Girl Scout Cookie Program
2021
Badgerland Cookie Hotline: info@gsbadgerland.org | 800.236.2710 info@gsbadgerland.org 1 1
THE 2021 COOKIE PROGRAM: SAFE. INNOVATIVE. IMPACTFUL. Yes, this spring Cookie Season is absolutely going to look different. With a later start date, more daylight hours, new ways of selling and thoughtful safety precautions in place, this Cookie Sale offers opportunity for creativity and innovation. We know cookie season brings extra work for Troop Leaders and Cookie Volunteers. We appreciate you SO MUCH! While you're out there taking care of business, know that we're here to support you. Let us help make this a safe, innovative and impactful sale. Our customer care team is always available to answer your cookie questions: info@gsbadgerland.org | 800.236.2710
How-Tos for Volunteers Quick-Start Guide...........................................................4 Family Meetings..............................................................5 Ways to Sell Cookies in 2021........................................6 Managing In-Person Sales............................................7 Online Sales.....................................................................8 Smart Cookies for Volunteers.....................................9 Managing a Cookie Booth.......................................10-11 Cookie Booth Safety & Etiquette................................11 Council-Secured Cookie Booths................................12 Troop-Secured Cookie Booths....................................13 Placing Your Initial Order..............................................14 Ordering More Cookies.................................................15 Transferring Cookies................................................16-17 Money Management...............................................18-19 Cookie Share.................................................................20 Gearing Up the Girls.....................................................21 Girl Rewards............................................................22-24 Troop Rewards..............................................................25 Cookie Lineup................................................................26 Cookie Calendar............................................................27 2
ABC Smart Cookies is the online platform where troops (and girls) manage their Cookie Sale. You'll find lots of 'Smart Cookies How-Tos' in blue blurbs like these throughout this guide to make your job a little easier.
Cookie Program Training for Volunteers Let's Go: Be Amazing Entrepreneurs Saturday, January 9 | via Zoom Cookie Program training for cookie rookies and returning volunteers.
Cookie Technology Training Saturday, January 30 | via Zoom Learn how to use Smart Cookies and other cookie season technology.
What's New In 2021?
Ways to Sell Cookies Troops & families decide what they're comfortable with. See full details on page 6.
1. Virtual Only (No Contact) GIRLS: Use the 'Direct-Ship' Feature in Smart Cookies TROOPS: Direct Ship Troop Booth Link (New!)
2. Minimal Contact GIRLS: Use the 'Girl Delivery' Feature in Smart Cookies TROOPS: Hold a Virtual Cookie Booth/Pick-Up Event.
Take Payments Using the Smart Cookies App If selling cookies in-person, a girl can use her Smart Cookies App to take a virtual payment from her customer to allow for an almost contactless sale. More on page 17.
3. Most Contact GIRLS: Sell Cookies Door-to-Door TROOPS: Hold a Traditional (In-Person) Cookie Booth
WHAT ELSE IS NEW IN 2021? y New Rewards Structure (pages 22-25) y New Events, Contests & Patch Program for Girls (page 21) y Subsidized shipping costs for Customers (page 8)
y Direct Ship links for Troop Booths (page 10) y In-Person Booth Safety Guidelines (page 11) y Booth Safety Kits (page 11)
Thank You The Girl Scout Cookie program is a core experience for all Girl Scouts; it’s the launchpad for her financial and entrepreneurship future. During this time of uncertainty, girls need “normal” experiences to return to, such as the Cookie Program. We know that today’s girls are already thinking like entrepreneurs, but we also know that girls in particular need additional support and encouragement in the entrepreneurial space. Enter YOU – the dedicated and uplifting Girl Scout volunteer in her life. By assisting with the Cookie Program...especially during this difficult time... you are showing your girls you believe in their ability to be creative, persistent, take risks, solve problems and reach their goals. THANK YOU.
Badgerland-Led Family Cookie Meetings There's a lot going on with the Cookie Program this year, so we thought we'd step in and take off some of the responsibility. Badgerland is hosting family cookie meetings at each Girl Scout level. We'll answer all the questions and reinforce the safety measures. Troops should still hold their own Family meetings to establish troop deadlines and processes, choose a Cookie Share partner, and set girl/troop goals.
