Meet Jennifer Hansen | Owner / Illustrator / Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Hansen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
“I want to make people laugh and encourage people to lighten up. The world can be a way too serious place. We need more laughter in all our lives.” One of my first jobs was working at a greeting card company. Every time I perused the cards, I always felt that none of these cards this store sold would be something I would give to my own parents. They were super traditional, sappy and cards that felt extremely unrealistic in today’s world.

Despite the store having hundreds of cards, I could never find a card that I would give my father on Father’s Day or his birthday. I felt that there was a need to create realistic cards for my friends, family, and others – so I did!

One of the first cards I created was for Father’s Day. On the front of one of my cards, it reads “Happy Father’s Day. Remember that time you took me to the park?” and on the inside it reads “Neither do I. Happy half-ass Father’s Day”. I feel this is much more relatable to a large majority of kids (especially me).

Sarcasm is a huge part of my personality and the inspiration for all my cards. I don’t see the need to take life too seriously and I strive to make cards that are as sarcastic as me. I love giving cards to my husband, friends and family that are ridiculous, shocking, and funny (something I think most card stores still fail to do today.)

It’s gotten to the point in my marriage that any time my husband gives me a serious and traditional card I explain to him that I’m going to throw it away. This is just how my sarcasm works and I know I’m not alone. If my cards can make someone laugh that’s going through cancer or help someone “come out of the closet” to their family with a card I create, I am beyond grateful.

Greeting cards have been my passion for over 30 years and I’ve yet to find anything like my brand. Every one of my 300+ (and counting) cards and stickers are hand drawn and painted in water-color illustrations that appear sweet and innocuous. It isn’t until the reader opens the card that they get a shock and read the (more than likely) offensive joke is something they weren’t expecting at all. When I’m selling my cards at a festival no one can get offended just walking past my booth. They must physically open the card to read the joke.

Despite only launching in October 2022, my sales and brand awareness has grown at a steady rate. I am excited to share my passion for making others laugh through my company Offensive Occasions.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Writing and illustrating greeting cards has been my life-long dream that took me until I was 43 to focus on it full-time. Other graphic design jobs, traveling, having 3 children (one being very disabled), and fostering dozens of dogs have filled my adult life. So, a couple years ago my husband and I decided that it was finally my time to live this dream full-time once our son moved into a group home and I had a little bit more time on my hands.

My greeting card company Offensive Occasions is incredibly different than any other greeting card company you will ever find. Seriously! I have a cutesy, cartoony, stylized and brightly colored illustration on the front of the card. This makes the design of each card different, although, easily recognizable as one of my designs since they all follow the same theme. I want my card to surprise the recipient by having them believe that they are about to open a very sweet, innocuous card. It isn’t until the recipient opens the card; they discover the incredibly sarcastic, inappropriate message inside. My goal in life is to make people laugh. That’s all. I genuinely don’t want to offend anyone. I simply want to write a very shocking and unexpected joke that make people will laugh their asses off. My cards are not for everyone. Anyone else can go to Hallmark for cheesy, traditional cards like they’ve always been doing.

I make cards that I would give to my circle of friends, some family members, and my husband. It’s not that I’m serious when I give my husband a happy birthday card and, on the inside, it reads “I slept with your brother”. It’s just unexpected and funny as hell.

I’ve heard people say “I don’t even send cards anymore. I just send a text message.” Well, they have not read my cards yet. I have invented reasons to start sending cards again. Simply, to make someone laugh. Or on a serious note, to ask someone for a divorce. I also touch on areas that are true to me, such as special needs parent issues, military families and deployment and sobriety cards.

A huge lesson I’ve learned along the way (and am still learning) is to not hold back. If I’m going to write these cards to crack people up, then I need to go for it and really say something inappropriate and shocking. It’s been a challenge when I hear a family member state that they don’t think my cards are appropriate. I’ve learned to say, “I fully agree with you. They are not appropriate. Those ones you can find in the Walmart card aisles. My cards are not for everyone and I’m totally okay with that.”

I’m so incredibly proud of myself for taking the risk of opening myself up to criticism. I’m very passionate about every single card I write, and I absolutely love my job.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve lived around the world and LOVED every place I’ve lived, except for the city we are currently living in. It’s been 7 years so far and we’ve given it our fair share. The people are unfriendly and cliquish and there aren’t really good places to eat or see entertainment. So the only way I can answer that question honestly, is to direct someone to another town. I would advise people to drive to Cleveland, Ohio. There are so many incredible restaurants, activities for families (we love the Great Lakes Science Center) and we can walk to Lake Erie from our second home that’s there. We bought this second home so we could be closer to our son’s group home, since we are stuck in Dayton, Ohio until my husband can retire from the U.S. Air Force next year. We are about a 3.5 hour drive from Cleveland but we absolutely love it and it’s our second home.
There’s a great night life with roof-top bars, our favorite wood-fired pizza joint “Moratta’s” is worth the 25 minute drive from our home. Or I like to take our visitors to “The Haunted House Restaurant”. It’s so entertaining and the food in incredible, especially the vinaigrette brussel sprouts. The sporting options are amazing and so entertaining. You can get a ticket to the Cleveland Guardian’s game for just $15 and still have an amazing time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to thank God first for providing me the opportunity to live my dream. Secondly, I’d love to thank my husband Zach Hansen. He has supported me in every single way (emotionally, financially and mentally). He never complains when I’m spending more money on starting up this business or when he’s lugging tons of bins to a festival and having to set up a tent in the windy rain. He truly believes in me and I’m so incredibly lucky and grateful.

Website: https://offensiveoccasions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offensive.occasions/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086020382624

Image Credits
Jennifer Hansen