I live in rural Western Maryland. You may think it would be hard to be a top cookie seller living in the country in a small town but remember if you’re a Girl Scout anything is possible with hard work and determination.
I live in rural Western Maryland. You may think it would be hard to be a top cookie seller living in the country in a small town but remember if you’re a Girl Scout anything is possible with hard work and determination.
I am a Cadette with Troop 15055 in western Maryland. Over the years, I've learned that being a Girl Scout can be lots of fun! At times it may be hard to be a Girl Scout but with perseverance and determination; anything is possible.
First, always have an order form with you. Tell everyone you see you’re selling cookies—to people at school, church, and your dentist’s office—every day. There’s always someone you could ask to buy cookies. Don’t get discouraged in the pre-sales you can always sell better with cookies in hand.
Second, find a great Girl Scout to partner up with. I have formed a dynamic duo with my friend and cookies cohort, Haeleigh Shoop. We have been selling since we were Daisies.
Third, when cookie booths begin, treat it like a full-time job. We are out Friday night, with 2-3 booths on Saturday and 1-2 on Sundays. Try to set up at busy places like a Sam’s Club or Walmart. We travel a lotI’m lucky my mom takes us everywhere and helps us succeed.
Fourth is to know your customers and don’t stereotype your customers. I have learned over the years that well-dressed and well-off-looking people walking by are not always your best customers. The 20-something in Pajama pants and holy shirt will buy ten boxes, they’re happy to see you, and come back again.
Fifth, you definitely need to make it easy to pay. With COVID-19, contactless payments became a must, and using Square and being able to accept credit cards and Apple Pay will almost double your sales.
If cookie sales have taught me anything, it’s keep going! Keep going if it’s a slow day, keep going if it’s a cold day, and enjoy your time with friends and the conversations with your customers. Sometimes, people just want to talk and share their Girl Scout stories or memories of cookies with you. It’s those connections that keep customers coming back. In closing, you never know the impact you have on people. We were collecting Troops for Troops boxes and struck up a conversation with a Vietnam Era Veteran, with tears in his eyes, told us that Girl Scout Cookies will always mean “home” to him. He said as soon as he would step off the plane back in the U.S. the USO was there with Girl Scout cookies for the soldiers coming home. He said that on every tour Girl Scout Cookies were there, time after time, welcoming them home. I can tell you that we donated boxes of cookies to him that day and it seemed like very little compared to what he had done for us and our country. It’s the conversations and connections that we are able to make speaking to people and engaging with our community that have taught me the most.
First, know you have someone on your side.
Family (usually my mom), friends, Scout sisters, teachers – anyone who will help you get through the cookie season's ups and downs. Cookie season can be tons of fun, but you need to know you can get more supplies or have a chat when things turn the other way, even if just a bit.
Second, always be prepared.
As Girl Scouts, we are taught to be on the ready and resourceful. During cookie season, those tools are key. From supplies prepared for a cookie booth to a sales pitch memorized in case you can make a cookie sale, being set for the unexpected is the best way to be.
Third, a bright, cheerful attitude.
At cookie booths, be prepared to smile, greet customers with good manners, and provide a positive transaction.
Lessons I’ve Learned from Girl Scout Cookie Sales
While I love a good cookie season, I've learned that sometimes you must make sacrifices during the cookie season because of something wanted or able to be earned if sales are good. I love to be out with my Girl Scout sisters selling cookies and seeing smiles on the faces of happy customers and supporters, but I've also had to miss out on things for those booths to happen. I think that has helped me learn that to get what you want or to go where you want, you will have to think about what takes priority now so that the next better thing can be enjoyed later. As I get older, I will have to make choices that may conflict with each other or prioritize what's most important to me. I am learning that it's okay to be interested in multiple things. I just need to make sure I can balance it all.
Always be prepared for any type of weather. We have done booths in snow, rain, wind, and beautiful weather conditions too, sometimes all in one day, but being set with jackets, gloves, ponchos, umbrellas and all the added weather needs, we could continue with the booths. I think that now makes me a better planner for other events. When I pack for camp, I think of all the conditions that I could be faced with, and when I look to make plans, I double and triple check the weather apps before leaving.
A good attitude will get you any sale, which means a good attitude can get you anywhere in life. I love making customers happy, and I have learned being pleasant, honest, and friendly will get you not just a sale, but potentially many sales. If you connect with others with a smile and kind words, a customer many times has changed their order from one to two boxes to five or six. A few times I've even ended up with making a case to two move instead. In day-to-day life, being a positive person with a friendly disposition and welcoming smile will often make for a better day in dealing with school and teachers, parents and siblings, any one you may have to interact with.
Each year, thanks in part to a great cookie season, I have been able to attend at least one Girl Scout camp. I love going to Camp White Rock for the Brownie Junior Camporee and our annual encampment. This past year, I attended a theatre camp held at Camp May Flather. This was my first weeklong away camp.
I met scout sisters from all over our council and had the chance to be taught by older scouts in high school and some Lifetime members attending college.
This was an awesome experience, and ever since leaving, I've only looked forward to the camp lottery for 2024!!! I am also excited that I can also train to be a CIT this year.