MyCookies, Inc. - 2023 Cookie Guide

Ways to Participate in the Girl Scout Co okie Program

Get ready for your Girl Scout to make (cookie) boss moves this year! No matter how she takes part in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, she’ll grow her people skills, learn to set goals, make smart decisions, and so much more. Talk w ith her about which options she’s excited to explore this year!

Phone or Text Friends and Family

Is this your Girl Scout’s cookie business? Texting or phoning friends and family is a great way to help her feel comfortable connecting w ith cookie customers. And if your seasoned cookie boss’s free time is limited—school, sports, and extracurriculars! this

Girl Online Account

Is your Girl Scout ready to take her digital marketing skills to the next level? With the ABC Smart Cookies platform, Girl Scouts can ship cookies straight to customers, accept orders for cookie donations, or have local customers schedule an in-person delivery. And she can reach her sales goals no matter what her schedule is like.

Door-to-door

They’re the perfect way to hone her sales pitch! With door-todoor sales, Girl Scouts can stay local and sell in their neighborhoods—and use door hangers and business cards for customers who aren’t home. They’ll also grow their people skills by meeting new neighbors (with the necessary adult supervision, of course)

Cookie Pop-Ups

Would your Girl Scout feel more comfortable on her own turf ? Cookie pop-ups, similar to lemonade stands, are set up in front of a residence on private property, where she’ll market her cookies to customers in her neighborhood. They’re a great way to ease more introverted girls into connecting with their communities. This can be fun for the whole family!

Cookie Booths

This option has maximum customer interaction, teamwork, and all the fun! Troops or groups of Girl Scouts work together to market their cookies outside a preapproved location (like a grocery store, bank, mall, or even a drive-through booth in a parking lot) where they can practice their business skills w ith new customers.

Connecting w ith Her Community

The possibilities are endless! Girl Scouts team up w ith their parents/caregivers to sell cookies to their employees and coworkers, at places of worship, and at community groups. They could prepare a corporate pitch to sell cookies in bulk to car dealerships, real estate agents, these budding entrepreneurs secure a large sale, they get a taste of sweet success!

Participating in the cookie program powers Girl Scouts’ adventures throughout the year as they learn key business skills to excel in future careers and in life. By participating in different sales methods, girls gain more skills, including: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Don’t forget: adult superv ision is required at all times.

Exclusively sold online for shipment only.

Introducing

Raspberry Rally™

Thin, crispy cookies infused with raspberry flavor, dipped in chocolaty coating*

*Online sales only, while supplies last! Cookies can be purchased on my Smart Cookie® site

What if someone asks about the new Girl Scout Cookie Raspberry Rally?

Acknowledge that the cookie is not available at the booth. Explain that it is bought exclusively online for shipping only.

Talk about what you know about the cookie like that it is baked with a pink raspberry flavored center and dipped in a chocolatey coating and looks the same as our popular Thin Mint cookie. Both cookies are delicious, thin, crispy cookies!

PRO TIP: Share your Smart Cookie page with customers. Explain that purchasing cookies either at a booth or online help you reach your goals.

Five Skills for Girls and ways girls

1. Goal Setting

Girls start by setting a personal cookie sales goal. Then with her troop, the girls work together to set a troop goal. Once the girls set their collaborative goal, they can begin to work with their family and fellow troop members to develop a plan to achieve them.

Why does this matter? When girls set goals it is the first step toward success in school, jobs, and in life.

Participating in the cookie program gives girls an entrepreneurial edge! Encouraging an interest in entrepreneurship builds curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving skills— qualities that prepare girls for academic and career success. As your Girl Scout runs her own cookie business, she’ll gain five skills along the way that she’ll use the rest of her life. The Cookie Entrepreneur Family pin activity sheet is designed to help you support her, giving you tips for your cookie entrepreneur.

Here’s what girls learn and why it matters.

2. Money Management

Girls will have the opportunity to work on developing a budget. After they have set their sales goal, they will be able to determine a

budget and manage their funds as they manage their revenue. Girls will take sales orders, count money, and deliver money to their troop product manager.

