Cookie store owner opens up why he outs 'influencers' online for jumping on 'bachelorette party request' trend

The owner of a cookie store has revealed why he calls out certain 'influencers' on social media when they try and wangle freebies.

David Maffei, the owner of Halfsies Cookies Company located in Hudson Valley, New York, has taken a no-nonsense approach when it comes to how he deals with so-called influencers who've contacted him in a bid to get sent free food.

On the company's official Instagram, you can find various videos which show screenshots of certain requests and Maffei's response - multiple requests in a bid to secure cookies for 'bachelorette parties'.

However, as Maffei points out to those who get in touch, some of the people reaching out don't even follow Halfsies Cookies, have done so just an hour or so before messaging, are claiming to be 'influencers' but don't have much of a following or don't even offer to buy some of the products first to review them, to then get added to the company's mailing list.

Most of all, the owner notes it's not really anything to do with the 'size' of the influencer, the company - which is a family-run small business - wants people to 'care' and wants to have a 'great relationship' with people it collaborates with - AKA not just someone who's only followed its story for the last hour trying to weasel a freebie or too.

And Maffei has since revealed to UNILAD why he outs so many requests on the company's official Instagram account and why it's actually a lot more serious an issue than it looks.

Maffei stressed Halfsies Cookie Company is 'an extremely small family business' which only has 'one employee who is also a very close family friend'.

He continued: "When we started getting dozens of these (mostly bachelorette) party requests from people that have never ordered with us or even follow us I was annoyed.

"I decided to start sharing these interactions with our following so people could understand what we deal with behind the scenes, but also in hopes of shedding light on this trend for other small businesses who maybe would be fooled by it."

With small businesses having a tough enough time as it is, let alone in a cost of living crisis, he resolved: "In this economy, we are all trying to stay alive. We have to be very intentional with who we send promotional mailings to - whether it be a charitable cause or legitimate influencer."