FAMILY MEETING DATES Sunday, January 31 at 1 p.m. | All Families Sunday, January 31 at 6:30 p.m. | All Families Monday, February 1 at 6:30 p.m. | Daisy Families Tuesday, February 2 at 6:30 p.m. | Brownie Families Wednesday, February 3 at 6:30 p.m. |Junior Families
Thursday, February 4 at 6:30 p.m. | Cadette Families Friday, February 5 at 10 a.m. | All Families Friday, February 5 at 6 p.m. | All Families Saturday, February 6 at 10 a.m. | Senior & Ambassadors Saturday, February 6 at 1 p.m. | All Families Saturday, February 6 at 6:30 p.m. | All Families
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Quick-Start Guide
A Quick-Start Guide To the Cookie Program The Cookie Program is a lot of fun but it can quickly overwhelm even the most organized volunteers. To help ensure your Girl Scouts (and you!) have a successful and positive first year sale, we suggest these guidelines.
APPOINT A TROOP COOKIE COORDINATOR Preferably, the cookie volunteer is not one of the two troop co-leaders. Why? Even running a scaled-down sale will take time and effort. Having a volunteer dedicated to managing the troop sale will allow the leaders to step in and help without taking focus away from the girls (or burning out and frustrating all the volunteers). We can’t say this enough: Make the cookie sale a troop effort and ask all parents to step up and help.
REVIEW THE FIRST-YEAR TRAINING AND SMART COOKIES TRAINING Even if you attended the trainings, it’s worth it to go back and review before sales begin. The trainings make even more sense when it’s time to start creating a Smart Cookies account and holding your family meeting to prepare the girls for the sale. Find trainings at gsbadgerland.org > Cookies+ > Troop Resources. You can view the webinars or PDFs with the training slides.
HOLD A FAMILY MEETING IN FEBRUARY Initial Cookie Orders are due February 15, so you'll want to meet with the families in your troop to discuss your plan for the cookie program. You'll decide what type of selling methods the girls want to do, as well as set a troop sale goal. You'll also want to confirm during the family meeting that everyone has submitted their permission slips and that their rewards are chosen. See the sample family meeting agenda on page 5.
CHOOSE A COOKIE SHARE PARTNER You'll have customers who pay for cookies but choose to 'donate' them back to the troop. The troops keeps the money and donates the cookies to a nonprofit or cause of their choosing after the sale. More on page 20.
READ THE 'COOKIE SHEET' EMAILS Every Friday during Cookie Season Badgerland sends out the 'Cookie Sheet', an e-newsletter for all troop coleaders and Cookie Coordinators. This email includes everything that needs to be done for the Cookie Sale that week: important dates, to-do lists and links to timely training videos. Not getting the Cookie Sheet? Let us know right away: info@gsbadgerland.org or 800.236.2710.
KNOW YOUR COOKIE NETWORK Community Product Sales Leader The PSL is a Girl Scout volunteer, except at the community level. Each PSL is a terrific source of cookie knowledge, and has all your troop cookie paperwork. You’ll also go to them to pick up your Initial Cookie order (cookies for booths and girls doing direct sales), pick up the Instant Rewards, and the rest of your troop's rewards after the sale. Your PSL will reach out to you prior to the sale. Cookie Cupboard Manager This may be the same person as your PSL, depending on where you live. You'll pick up Planned Order cookies (orders you place for more cookies and after girls complete their order taking) from the Cookie Cupboard Manager. Don’t know your PSL or Cookie Cupboard Manager? Call us and we’ll get you connected: 800.236.2710. 4
Online Resources Smart Cookies (by ABC Bakers) www.abcsmartcookies.com
Badgerland's Website www.gsbadgerland.org/cookies
Badgerland's Customer Care Team info@gsbadgerland.org 800.236.2710
Family Meetings
Hold a Troop Family Meeting in Early February In addition to the Badgerland-led family meetings, we recommend holding a Cookie Meeting with your troop to talk about troop and individual sales goals, choose a Cookie Share partner, and establish processes and deadlines. You'll also want to confirm during the family meeting that everyone has submitted their permission forms and that rewards are chosen. Initial Cookie Orders are due February 15, so you'll want to meet before then.
