Trust Is Tender (and So Are We)

Last week, I clicked on a link I shouldn’t have.

It looked like a regular email from Facebook - something I’d seen a hundred times. But this one wasn’t. I entered my login information, and almost instantly, I had that sinking, gut-level feeling: uh-oh. Something wasn’t right.

Sure enough, my account had been hacked. A new admin had been added. Thankfully, I caught it quickly and got them out. But the whole experience left me rattled - not just because of what happened, but because of what it reminded me:

It’s hard to know who and what to trust these days.

We live in a world where websites look real even when they’re not, where emails can mimic friends and companies we follow, and where doubt has become the default. We’re conditioned to be suspicious. And honestly, in many cases, that’s wise. But it can also be isolating. Exhausting.

As I was sitting with all of this, I realized: trust isn’t just about other people - it’s about ourselves, too.

There’s another kind of doubt I’ve struggled with over the years, and maybe you have too. It's that moment when your intuition tells you something feels off - but someone else brushes it off. Maybe they say you’re overreacting. Maybe they make you question what you know in your bones. That’s a form of gaslighting. And it chips away at your ability to trust your own inner voice.

At Ploppals, I want to do the opposite. I want to affirm it.

Yes, We’re Real (and We Really Care)

In case you’re wondering - yep, Ploppals is a real company. It’s run by me, an American grandmother in Massachusetts, out of my home (with some help from a fulfillment center in Florida now because…well, the house is full of poop - crochet poop, that is 😄).

Most orders? I still pack them myself and hand them off at the local post office. Every box is sent with love, care, and a smile.

But more than being real in the logistical sense, I want you to know we’re real in the emotional sense.

Our mission isn’t just to sell silly plush toys. It’s to hold space. To say:

• “I see you.”

• “You’re not alone.”

• “You’re allowed to feel what you’re feeling.”

And to do it in a way that’s light, a little silly, and full of heart.

Humor That Holds You

There’s a reason our toys look like smiling poop. (Besides the fact that it makes me laugh.) It’s because life is messy - and still beautiful. Sometimes you’re in the thick of it, and you just need a tiny reminder that you’re not the only one navigating the nonsense.

Whether it’s the Heart Ploppal that says “I give a sh*t about you,”
or the Flower Ploppal with its reminder that “if poop can grow flowers, YOU can do anything,”
or even the Holy Ploppal cheering you on - our toys are made to say what’s sometimes hard to put into words.

We’re not here to fix you. You’re not broken.
We’re here to sit beside you and say, “Yeah, that’s a lot. And I’m here with you anyway.”
Maybe with a giggle. Maybe with a tear. Always with love.

You Can Trust This

So if you’ve ever wondered, “Is this company legit?” - yes.
If you’ve ever thought, “Am I imagining this feeling?” - no.
And if you need a little poop-shaped reminder that you matter - well, I’ve got just the thing.

💛 Heather
Founder, Ploppals