Joker Greeting: Rebuilding reputation with humor and reviews
From viral Kickstarter fame to navigating a reputation crisis, Joker Greeting turned to Judge.me to take back control of the narrative, rebuilding credibility, showcasing quality, and keeping the pranks going strong.
Key Results
10,000+ verified reviews collected on their Shopify store
20%+ increase in review volume after switching to Judge.me
Friction-free, automated review workflow
Re-established brand credibility using authentic social proof
The Challenge: Recovering from a reputation hit
When Travis Peterson launched Joker Greeting on Kickstarter in 2015, a simple idea, a greeting card that plays music non-stop, turned into a viral sensation. Media outlets jumped on board, and sales soared.
But in year two, a manufacturing defect in a batch sold via a third-party Amazon seller damaged the brand’s reputation. Negative reviews flooded in, search rankings tanked, and customers began to doubt the product’s quality.
Travis had no meaningful way to respond or provide context on Amazon, and no reviews on his website to balance the narrative.
“Negative reviews dominated our search results. I needed to take back control of the story.”
The Solution: Real reviews, real recovery
Travis migrated to Shopify and implemented Judge.me to rebuild trust on his terms. With control over the review collection process, he was able to establish a more accurate and credible reflection of Joker Greeting’s high-quality products and customer service.
Judge.me helped Travis turn a reputation challenge into a new growth engine:
Verified reviews straight from the source
Shifting away from Amazon’s rigid platform, Judge.me gave Travis a way to collect genuine feedback directly from verified customers.
Timing that fits the product experience:
With a 28-day delay on review invites, customers have time to gift cards and hear reactions from the recipient - a crucial step given the nature of Joker Greeting’s cards.
High-volume growth with minimal effort:
With automation and custom flows, the store now collects reviews reliably and efficiently, driving over 10,000 verified reviews.
Strategic social sharing
Travis uses Judge.me’s social sharing features frequently to get the most out of their reviews on Joker Greeting’s highly popular social channels - turning positive reviews into Instagram stories, TikToks, and ads that double as conversion tools. The humor and authenticity in his products shine through in real customer stories.
Tailored review displays
Custom widgets and moderation controls offered by Judge.me ensure product pages remain consistent, on-brand, and informative without being overwhelmed by outliers.
“I had to fix my social proof. I don’t create fake reviews. I just needed a way to collect real reviews I could trust.”
Travis’s advice for other Shopify merchants
With 10 years of experience in both virality and recovery, Travis knows the power of real feedback. His top advice to fellow store owners?
Start early
Don’t wait for a problem to realize the value of reviews. Begin collecting them from your very first order. Even a handful of honest reviews can establish early credibility and give your store a stronger foundation.
Own the narrative
Avoid relying entirely on third-party platforms like Amazon. Look to collect all forms of feedback on your terms.
Respond with personality to build rapport
Travis personally replies to reviews, often using humor, clarification, or heartfelt thanks. Whether it’s correcting a misunderstanding or celebrating a hilarious reaction, his hands-on approach shows customers there’s a real person behind the prank.
