Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadia And Maya Turner.
Hi Nadia and Maya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
We started baking Cookies with our mom at a young age, and we were fans of Shark Tank. We had our Dad and family try our cookies and that’s when we knew we had something. We started selling our cookies to friends, family, and our school. Maya was six years old, and Nadia was eight. Nadia at the age of eight came up with Chocolate Girls Cookies and designed our logo. One day our dad suggested getting a booth at the Soulard Farmers Market. We visited the farmers’ market and decided that day we needed to be here. On our first day at the Soulard Farmers Market, we were nervous. We sold sixty packs of cookies and sold out within 3 hours. Within a year, Scott’s Credit Union gave us a $500 check. That was a special moment for us because our grandmother’s breast cancer came back and when she heard about Scott’s Credit Union giving us a $500 check. It lifted up her spirits. In honor of our Grandmother, we decided to put the breast cancer ribbon on our merchandise.
Shortly after Scott’s Credit Union check, we were in the Saint Louis American newspaper, Ksdk Channel 5, the real STL news, and Feast magazine. In 2022 Nadia and Maya came up with the idea of putting their cookies in a movie theater. The Dad ” Michael Turner” started calling all the movie theaters and the Galleria Cinema 6 asked for samples. Within two weeks our cookies were in the Galleria Cinema 6 and come to find out we are the first cookie in the countryasked for samples. Within two weeks our cookies were in the Galleria Cinema 6 and come to find out we are the first cookie in the country to be in a movie theater. Then the Mx Movie Theater contacted us to have cookies in their theater. By this time we had cookies orders coming and in particular, was BJC Hospital. BJC Emergency Dept. ordered 450 cookies. Shortly thereafter we had cookie orders from Enterprise Car Rental, Public Broadcasting KETC Channel 9, Powell Symphony Hall, several weddings, and school districts.
The BJC Emergency Dept order led us to
Be in three BJC gift shops. In March 2021 our Grandmother lost her battle to breast cancer. In the fall of 2024, the BJC gift shop started selling her breast cancer hoodie. Some of the proceeds we get from the hoodie will go to cancer research. Our cookies are also beingsold at Poppa Bubble candy store, the Black Rep Theater, and at the Missouri History Museum.
The Chocolate Girls have also done several Q&A sessions. With Cori Jesu High School, Jackson Park Elementary, and several local churches.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of our toughest challenges was dealing with our Grandmother passing. Because she was a big supporter of ours. Going down to the kitchen to bake and knowing we have homework sometimes. But when it’s too much our Dad takes over. Last thing, selling our cookies to strangers.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Chocolate Girls Cookies LLC ?
We make three homemade cookies, chocolate chip, oatmeal cinnamon, and oatmeal raisin. We’re known for being two young entrepreneurs with thoughts and dreams to open our own storefront. Our most proud moments was knowing our Grandmother seen us on the news. Being on several different media outlets.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
We feel there will always be a need for baked goods. The only changes we see in our industry are that AI will be doing a lot of it. There probably won’t be any homemade goods anymore.
Pricing:
- A dozen cookies cost $33
Contact Info:
- Website: Chocolategirlscookies@gmail.com
- Instagram: Chocolate Girls Cookies LLC
- Facebook: Chocolate Girls Cookies LLC
- Youtube: Chocolate Girls Cookies