Why does this matter? Learning to manage their cookie sale funds will also help them understand managing their personal finances. Girls develop a better understanding of managing their allowance and a future paycheck because they learn by doing.

3. People Skills

Girls develop people skills by talking to customers, learning to become good listeners, and building relationships with their sister Girl Scouts as they work as a team to meet their goals.

benefit from selling cookies

Why does this matter? As girls deliver their sales pitch and interact with customers, their selfconfidence begins to grow. Girls are ready and able to answer questions about their goals, their favorite cookie, and what they plan to do with their earnings. People skills help girls in school, communication with their friends, in team sports, group projects, and future job success.

4. Decision Making

Girls will decide how they will market their cookie program and when and where they will sell cookies. Girls will work together as a troop to make the ultimate decision on how they spend their earnings. (Troop activities, community service projects, trainings, travel, etc.)

Why does this matter? Throughout their life girls make daily decisions, big and small, and when girls practice and implement decision making, they begin to see the impact of their decision. They develop a strong process of making good decisions. They begin to see themselves as a confident leader capable of making decisions for themselves, and to make the world a better place.

5. Business Ethics

During the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls practice sound business ethics, by being responsible for their cookie inventory, cookie payments to their troop, and their commitment to their customers. Why does this matter? As Cookie

Entrepreneurs girls are responsible for managing their own cookie business, while practicing sound business ethics and working cohesively as a team. Future employers want to hire ethical employees with refined life skills. pitch and interact with customers, their self-confidence begins to grow. Girls are ready and able to answer questions about their goals, their favorite cookie, and what they plan to do with their earnings. People skills help girls in school, communication with their friends, in team sports, group projects, and future job success.

Creating Cookie Success

Make this year’s Cookie Program a success and help your Girl Scout develop the 5 Skills she’ll learn from selling cookies. Here’s how:

Go to the family cookie information meeting.

Sign and return all permission slips.

Provide transportation for order taking and delivery.

Help your Girl Scout network with family and friends, but let her do the “ask” so she can learn important business skills.

Help her arrange to take orders at your place of work, place of worship, or other places where people might purchase Girl Scout cookies. LJ Offer to be a supervising adult – there are lots of opportunities to lend a hand during cookie season. LJ Share your business expertise and help link the Girl Scout Cookie Program with the wider business world. LJ Never do things for your Girl Scout that she can do for herself!

Coach Your Girl Scout

Listen to her practice her sales pitch.

Review cookie materials together and visit Girl Scout Cookie and cookie company websites with her to help her learn more about her product.

Ask her questions – maybe even pretend to be a potential customer.

Guide her to set practical and useful goals about what she wants to learn and earn.

Listen to her describe what her goals are for the money earned through the program.

Be a role model for business ethics and safety rules.

Have fun with your Girl Scout!

Remember that the Girl Scout Cookie Program is a part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, which is girl-driven. Let your Girl Scout take the lead in selling cookies and reaching goals. Your encouragement, coaching, and guidance will be key ingredients to a successful Cookie Program experience for her.

"What If ?" Scenarios

⚬ Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are two completely different organizations.

⚬ Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world! And research shows there's no better place to discover their full potential.

⚬ Talk to cookie customers about what the Girl Scout experience has been like for you and your troop

PRO TIP: Stay positive. Don't put other organizations dow n. Just lift Girl Scouts up!

Acknowledge that the cookie is not available at the booth. Explain that it is bought exclusively online for direct shipping to the customer only.

Talk about what you know about the cookie - that it is dipped in a chocolatey coating, and looks the same as our popular Thin Mint cookie. Both cookies are delicious thin crispy cookies!

PRO TIP: If you have a ABC Smart Cookie page, share it with customers. Explain that purchasing cookies either at a booth or online helps you reach your goals.

⚬ Try to get a good look at the offender so you can describe them to security or the police.

⚬ Call 911, and alert security (if applicable).

