Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tiffany Biddle, CEO of Sweet Mae's Cookie Co., located in Cincinnati, OH, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are Sweet Mae's Cookie Company, a black-woman-owned cookie company. Sweet Mae's is a premium stuffed cookie company with a southern accent. What is unique about our cookies is that they are all made with brown butter and stuffed. Our cookies are thick and filled with delicious fillings such as Nutella, Cookie Butter, Cream Cheese, and more. Our flavors come from desserts you see in the south, like Carrot Cake and Red Velvet, or things I grew up eating in my childhood. Sweet Mae's was started from my passion for baking and a way to express that passion through each cookie I bake!

Tell us about yourself

Hello, my name is Tiffany Biddle. I am the CEO and Co-Founder of Sweet Mae's Cookie Co. I grew up in the south, Alabama, to be exact. I come from a southern family who loves to cook and bake. It all started with Mama Clara and Fannie Mae. Mama Clara could make biscuits by hand that no one could recreate, not using a single measuring utensil. Fannie Mae is Mama Clara's daughter-in-law. The two of them cooked and baked for many people. Fannie Mae is the mother of my grandmother, Linda, and also who my company is named after. My grandmother also loves to cook and bake. As they say, food brings people together, and I truly believe this! Baking is a hobby that has been taken on for generations in my family. I can remember being in the kitchen with my grandmother and mother making different goodies. It was something that I clung to and became a natural at. Ultimately, my goal for our company is to be an extension of my family's legacy, make the best cookies, put smiles on people's faces and make people's bellies happy. Also, I am the mother of two beautiful girls, Berkeley and Robyn Biddle. I am the wife of Andrew Biddle (the other Co-Founder). Lastly, I am an engineer by trade, turned cookie monster :p

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

  1. Growing a product line from my home kitchen to now reaching the shelves of big-box retailers in 2 years.
  2. Being able to create a journey that I can share with others along the way. Being an inspiration to other business owners and sharing the knowledge I have gained in my industry is an awesome feeling.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I feel the hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is the balance of time. It's always so tough to know when to hire people when to take a break, family balance, and the list goes on. You are always going to be pulled in many directions, but being organized and planning to the best of your ability is a lifesaver. Things are not always going to go as planned but continuing to get up and do what you love even after falls, or the unbalance of things does make it easier.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Things are not always going to go as you plan, but always roll with the punches. Be prepared to sometimes take five steps forward to take ten steps back. You will learn so much along the way, and sometimes what you learn will change your path on how you view your thoughts to get to your end goal. Always have a plan B or C just in case plan A doesn't work, or in case there are so many issues you realize along the way that cause plan A to not be the best path.
  2. Take your time and move at the pace you and your business are growing. Sometimes we get so caught up in what others are doing that we adjust how we move based on what we see others doing. However, remember that what is for you is for you. Grow your business according to how your sales are doing, what your business can afford, and how your customers are responding to your product.
  3. Have boundaries and balance time. It's so easy to get caught up in business and work that other things in your life start to fail. Make sure you set boundaries. When to say no and when to take time away from work are important. Small businesses take a lot more time, work, and effort to build and develop versus working as an employee for an established business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Like anything in life, what you put into it is what you get out of it. Business is the same! The level of effort and work you put into your small business is what you get out of it. Remember, most small businesses don't get paid or the recognition if they do not work.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://sweetmaescookies.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetmaescookies/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetmaescookieco/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.