Presenting...Ello Puppet

Ello Puppet logo (Source: Kierra Mitchner)

STANFORD, FLORIDA: Ello Puppet is a baby care brand created by Kierra Mitchner. The company is dedicated to providing quality products and services to parents, regardless of their economic level.

Mitchner was one of the many people moved by the death of George Floyd. The idea that his 7-year-old daughter, Gianna Floyd, had to live without him was devastating. It was this tragedy, along with the new challenges brought upon by the pandemic that motivated her to help others - during what was a tumultuous time for many.

While researching current issues, Mitchner learned about the increasing need for diapers in the country. She also noticed the lack of support amongst baby care brands for the Black Lives Matter movement. Considering the fact that families of color are impacted daily by racial injustice, Mitchner wished that more baby care brands showed support for the movement. She made it her personal mission to create a baby brand that “protected families.”

“It dwindled down to diapers, because it was something that we always needed,” Mitchner said. “You know, you always want to have a business that always needs to be there.”

When choosing her company’s name, Mitchner’s goal was to create a catchy name with a personal touch. She decided to take a quote from one of her favorite movies, Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and added a twist.

“It was the scene where they break into the governor's house and Elizabeth Taylor, she runs and hides in the closet,” Mitchner said as she described the movie scene. “Then, a pirate sees that she's in the closet (and says) the most famous line ‘ello poppet.’”

Mitchner changed the word from“poppet” to “puppet,” and later settled on the name “Ello Puppet.” She wanted to make people smile when they heard the company’s name…and it may be safe to say that she did just that.

Kierra Mitchner, the founder of Ello Puppet (Source: Kierra Mitchner)

The lack of support amongst baby brands regarding racial injustice was disappointing to Mitchner. Although there were a number of baby care companies that partnered with black owned diaper associations, Mitchner believes more support is still needed. She says organizations should use a portion of their profits to fight systemic issues…which is why she feels there is a need for companies like Ello Puppet.

“We would rather spend our money with a business that’s mission is to better our society, our ecosystem, our planet, versus someone that is here for the profits, you know?” Mitchner said. “We kind of want to shine a light on capitalism.”

Ello Puppet offers diapers that are made from 100% natural cotton, which happens to be both sustainable and absorbent (sizes range from one to five). They also offer Eco Boom, the company’s plant-based diaper option and bamboo wipes; they are hypoallergenic, non-alcoholic, and are made with 99% purified water.

Left: Ello Puppet wet wipes; Right: Ello Puppet baby diapers (Source: Kierra Mitchner)

Since 2020, Mitchner has attended community events and has participated in a number of group discussions on topics pertaining to the black community, health, and the food crisis. She hopes to bring awareness to Ello Puppet, while also showcasing the importance of community involvement.

“I want to have the community know who we are and ( I want to) get involved,” Mitchner said. “I don't want to wait until we're, you know, million dollars in and now we want to do charitable work or now we want to listen and address things.”

With each product, Mitchner believes in putting parents first. As she continues to expand Ello Puppet, she plans to provide additional resources to support parents during pregnancy and postpartum.

“When planning for a family, you may not know much about your body, pregnancy, after birth, and just all the things that can go into bringing a child into this world,” Mitchner said. “So how I can best change the lives or impact children is by beginning with their parents.”

Ello Puppet products can be found on the company’s website, at https://www.ellopuppet.com. You can also find products on Walmart’s website linked below!