Spike quits his corporate job
Spike had a perfectly fine life in suburban Ohio. A small burrow. A steady job in middle management at a nut storage facility. A commute he described as "fine, I guess."
Then one Tuesday he watched a documentary about Hawaii and didn't stop thinking about it for six months. On a Thursday in March, he put in his notice, packed a single canvas tote, and bought a one-way ticket to Maui. His coworkers gave him a card. He did not read it until he was already on the plane.
A hedgehog discovers pineapple pizza and loses his mind
On his third night in Maui, Spike ordered a Hawaiian pizza by accident (he was trying to order a plain cheese, but the laminated menu was confusing and he has small hands). It changed everything.
He ate the whole thing on the beach at sunset. The pineapple. The salt air. The fact that nobody in Ohio had let him live like this. He ordered another one. He has eaten pineapple pizza at least four times a week ever since. He has no regrets. He will not be debating this.
"I just thought — if I love linen shirts and pineapple pizza this much, other hedgehogs probably do too. Or humans. Whoever."
— Spike, Founder & Chief Hedgehog OfficerQuill & Co opens, sort of
After two years of living on the beach, wearing linen, and thinking about it, Spike started making things. First a shirt with a hedgehog print. Then a tote. Then the hat. He sold them at a farmer's market in Kihei out of a wagon.
He had no website, no brand strategy, and no business plan. He did have extremely strong opinions about fabric weight and a surprisingly good eye for colour. People kept buying the shirt. He kept making it. Eventually someone said "you should put this online" and he did, and here we are.
Still on the beach. Still eating pizza.
Quill & Co ships hedgehog-lifestyle goods to people all over the world. Spike still personally approves every product. He tests each linen shirt by wearing it to the beach and seeing if he feels good. He has not once felt bad.
The pineapple pizza print is the best-selling product. Spike is not surprised. Spike is never surprised anymore. He has found his peace.
Spike
Founder & Chief Hedgehog Officer
Former middle manager. Full-time beach dweller. Eats pineapple pizza without explanation or apology. Based in Maui. Replies to emails slowly because he is usually at the beach.
What we actually believe
In case you were wondering.
Pineapple belongs on pizza
This is not up for debate. Spike has eaten hundreds of them. The science is settled.
Linen over everything
Wrinkles are a feature. If you iron your linen shirt you are doing it wrong.
Hedgehogs deserve nice things
Too long has the hedgehog been overlooked as a lifestyle icon. That era is over.
The beach fixes most things
Not all things. But most things. Spike has done extensive personal research on this.