There are moments in building a brand when something shifts.
Not a big, flashy launch. Not a viral moment. But something quieter – like the first grip of a tire finding traction on an icy road. A moment that says, yes, you’re moving forward. You’re no longer just dreaming it. The message is starting to land.
This is one of those moments.
I came across this review recently – left on Amazon for our Ploppals Small & Sassy gift set – and it lit me up:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kristy
Perfect gift for someone who is feeling terrible
“My friend is going through a hard season and I bought this gift set. She was ghosting and avoiding me and I could tell she was spiraling into depression. I was going to just wrap the box and put it in her mailbox. When I did, she opened the front door and came out and I had lunch with her and now she is “back”. It was just the right amount of funny and understanding. I feel like I didn’t have to make stupid placating statements that no one wants to hear and could just let the poop talk hahahaha, but you get the point.”
This. Is. Everything.
Ploppals isn’t just about poop (though poop jokes are welcome). It’s about compassion. About walking through the mess with someone and saying, You’re lovable. You’re worthy. You’re not alone.
It’s about finding a playful way to show up when words are hard.
When Kristy left that gift, she wasn’t just giving her friend a funny plush toy. She was saying, I see you. I care. And I’m still here. That’s the heart of this brand. That’s the mission wrapped inside every silly plush and every heartfelt message tag.
For me, as the brand builder, this review was a quiet blaze of hope. Ploppals is a brand built on an unconventional foundation – one that asks people to see a plush poop not as a joke, but as a symbol of resilience, humanity, and unconditional love. That’s not always an easy sell. It takes time, trust, and a willingness to rewrite expectations. In a world that often rushes to judge, I’ve chosen to build something that asks people to pause, laugh, and feel. And in this one Amazon review – in this moment of real connection between two friends – I saw proof that the message is landing. That the movement is starting. And that’s the kind of traction no spreadsheet can measure.
Heather Goff
Founder of Heather’s Joy
Heather’s Joy is more than a studio – it’s a way of creating, living, and sharing that begins with wonder and ends with connection. Whether through pottery, plush toys, websites, or words, I follow what lights me up – and build from there. My hope is that by sharing the process, it helps