⚬ Report any incidents to your council according to its guidelines.

PRO TIP: Never attempt to physically recover stolen items or confront a suspect.

⚬

Try to get a good look at the person in case you need to describe them to security or the police.

⚬

If the situation calls for it, call 911 and alert security.

⚬ If it feels safe to do so, we want you to feel empowered to capture the person w ith your smartphone’s v ideo, photo, or audio recording to prov ide ev idence to police.

PRO TIP: Never argue or negatively engage w ith a customer. Try to stay calm.

⚬ Palm oil is an ingredient found in most baked snacks sold in the U.S.

⚬ Palm oil ensures shelf life and serves as an alternative to trans fats.

⚬ We continue to explore alternatives, but there are no v iable or readily available alternatives at this time.

⚬ Girl Scouts of the USA is a member of RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) which supports efforts to promote the growth and use of sustainable palm oil products.

PRO TIP: If someone is asking questions that you can't answer, feel free to direct them to the Girl Scouts website for more info.

You can say, “Girl Scout Cookie proceeds stay local to power amazing adventures and life-changing opportunities for girls, such as STEM activ ities, trips, community projects, and charitable donations. The more cookies you buy, the more you help troops and Girl Scouts gain the skills needed to take on the world!

PRO TIP: A lways practice good listening skills before reply ing. Do not engage w ith someone if the situation escalates.

What if someone asks why Girl Scouts use palm oil in their cookies?

What if a customer complains about where the cookie proceeds go?

What if someone steals money or cookies from the booth?

What if someone asks about the new Girl Scout Cookie Raspberry Rally ?

What if you’re approached by an angry customer or someone makes you uncomfortable?

What if someone asks you, “What’s the difference between Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts?”

Have an amazing cookie season and get ready to reach your goals!

Scout Cookie Booth

Covering 80 Counties

Where can girls sell?

Today’s Kansas Heartland Girl Scout is on the move all over our 80 counties and we want to do all we can to support her efforts. There are no boundaries on where girls can sell within our Council. Girls and troops do not have exclusive rights to any county, community or neighborhood.

For booths, council approval is needed prior to setup. Booths outside our council boundaries are prohibited.

Troops and girls should not set up booths at businesses without permission from Girl Scout Product Program staff.

Selling product at liquor stores, bars, gun shows, casinos, smoke shops or through third party re-sellers is prohibited. See your Product Program Participation Permission Form for details.

First

Girls and Caregivers

should know:

• Always sell with an adult or buddy; it’s not just safe, it’s more fun!

• Use only your first name and NEVER share your phone number or address.

• NEVER enter anyone’s home when selling product.

Elite Entreprenuer Experiences

Elite Entrepreneurs “Go Bright Ahead” and take action to make the big dreams come true!

750+ sellers can experience a day of hands-on wonder, science and space with family and other Girl Scouts across Kansas at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson on Saturday, April 29.

• Elite Entrepreneurs and their adult chaperone will get free entry.

• Lunch will be provided.

• Additional family members can receive lunch and admission at a discounted rate.

1200+ sellers will take a trip to Worlds of Fun where they can experience world-record attractions, world-famous food and worldchanging fun! This overnight experience will be held on Saturday, May 6 through Sunday, May 7.

• Elite Entrepreneurs and their adult chaperone will ride in style on a charter bus.

• An overnight stay at Worlds of Fun Village.

• All meals during travel are provided for.

Care & Share

Be sure and tell your customers about this sweet way to give back and support their neighbors. A Care & Share costs the same as a package of cookies and customers can simply opt to purchase a tax deductible Share.

• Gives customers who don’t want cookies a way to support Girl Scouts AND their community neighbors

• Helps girls learn to give back to their communities

• Helps girls reach goals

• Council handles all the distribution

• Available through online sales too!

her personal url online or via email or texts to secure orders for girl delivery or direct ship. Caregivers and girls together will make the decision to allow girl delivery pre-paid orders on the url link. Caregivers will need to approve any girl delivery orders received via url to insure the safety of their Girl Scout.

