Copy of About the Founder…

Hi! I'm Debra Raney, the Founder. Thank you so much for stopping by my shop! I’m so glad you’re here! Little Muffincakes® is not just a brand; we strive to be a staple in your children’s lives as they grow.

As a mother and grandmother, I am aware of how important it is that our children see positive and encouraging images that look like them. When my twin daughters and son were growing up, it was so difficult finding characters and products that reflected what they saw in the mirror. I would spend a long time in the baby department of the store…staring, searching, wishing…and ultimately feeling frustrated that there were no alternatives. I taught my children that they were beautiful, worthy, and important in their brown skin but when it came to baby products, it seemed like the market didn’t agree with me. I’ve always believed that celebration starts at home and it’s important to reinforce pride in our culture and appearance. But, how do you raise kids to have high self-esteem in a world that doesn’t value or recognize them? It was disheartening -  something needed to be done about it, but I wasn’t sure what to do at that point.

 After my grandson Ashton was born, I found myself in the same situation. The market was doing a little better with representation for older children but nothing I found catered to newborns or small children. It was the same feeling all over again. That’s when I decided that I would be the change I wanted to see in the world. I spent nearly a year dedicating my life to design, product development, and production to make this dream a reality. Starting the business taught me lessons in patience, leadership, and perseverance. The characters and designs are truly my daydreams brought to life. To the countless people that helped fuel the journey: family, friends, designers, suppliers, manufacturers, and shippers....thank you!

Little Muffincakes® was created in November 2016 out of the need for representation. I don’t want any parent, guardian, aunt, or uncle to feel how I felt in that baby department. We seek to provide children with the building blocks of self-acceptance to foster high self-esteem from birth and beyond. Each character and design was carefully crafted with your children in mind. We value positive imagery that tells them that they're beautiful, their skin is radiant and their hair is beautiful.