Is it cookie time again?The Girl Scouts kick off the new year with cookie season.As a member of the Girl Scouts, you look forward to cookie selling time all year long.Every year there are new cookies to sell and new first-time sellers.It isn't an art or a science, but it does take a lot of planning and organization.It can seem daunting at first, but in the end it's rewarding.You will be an experienced veteran of cookie-selling in no time.
Step 1: Get the materials for your cookies.
These usually consist of a few "cookie sheets" (big charts with columns for a buyer's info and each type of cookie, including nutrition facts, used to mark down sales), a prize sheet that shows the incentive prizes and how many boxes you must sell, and you may also wishCookie pins are diamond shaped pins that go on the uniform, and every year there are different guidelines to earn one - taking the cookie sale several steps farther, as one might say.
Step 2: The goals should be set.
Pick a realistic personal goal and help pick a troop goal after looking at the incentives.Do you want to donate to a charity, go on a big trip, or fund a service project?
Step 3: Cookie-selling rules and guidelines, as well as general courtesies, are known.
The basic idea of them remains the same, even though they have probably been changed recently due to the introduction of the Ambassador scouts.Don't sell before the sale starts.You can't sell before 12:01 on the day of the sale in your area.Don't sell a single box before the agreed time and date, even if you get your selling materials before then.You may be banned from selling if you are busted for this.You can only sell cookies at the price on the cookie sheet.Some clusters have had issues with troops adding a few cents or dollars to the cookie prices in order to make more money.It's unfair to other troops and your customers if you do this, as your troop can be banned from selling.Stay safe.Scouts from Daisies to Junior should be supervised at all times.There should be some kind of adult supervision for cadettes.Don't walk up to cars to sell on the street if you're invited, and never enter a house unless you know the person well.Stay in your area.Don't go out the first day and hit the whole neighborhood if you have many scouts in your neighborhood, just stay on your street and the ones near it.If your parents have a good friend or two who lives somewhere else, don't sell to them in other neighborhoods.
Step 4: Prepare to answer questions.
Know how much the cookies cost per box, what cookies are available, be able to give a general description of each cookie to a first-time buyer, know which ones are fat- or sugar-free, low sugar, don't contain chocolate, etc.You need to know when the cookies will come in and when you'll pick them up.You can fill out the cookie sheet.Many first-time buyers have trouble with this.You may not know what the boxes are for.There are horizontal rows and vertical columns on a cookie sheet.Each person has their own row, with columns for their name, address, phone number, each kind of cookie, the total number of boxes, how much they owe, and a box to check off whether they've paid or not.The colored boxes have numbers in them, not marks.Double check the numbers and totals.
Step 5: You should wear your Girl Scout uniform.
This shows that you're actually a girl scout, makes you look more professional, and increases the "adorable" factor, which will reel most adults in.It's filthy, you don't have a uniform, but you have nice pants and a piece of felt with your Girl Scout and World Association pins on it.A nice look can be created by wearing an outfit that matches your friends' attire.
Step 6: There is a clipboard and a pen.
Under any circumstances, it's a good idea.All of your materials will be in one place, people won't have to write against their door frames or walls, and you'll have a writing implement on hand.To make sure you don't lose the pen, you may want to tie it to the clipboard.
Step 7: Approach a house.
It's rude for people to just walk through the front yard on the sidewalk.Put on a smile and wait.
Step 8: When someone opens the door, tell them who you are.
It's important to be friendly, as you don't want to come across as rude.It would be an appropriate opening line.Your troop's selling goals, personal ones, and what your troop plans to do with the money it makes can be included in your sales pitch.Be helpful to your customers.It makes you sound excited, involved, and endears you to potential buyers.Say that you will get a prize.Make it sound like you are helping out your troop.It's a good idea to say, "Would you like to support the Girl Scouts?"You can't say no to that.
Step 9: Inform the person of what kinds of cookies you're selling, how much each box costs, when the cookies will be delivered, and any questions that they may have.
It's possible to convince people with diabetes that a cookie is sugar free, low fat, or something else, if you have nutrition facts.If they can't decide, you can recommend a cookie that was popular last year.
Step 10: Attach the sale to the cookie sheet.
