Why I Started Wicked Cushions
In my first post "Hi, my name is Or", I told the story of my first ever pair of premium headphones, and how I fell in love with them.
About a year into having these headphones, the ear pads started to smell extremely bad. So bad, I could not even wear them in public anymore.
That was the first time I found out about the world of replacement cushions (somehow this is still a secret to most headphone owners).
Fast forward 7 years later, I was 24 and at a moment in my life where I had to make a decision about my future.
I had just quit a job in sales which I HATED… (so much that I had cried at one point when it came time for another week of that job).
It had been 2 years since I moved to the United States, I had been living on my sister's sofa bed that entire time & suddenly, I was out of work for several months. The only thing I had left was a small side hustle - which was trying to sell stuff online.
I had to make something work - otherwise it was back to plan b- going back to being a zombie at the job I HATED.
Since the moment I discovered premium over ear headphones at 17, I always had pair with me, at this point at my life I had a pair of Beats Studio Wireless.
And just like that first time a while ago, my cushions started to smell again, to a point where I could not wear them out in public (noticing a pattern?)
This time was different…
While trying to sell stuff online, I became more exposed to the process of how to manufacture my own products instead of just selling other people's products.
And then it came to me, that light bulb moment you see in the movies, "Why don't I make my OWN ear pads?" " even better, why won't I make my own ear pads and create my OWN designs for them?!"
Telling my friends and family about my light bulb moment was exciting, until everyone started to worry about me even more and suggested that I go and get a real job (in sales… those animals…)
I could not blame them honestly, if someone came to me and told me he was going to sell replacement ear pads for headphones for a living, I would be worried too.
And damn, I ended up giving in and getting another job, I started working at a restaurant while working on Wicked Cushions as a side project.
For the first year of Wicked Cushions, I was working 5-8-hour shifts serving tables, & then working on Wicked Cushions for several more hours.
Honestly, reading it makes it sound difficult, but it was a lot of fun, I finally understood the saying "do what you love and you won't have to work a single day in your life"
Things picked up quickly, a year into WC and I was able to go full time and full throttle with WC & quit my second Job.
Nothing I have ever been through has prepared me for some of the struggles that were about to come and go in the past 5 years, but honestly, if I had to I would do it all over again.
The reason I started Wicked Cushions was because I had wanted to give people the option to enjoy their headphones all over again, and maybe even in a new unique way with their own flare of style & design.
The reason I still give my all to Wicked Cushions is different now, while I love some of the work that the current headphones brands are doing now, I feel like they are still not in tune with their customers.
Our grand vision is to come out with our own brand of headphones, powered and crafted by you - the customer - through the feedback that we have been hearing for the past 5 years.
When that day will come, I hope that you will be there with us!
Meanwhile, stay Wicked my friends...