Instead Of Greeting Cards, New Dallas Startup Questionable Company Aims To Make Its Name With “Parting Cards” That Soften Tough Blows With Laughs.
In our increasingly sarcastic, tongue-and-cheek world, the emotions that are sometimes conveyed in greeting cards — well, they just don’t get it.
So, after growing frustrated with the typical fluffy greeting card stuff, Cassie Holt, José Suaste and Isaiah Perkins decided to take matters into their own hands with their own blunt line of cards called Questionable Company.
“The concept of the cards came to me when I was shopping for my sister,” says Holt. “We both have a really dry sense of humor, and I couldn’t find anything that didn’t seem cheesy and cliché. I’m like, where’s the offensive card section? Nothing said what I needed it to.”
Questionable Company’s website features a variety of designs and card sizes with themes like “Dear Ex” and “Dear Miserable Bitch.” There’s even a promotional video featuring an old-timey jingle for the company’s “Dear Racist Parent” card. It that gives an insight to the team’s sense of humor, and Holt’s previous idea to do singing telegrams.
“I had been toying with the idea of bad news singing telegrams for years now,” says Holt. “Since I’m a singer, I thought door-to-door breakup songs or divorce songs would be amazing. Cards provide an actual tangible, more realistic way to do this. A coworker pointed out that some people could actually shoot the messenger, should I get hired to sing to the wrong, crazy-ass person.”
Holt hints that her company’s newest batch of cards will feature more political themes, as well as a coming out card, among other ideas. The whole aim of the company is to take otherwise awkward or tense personal moments and add a layer of humor to them.
Says Holt: “My brother said coming out about his sexuality would have been a hell of a lot easier with a card.”
Questionable Company hosts a launch party at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, at The Wild Detectives.