If you know the person well, you don't need to have them write down their address and phone number.Tell them how much their order will cost and how many cookies they want when they fill out the boxes.You will need to work out payment.It's best to get all the money at once.It's a good idea because it will make it simpler to collect money at the time of the sales and the delivery can cause more accounting issues than you really want to deal with.When the cookies come in, tell your customers that they can pay, and only make exceptions for people you know.If they don't want to buy cookies, thank them for their time and prepare to leave, or try a subtle hint that they can make a donation instead.You'll have more luck at the next house if you sell to everyone.
Step 11: You can thank the person and leave via the sidewalk.
You just made a sale!Go ahead and conquer the rest of the neighborhood.
Step 12: Call or email people in other states.
They are great gifts for a birthday, Christmas, or any other occasion.It's bad that you won't be able to see the faces when the package is opened, because you can send them in a package with all kinds of other goodies.
Step 13: Hit up people.
Bus drivers and teachers alike will buy a box or two.Office staff, janitors, and other school personnel, such as librarians, would be a good idea since they probably have fewer people asking them.If your teacher buys 10 boxes from you, another scout in your class may become jealous, so be careful not to make a big deal about it.
Step 14: Your parents should take a cookie sheet to work.
It's easy to get lots of sales in one place, and your parent will take care of most of the delivery.One of the easiest ways for parents to do this is to keep a cookie order sheet, brochure, and other information in a folder that can be passed from cubicle to cubicle.There's no soliciting or hovering for parents and their coworkers.It gives people a chance to finish the order when they have time.
Step 15: Sell at church.
If you attend church, you can sell cookies to people that you know.You can sell cookies to your friends and family after a sermon.You will have to fill out an order form with names.If they work at a time when you're not in school, you may be able to set up a mini-booth sale at their workplace.
Step 16: Call the store.
If you or your parents are close to the manager or owner of a big store, you may be able to convince them to buy large quantities of cookies to give out at an event, sell for a little extra money, or whatever else they'd like to do.It is possible to exceed your goals by a few thousand boxes.
Step 17: A booth sale is a great way to raise money.
Maybe the business owner will allow you to sell cookies outside of their store.A booth sale is a great way to get rid of extra cookies, practice selling in a different environment, or get those last few boxes you need to reach your goal.It also gives people who don't live near a girl scout a second chance.
Step 18: Call the organizations.
They might want to buy cookies in bulk.They'll never admit it, but they're jealous of Girl Scout cookies, and that's one of the possibilities.
Step 19: Go around.
Mobile cookie booths are a new form of cookie selling.For fifteen minutes, you can be anywhere in Girl Scout country.If you're old enough, you can have your parents drive around your town and sell cookies.For fifteen minutes, you can go to the park, the library or the public.You don't need permission.
Step 20: Go to the warehouse as soon as the cookies arrive.
This isn't always the case when it comes to each troop's order.If you're one of the first ones there, you can be sure that you get the cookies in the best condition, there will be enough to fill your order completely, and you have the option to double check.Depending on the size of your order, you may need help with it.
Step 21: Go to a central location and get your cookies.
This may be the leader's house, a large shed or garage, or just about anywhere that the whole order will fit.Inform the whole troop of this location, and have each parent come and take their girl's order home.
Step 22: Write thank you notes.
It's a nice touch and your neighbors will love to see a handwritten note from the scout.Thank you for buying Girl Scout cookies.We want to know what you plan to do with the money.Thanks again, I hope you enjoy your cookies.It will make an impression.Put as many thank-you notes in each bag as you have orders.
Step 23: Everyone's orders can be put in a box or bag.You can also use rubber bands.
If all the orders are divided up, the delivery process is much easier.It can be fun for younger scouts to organize the orders with boxes or plastic bags with the person's last name on them.
Step 24: The cookies need to be delivered.
If you want to deliver to a bigger area, you can go in your car or load the orders into a wagon and pull them door-to-door.At every house you go to, hand the person their order, collect their money, give them change, and put it in an envelope or fanny pack, thank them and leave.To make sure they've paid, mark off who you delivered to.
Step 25: It's a good idea to give yourself a pat on the back.