Independent Sweets, senior in sports management Marilia Nidley’s bakery company, started as a fun way to make money during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now she receives an average of about 120 orders per month.
Niddrie’s business began selling chocolate-covered treats on Facebook and Instagram, and has since expanded to include other baked goods such as cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and charcuterie boards. She also creates special limited edition menu her items most holidays her season.
Niddrie’s customer base is primarily LSU parents. Holidays, Welcome Week, and exam season are particularly demanding times as parents want to buy treats for their children away from home. To keep up, Nidree often works long hours.
“My days are usually going to get up, check what I ordered, go to school, come back, go to the store. Just order and do my schoolwork at night. It’s like being there,” she said.
Niddrie believes one of the reasons her business is so popular is that it delivers orders directly to student dormitories.
“Most of my parents are usually first grade parents, so [the students] There are usually no cars on campus. So unless you mail it to the LSU mail room, it’s a bit difficult to receive it. But you know, I think that’s definitely one of my strengths.
Niddrie has not yet decided whether to continue the business after graduation, but believes it might be possible to expand the business into brick-and-mortar stores.
“My ultimate goal may be to franchise it at some point…and maybe try it for other colleges. Because there is [Facebook] “I have friends who have kids at other schools and I wish my school had something like this. So it’s definitely a work in progress,” she said. .
Nidree said her business and having the opportunity to get to know so many LSU parents and students have been “blessings” in her life.
“Being able to connect with different students with different backgrounds from different places is definitely something I really enjoy,” she said.
Heather Verdi lives in Massachusetts and has placed multiple orders for her freshman son this semester.
Verdi purchased a charcuterie board, brownies, cookies, and chocolate-covered strawberries from Independent Sweets to send to her son during Welcome Week. She also ordered Cookie his cake for his 19th birthday. She is so happy with the service she received that she ordered another one for Halloween.
Verdi was originally drawn to the Independent Sweets display and variety of items. Her son prefers healthier food, she said, and Verdi especially enjoyed the charcuterie board with cheese and meat.
Charcuterie box from Independent Suites.
For out-of-state parents, sending treats helps them feel closer to their kids while they’re at school, Verdi said.
“We are far away and can’t see the kids often. It would be great to send them something to let them know you are thinking of them,” she said. rice field.
All orders are delivered to her son’s dormitory, and Nidri sends a photo to the child’s parents holding the sweets.
“Being out of state has been very helpful. [and] There is someone out there who will provide something that will make your child feel special and cared for.especially if it’s a boy, they won’t send you a picture of anything, so it’s actually your child It’s nice to meet
After hearing about Independent Sweets on the 2026 LSU Parent Facebook page, Suzanne Heck of Illinois decided to order one for her daughter’s birthday.
Heck ordered sugar cookies, M&Ms, peanut M&M cookies, and brownies for his daughter. Heck also purchased brownies and chocolate-covered strawberries for her mother, who spent her birthday in Baton Rouge visiting his daughter.
“[My mom] We loved them — she ate them all but didn’t share them,” Heck said.
According to Heck, Niddrie goes above and beyond with its customers. She remembered one parent saying their child was feeling sad and lonely, and Nidry offered to meet them and make sure they were okay.
“[Niddrie is] A student, she is very sweet, supportive, and loyal to everyone…anyone who is hurt, she will. [say] “What can I do for you?” Heck said.
Heck said he was impressed with Niddrie’s work ethic and said he would continue to order from her.
“It’s really impressive for a student to run such a whole small business because there’s so much to do, marketing, ordering, billing, delivery,” she said.
Christa Seal, from Bogartha, Louisiana, used Independent Sweets to send her son a freshman in LSU 12 cookie sandwiches.
12 cookie sandwiches made by Independent Sweets.
Though she’s out of state, Seal said seeing a photo of her son holding treats means a lot to her.
“He had been gone for a while and I was a little broken because that’s my baby. But she sent me a picture with him and he was so surprised. He said I didn’t even know what was going on,” she said.
Seal said Niddrie is always responsive and makes it easy for parents to send gifts to their children.
“Contact her and pick out what your child likes that you usually have at home…[Niddrie] It was so easy. It was a very convenient little service to surprise your child with,” she said.
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