you say good-bye and I say hello

I said goodbye to Egreetings last night.

Bought by American Greetings, they shut their doors yesterday. The generous former CFO rented out Cafe Du Nord and provided a spread complete with little wild mushroom appetizers and plenty of free flowing liquor. The founders gave speeches and handed out awards to longtimers.

Some people were angry, blaming this mistake or that for ending what was a truly amazing place to work. But others, including myself, were just happy we could have been part of it in a time when you could do insane things and they would work. It was a company that allowed you to grow as fast as you could– grow as fast as it was growing.

Egreetings took chances on people. I went from shy temp writing marketing copy for the greetings to Information Architect running around quoting Jakob Neilson in hopes of making a great product. I chatted with a former waiter who ended up heading the production team. It was a little bit company-as-cult, but you know, that can be okay. It’s nice to know the product you’re making doesn’t hurt the environment or cause cancer, and even makes people smile. I remember times when we were up at 2 a.m. screaming about the database or cursing javascript that didn’t work, and someone would yell “Hey, it’s not brain surgery. We get this wrong, nobody dies.”

I also remember many times, riding on a plane or a taxi or anywhere strangers suddenly start talking to you, I would be asked “Where do you work?” and I’d say “Egreetings.com” and they would reply “Oh, I love those! My sister (brother, wife) sent me one and it made my day.”

Kinda cool.

I couldn’t help but think as I watched the founders, Tony and Fred, up on the stage: that’s Noel and Gabe and me up there. Foolhardy and hopeful and trying to get a product we believe in off the ground.

And tonight Carbon IQ is holding its housewarming. Will we grow big? Will we stay small? Will be get bought, as Egreetings did, but a larger older company? Will we quietly go under with no fanfare? I don’t know. We’re in a strange business, in strange times. But damn I love an adventure.