Program Credits

In addition to fun recognitions, girls will also earn Program Credits. Program Credits can be used for most everything a girl can do in Girl Scouts. Go on troop trips, attend summer camp, shop in our council shops and even pay for her annual Girl Scout membership dues.

Program Credits earned through the Cookie Program will not exceed $760 annually.

As long as girls re-register each year by December 15th, their credits NEVER expire and can be used all year long.

A mid-sale drawing for girls is a great way to help girls push to reach their goals. For 2023, girls have the opportunity to win a Cookie Boss Ear Beanie.

(2) beanies in each regional area are possible. Beanies will be shipped directly to the home of each drawing winner.

All Girl Scouts who have sold "at least" 300 packages by midnight, March 4, will be entered into a regional drawing to win one of two beanies per region (4 in the South Central region)

Program Credits

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the sale price for a package of cookies? Cookies are sold for $5.00 per package. Cookies can only be sold at this price which is set by our Council.

When do girls collect the payment for the cookies? With the Direct Sale format, girls will have cookies in-hand, and they will be selling, delivering, and collecting payment all in one step. If girls don’t have cookies in-hand, they will take the customer’s cookie order and collect payment when the cookies are delivered. Do not leave cookies with customers without receiving payment.

Can a customer write a check for cookies? Girls should only take checks from people they know and checks should be made payable to their Troop. Girls should only accept checks with the customer’s name, address and phone number imprinted on the check. It’s a good idea to write the customer’s driver’s license number on the check and to not accept checks over $75.00.

Are cookie purchases tax deductible? Yes and No. Cookies purchased for personal or group consumption are not tax deductible. However, cookies purchased for our Care & Share Program, where the customer does not receive the cookies or benefit directly by paying for the cookies, are tax deductible.

Does my Girl Scout have to participate in the Cookie Program? Participation in the Cookie Program is voluntary and requires written permission by a parent or guardian. The Cookie Program is a way for girls to finance their Girl Scout activities and special projects. The Girl Scout Cookie Program is not just about cookies. This annual program offers a hands-on opportunity to learn entrepreneurial skills as part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. We find that most girls enjoy this program and look forward to it each year.

What if a customer is not satisfied with the cookies? Contact the Girl Scout Office if a customer is not satisfied with the Girl Scout Cookies that they purchased.

Can I use Email, Text Messaging, and Social Networks to tell friends and family about the Cookie Program? abcsmartcookies.com has an interactive online tool, Smart Cookies, that helps girls develop an online storefront and digital link to share with customers that will take them directly to her personal online cookie business. Girls can use email and age-appropriate internet functions as marketing tools to let family, friends and former customers know about the sale and take cookie orders. Girls 13 and older may use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter as long as they have their parent’s permission and adult supervision. See page 11 for details. As a Girl Scout, girls should not use or post their personal email, street address, or phone number. Instead use an adult’s email or troop email that is monitored by an adult.

Can I take money over the internet? Yes and No. Girls must supply customers with their direct link to their online storefronts in Smart Cookies for payment and girl-delivered requests. Under no circumstances can girls or their Caregivers solicit or take money over the internet for the Girl Scout Cookie Program through online sales sites such as Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, or public Buy, Sell, Trade sites or community sites.

Can I have a cookie booth for just my Girl Scout and me? Yes. These are referred to as cookie popups. Much like a lemonade stand in your front yard. A Girl Scout and her caregiver are allowed to pop-up in front of their own home or in a vacant parking lot. An adult must be present at all times. Participants must all be from the same household and never with another Girl Scout from outside your home. If there are two Girl Scouts from two different households, there must be two unrelated adults present and it is now considered a booth for a troop opportunity and all members of the troop should be invited to participate. Cookie pop-ups are prohibited at all Council sponsored and Troop-sponsored locations. For example; Walmart, Dillons and some retail sites. Contact the council prior to popping up and confirm that your location choice is available.