Happy Goon is all about “updating greeting cards for the digital age,” explains CEO Colin Hughes.
The company takes the old-fashioned greeting card, the kind that you might get from your mother, and gives them a high-tech spin.
“When used together with our mobile app, our physical greeting cards appear to come to life,” the WeWork Chelsea member says. “You can also personalize the message shown on the card and schedule when you want the card to be sent directly to the recipient, saving you time and effort.”
Happy Goon just launched a Kickstarter campaign on April 14 to take greeting cards to the next level.
Who’s behind the campaign?
Hughes builds the overall message, branding, and reward structure, while communications lead Nicole Burns handles social media outreach, press, updates, and blog posts to keep the momentum going throughout the crowdfunding campaign. Lemonlight Media, another WeWork member, helped Happy Goon make an awesome Kickstarter video.
What’s the inspiration?
“I wanted to create something that made people smile, and thought about what that could be,” Hughes says. “Everyone loves receiving posts, and it’s great to see the reactions on people’s faces when they get a great card.”
Especially when the card seems to come to life. A recent card shows a young girl with a heart-shaped balloon. Look at the card through the Happy Goon app and she seems to be carried aloft.
“The way we interact with the world has changed a great deal since the advent of the greeting card, so I focused on making the cards more dynamic, fun, and interactive,” he adds.
How will it change the world?
“I really hope Happy Goon helps people see beyond the divide of physical and digital experiences,” Hughes says. “They can be used in the same space, and when they are, I hope they make the world a better place, one smile at a time.”
Photo: Lauren Kallen