Meet Maddie & Beth Barnett | Owners of Eat Me Cookies

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maddie & Beth Barnett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maddie & Beth, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
One of the decisions that contributed too our success was choosing to move from New York City, down to Charleston!

We had both been living in Manhattan for 10+ years and had established really nice lives for ourselves in the city; we truly didn’t ever consider relocating! But, when Covid hit Maddie, was let go from a position that she had had for 5+ years, and we knew that maintaining a residence in the city, while unemployed, was unrealistic. Disappointed and confused about where to go next… with life, we decided to make the best of a not so great situation, and used our free time to start our business, Eat Me Cookies, while we were quarantining with our parents in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Once our company started to gain some traction and turned from a hobby to a full-time career, we knew we needed to make a decision about next steps: where were we going to settle. We began researching the cost of commercial kitchen spaces, including the commute to said kitchens, and we quickly determined that if we planned to move back to Manhattan while starting a business, the financial strain could have had a really negative impact! Although Charleston is still an expensive city, it was much more affordable in terms of renting a commercial kitchen space, etc.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Once upon a time, we had a brilliant idea to start our own custom cookie and cookie cake company. We were determined to revolutionize the cookie industry with our innovative approach and commitment to quality.

Our first mission was to set oursevles apart from the competition. We knew that in order to succeed, we needed to offer something unique and irresistible. So, we decided to focus on content and piping. While most competitors were satisfied with simple decorations and fill-in-the-blank customization, we decided to go above and beyond. All of our products, both 13″ cookie cakes and 5″ cutout cookies, are able to be completely customized to the customers liking. On our website, we offer message suggestions, but we also like to work with customers individually to come up with the perfect custom message for them! Speaking of customization, while most of our competitors can fit 25-50 characters per product, we can fit over 250. Humble brag.

But that wasn’t all. We were also passionate about using only the finest, all-natural ingredients in our creations. We believe that great taste shouldn’t come at the expense of health, and wanted our customers to indulge in guilt-free pleasures. By sourcing the best ingredients, we ensure that every bite of our cookies and cookie cakes is a delicious and generally wholesome experience.

Of course, variety was another key aspect of our business. We knew that people had different tastes and dietary needs, so we made sure to offer a wide range of options. With over 10 unique flavors to choose from, our customers are spoiled for choice.
We also know that we live in a gluten / dairy-free world these days, so we find it crucial to cater to those with specific dietary restrictions as well.. so, we developed gluten-free and vegan options, ensuring that everyone can enjoy our delectable treats, regardless of dietary preferences or restrictions.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
LOVE THIS QUESTION!

We are so lucky to have had our friends from NYC visit, and we have the best time showing them our favorite local spots.

For dinner: we always like to do Leon’s! The vibe is immaculate, as in the peel-n-eat shrimp. This is a fun restaurant for out-of-towners because it’s got that Southern swag.
Berkeley’s is our favorite restaurant. Their chicken cutlets are a chef’s kiss, and their outdoor dining area is ideal for people-watching. The staff is also a 10/10.
Frannie and The Fox is great for a group dining experience.. love to get their chopped salad, a pasta and some pizzas (especially the t4elagio) to split! We also think they make the best Aperol Spritz in town.
Now let’s say it is Sunday and we are recovering from a weekend of abiding, LOVE Moe’s Crosstown. They have the best wraps / bar food…. perhaps ever.

For drinks: we love Frontier Lounge. It’s a cool retro/western inspired dive bar, with a great back patio. They always have something fun going on, whether it’s live music, or karaoke, and they have buck hunter and a pool table which is a HUGE plus.
Royal American is also another stop on our drink tour. Its so divey, which we love, and their Rum Punch is out of this world.
Now, if we feel a bit like being tourists in our own town, we love to do the Boos and Booze haunted pub crawl.. it is a fun way to have some libations while learning history of the Holy City.

Coffee / Snacks:
Baba’s for coffee and a potato taco.. yum.
Mudhouse is DELICIOUS.. their seasonal flavors hit the spot.
Clerk’s at Hotel Emmeline is a very cool vibe. And they’re dog friendly… sometimes they have homemade treats available for your fur babies.
Island Provisions has great hot food and grab-and-go food in their fridge.

Other must-dos:
Hit Sullivan’s Isand and visit Co-op for a sandwhich and frose.
Hit Folly Beach for a surf lesson, lunch at Low Life, and a drink at Chico Feo
Try and get on a boat! Whether is it a sunset cruise or a tiki boat, the water is such a great way to see Charleston!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We started our company in the midst of Covid, while living with our parents. Our mom and dad not only supported our idea and business model, but they helped us craft / taste test to find the perfect recipes, they allowed us to operate in their home kitchen during the first few months, under the Cottage Law, and even purchased an extra oven for us to use when the amount of orders picked up! They also helped with building shipping boxes, wrapping cakes, UPS runs, etc. They kept our heads on straight when we would get frustrated and overwhelmed, and helped us navigate the ebbs and flows that comes with owning a business.

Shout out to mom and dad for being supportive, loving, understanding and patient with us in ALL aspects of life!

Website: https://www.eatmecookiecakes.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatmecookiecakes/

Image Credits
FOR SISTER PHOTOS: Maddie Acee Instagram: maddieacee