated. I have super talented, probably over-qualified people, but I think that's going to take us to the next step."