BreakUps Get Easier As Hard Cards Deliver Tough Love

HC: Sure, love’s tough and so’s the truth. However, we’re not mean for the sake of being mean, we’re here to get a laugh out of people. Depending on context and who you’re sending the card to, it can either really sting or be a funny tongue-in-cheek sentiment. It also completely depends on the sense of humor of the recipient. These cards are not for everybody, just people who can take a damn joke.

BUS: Your cards are being sold in stores all over LA, even in NY. Did you encounter any initial resistance when you first approached retailers?

HC: We were actually surprised at the response we received from stores. We walked in and they looked at us like we were selling car insurance, but the minute they took a look at our book and doubled over in laughter, we knew we had an awesome product. We were a bit skeptical initially about how people would respond to them, but the hysterical laughter from each store owner erased our concerns. But we also know our market and know the stores that would be attracted to our product. If we walked into a store and saw any cherubs or dreamcatchers, we knew they weren’t our ‘people’.

BUS: Our goal at BreakUpService is not only to help people end relationships but to help them realize that breakups can be the healthiest thing for both parties. Sometimes, though, the person being “dumped” is naturally irritated. Have you heard of cases where the person receiving one of your cards was not amused?

HC: Our consumers are wise enough to gauge who their audience is, and if someone received one of our cards and was upset by it, they never told us. But I’m sure the sender got an earful.

BUS: Which drives Hard Cards more: the desire to be creative, or the desire to put an end to mushy sappy greeting cards?

HC: Both. This company was created based on the fact that neither of us could find a damn card that said what we wanted to say. But the creative process that followed became immensely gratifying for us. If you laugh reading them, trust us that we laughed ten times harder writing them.

BUS: What’s your take on mainstream date movies? Are you a fan of Nora Ephron?

HC: Randi is a huge sucker for any romantic comedy ever, regardless of quality. Any night of the week you can find her with 4 rented dvds of an assortment of Meg Ryan and Drew Barrymore movies. But her ‘real life’ dating outcome has been less than stellar, hence Hard Cards and the need to live vicariously through The Romantic Comedy. Stacey enjoys these films as well, but in smaller doses. Being happily married, she does not ‘need’ them the way Randi might. However, both believe that all Nora Ephron films should be available in a box set and packaged with a vibrator.

BUS: Would you consider yourselves happy people?

HC: Was Van Gogh happy? Was Sam Kinnison happy?! Genius is hard. The most brilliant comic minds are troubled. The jokes stem from the darkest corners of consciousness. Just kidding. Oddly enough, yes. We are both healthy people that always strive towards healthy relationships with people. We laugh more than anyone should ever be allowed, and both of us have a fire for life and traveling that is unmatched.

BUS: What’s your top-selling card?

HC: There are a few that are flying off the shelves:
“I love you / But then again, I’m desperate and hate being alone”
“Congrats on the new baby / I look forward to corrupting it”
“I really appreciate our friendship / But not enough to drive you to the airport, loan you money, or help you move”
“You’re cute as a button. / But who’d wanna fuck a button?”

And our Holiday cards were also huge sellers. How better to tell your friends “Happy Holidays” than by calling them promiscuous?

BUS: If crafting biting but stylish greeting cards was outlawed, what would you do instead?

HC: Porn.

BUS: Let’s create a new BreakUp greeting card together. The outside reads: “You don’t bring me flowers…” What does it say on the inside?

HC: Let us say this, we both separately wrote what we thought should go inside, with the intention you would have two options. However, great minds think alike and ironically we both came up with the exact same inside: “But thanks for the STD. It’ll last longer.”