Under the gentle glow of a studio lamp, Summer Chong found solace in every brushstroke. A former corporate professional, she spent her evenings winding down with paint-by-number sets, transforming blank canvases into colourful expressions.
What began as a personal escape from work stress soon sparked a much bigger purpose – which is to make mindful, creative moments accessible to everyone in Malaysia.
Creating Moments Of Calm And A Safe Space In A Fast-Paced World
Summer’s early career may have been viewed by some as a picture-perfect combination of the stability of a corporate role and a defined path for career progression.
Yet, the long hours and screen fatigue left her craving for something more meaningful in her life. Like many caught up in the always-on social and corporate world, Summer found herself “always craving a way to disconnect,” she recalls.
Then she discovered paint-by-number art kits and experienced first-hand the peace and mental clarity they brought. In that moment, she realised this simple pastime was actually a tool for her wellbeing. Inspired by her experience, she was determined to bring paint-by-numbers to more people – and build a business around it.
From that spark came MeTime Art, a brand that literally spells out its mission for better self-care. “MeTime” stands for those rare pockets of peace we carve for ourselves, away from screens, deadlines, appointments, chores and everything else we need to do.
Going deeper into her vision to be kinder to ourselves, Summer set out to create kits that would also be easy on the world we live in, with sustainable materials and packaging, and designing tranquil and idyllic scenes meant to support a worry-free, calming experience.
From One Woman’s Passion to Mall Storefront Launch
Summer launched MeTime Art as a one-woman operation, researching paint suppliers, testing canvas textures, and designing tranquil scenes. Weekend bazaars became her lab tests, a place to see what people responded to and what sounded clever but didn’t work.
Feedback from her pop-up stalls led to the brand’s first big leap – opening a physical outlet in a shopping mall. “We weren’t just selling art kits,” Summer says, “we were offering moments of joy.”
Connecting with customers face-to-face was a gamechanger for Summer. Today, MeTime Art has 6 outlets across Kuala Lumpur, and they have sold over 200,000 kits offering a unique mini-retreats for her customers.
MeTime Art has come to be known for premium, unboxing-worthy kits that include bonus paint and care instructions. Beyond that, the brand cultivates a nurturing community, supporting customers across walks of life, from young professionals seeking mindfulness to parents bonding over creative activities.
The team occasionally runs workshops, but the true magic happens when people create in the comfort of their homes.
Overcoming Challenges By Creating Meaningful Connections
Balancing quality and affordability were a major challenge initially. Summer tackled it by building strong supplier partnerships and improving her product based on actual customer feedback.
Logistics during peak periods also prompted an overhaul of inventory systems and hiring additional hands at key times. Seasonally refreshed designs that reflected market trends is a big hit, and ensure the brand stays fresh.
MeTime Art’s growth is a testament to its blend of online and offline presence. Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok buzz with user-generated creations, sharing moments of joy and mindful relaxation.
Meanwhile, strategic pop-ups continue to bring the kits to life offline. This dual strategy has built trust, boosted word-of-mouth, and nurtured an engaged creative community.
Innovating for Artful Escapes
MeTime Art was funded entirely through its own revenue, and has grown impressively even without external investors.
Today, Summer is steering MeTime Art toward new horizons. She’s developing new product collections that showcase Malaysian landmarks and cultural themes, alongside introducing diamond painting sets and jars to broaden creative options.
She also plans to expand community workshops, envisioning a welcoming space where people can unwind and escape the hustle of daily life through affordable, soothing art experiences.
For those dreaming of starting their own creative journey, Summer has a heartfelt advice. She believes everything begins with a clear purpose and a genuine connection to your customers.
She doubles down on this advice by saying that entrepreneurs should never fear launching an imperfect first version, because growth comes from learning and improving along the way. “Test, learn, adapt!” It’s your mission that fuels your progress,” she says, “and each small win adds up to something bigger over time.”
Looking ahead, Summer and MeTime Art aim to become Malaysia’s go-to platform for creative self-care, a place where moments of painting spark connection, calm, and joy. And if all goes according to plan, that flagship studio won’t just be a store, it will be a shared space where stories unfold one calming brushstroke at a time.
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