*Featured image contains photo by Olha Ruskykh and Greta Hoffman
We usually associate Reddit forums with sanctums of drama and sadness, a big part of it being regret. (The topic remains one of my toughest pieces to write.)
Well, prepare to seriously rethink that.
The Reddit Post That Ignites a Wild Ride
“I’m posting this as Reddit seems to have (understandably) got a bad rep, but Redditors are still an amazing bunch and can change lives!”
It’s a message from ‘u/JPhilly111‘ (I’ll refer to him as ‘JPhilly.’) In his post, he says that he posted a photo (Since removed by a ‘mod in heat’) in the r/pics group two years prior. Some replied and thought nothing of it.
That is, until one day.
That’s because, JPhilly says, that post — and the response it got — “was the tiny spark that would ignite an incredible journey” that “I still find hard to believe.”
As he shares where that journey leads, Redditors are awestruck.
“Wow! True motivation indeed! Congratulations,” writes one.
One Unlikely Idea
So, what exactly did JPhilly share two years prior that sparked his journey? His passion and invention: Wristwear with a twist.
Sharing in the r/GetMotivated thread, he explains.
“It all started as a fun project. I’ve always been fascinated by the intricate beauty of watch mechanisms, and turning them into cufflinks was my way of paying homage to this art. I posted them here not to sell, but to share my passion.”
After being blown away as ‘the heartfelt encouragement poured in,’ some Redditors tell JPhilly that he should turn it into a business. He takes their advice and creates Creamy Patina, the world’s first watch cufflink company.
What happens next is straight out of a movie.
Communities Are Magic
“Assembled with love, the world’s first cufflinks with an automatic date,” says the voiceover as fancy mini timepieces appear on the screen.
It’s not just any video, but Creamy Patina’s Kickstarter promo, something that Redditors also suggested he do.
The campaign is a massive success, raising over $100,000. Yet incredibly, that’s just the start of this wild ride.
$600,000 in sales later, JPhilly shares some incredible news with the Reddit world.
“Fast forward to today, and I’m both proud and humbled to share that Creamy Patina has been acquired by a prestigious 200-year-old watch firm and that we’re shutting the store down pending the M&A. It’s a milestone I never even dared to dream of, and it’s all thanks to you, Reddit.”
It’s easy to paint Reddit with a dark brush. After all, how often do we dismiss or demean certain neighborhoods around us in the same way? Probably more than we admit.
And so it’s nice to see our biases proven wrong when a community rallies around one of its own to make a dream come true.
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