Most e-commerce stories start with product-market fit.
This one started with Frodo.
On this episode of Check-In to Check-Out, we talk with Kyle Cole, co-founder of The Hero’s Journal—a journaling brand built on the idea that life gets easier when you start seeing yourself as the main character.
What started as a nerdy side project turned into a seven-figure DTC brand powered by story, community, and a refusal to send boring emails.
Kyle opens up about:
Accidentally going viral during quarantine with a “Quarantine Quest”
Scaling fulfillment from garage to 3PL—and the painful (but hilarious) budget mistake he made
What every e-commerce leader gets wrong about community building
How to forecast without deluding yourself
Why the best marketing emails sometimes have no CTA
If you’ve ever tried to justify a warehouse lease based on “the traffic you're manifesting” or had your team melt down over a 3PL gone rogue, this one’s for you.
It’s funny, vulnerable, and weirdly practical.
And yes, we talk about iOS 14.
Perfect for: Directors of E-Commerce, DTC operators, brand builders who think “community” isn’t just a Slack channel
Listen in and remember: you are the hero. Just maybe... also the operations oracle.