SAMPLE FAMILY MEETING AGENDA 1. Introduce the Troop Cookie Coordinator & Distribute Their Contact Info • Set boundaries for when families can pick up cookies and drop off money.
2. Determine what type of Cookie Sale the troop/families are comfortable with this year
• Decide whether you'll be doing booth sales, and if so, what types? Choose the dates and locations of your troop's cookie
booths. • Girls are encouraged to set up a Smart Cookies account and invite family and friends to shop her online store. Review the
online social marketing guidelines as listed on the Parent Permission Form. • Remember: Girl Scouts are honest and fair and don't begin taking orders before March 13.
3. Talk About COVID Safety (see page 11) 4. Review Safety Guidelines (detailed in the Cookie Family Guide). 5. Talk about Goal Setting
• What is the troop’s goal? What are you working toward? What does the troop want to do with the proceeds? (TIP: Use the
Troop Goal Setting chart available at abcsmartcookies.com.) • What is each individual Girl Scout’s personal goal? What reward is she working toward? (There is no expected maximum
or minimum amount for girls to sell. It's up to each family individually. The average number of boxes a Badgerland Girl Scout sells is 254.
6. Talk About Money Collection
• Families are financially responsible for the cookies they order, but NO money is due up front for cookies received. • Remind girls & parents that money is collected from cookie customers at the time of the sale. Checks can be made out to
the troop. • For direct sales, money should be turned in weekly. Provide specific dates you want parents to return money.
7. Review the 5 Skills (see page 21).
• Girls gain essential life skills by participating in the Cookie Program.
8. Choose a Cookie Share Partner
• What cause or nonprofit will the troop donate cookies to?
9. Ask for Volunteer Help
• Before the meeting ends, have parent scheduled to help you during the course of the sale. Be specific about what your
needs are and your expectations.
9. Go over all the trainings and activities to get the girls prepared and excited for the sale. (page 21)
This year's Cookie Mascot is encouraging girls to be their best, truest selves as they build their Cookie business this year. Check out the bee-themed girl rewards on page 22. 5
Ways to Sell
Ways to Sell Cookies in 2021 Talk with your girls and troop families to determine everyone's level of comfort with participating in this year's Cookie Program and get started prepping for a fun and innovative Cookie Season! Girls within each troop do not have to sell the same way. Each Girl Scout family decides the best way for them to participate based on their comfort level and method of selling. This goes the same for the troop: if the Troop Cookie Coordinator is not comfortable picking up cookies, they can let the Cupboard Manager know who is picking up cookies on their behalf.
1. Virtual Only (No Contact) GIRLS: Use the 'Direct-Ship' Feature in Smart Cookies Girls promote their online Smart Cookies store via eCards and social media. With only the Direct-Ship option enabled, customers pay for their cookies and shipping with their credit card and their order is shipped directly from the ABC Bakers fulfilment center. Girls never have cookies on-hand, and still earn credit for their sales. More on page 8. TROOPS: Direct Ship Troop Booth Link NEW IN 2021! Customers who might not know a Girl Scout can use the Cookie Finder app to get GS Cookies shipped directly to them. When customers select this option (vs. finding an in-person cookie booth near them), the Direct Ship Troop Link for a random troop near them (maybe yours!) is displayed. The customer places their order through the troop link and is shipped directly from the ABC Bakers fulfillment center. Your troop will get the proceeds and credit for the sale without have to do anything. Lucky you! P.S. This link can be shared on social media too to promote virtual sales for the troop!
2. Minimal Contact GIRLS: Use the 'Girl Delivery' Feature in Smart Cookies Enabling the girl-delivery option in Smart Cookies allows customers who live nearby to save on shipping by requesting that the Girl Scout deliver their cookies. Once the family approves the order the customer's credit card is charged. (Families can reject an order if it's not within driving/delivery distance.) The girl/family then reaches out to the customer to arrange a contactless/porch delivery. TIP: Girls can pass out business cards and/or door hangers that include the URL link or QR code to her unique online store. (A QR code can be created easily and for free online. Customers scan the code with their smartphone camera and are automatically taken to her online Smart Cookies store to place and pay for an order.) TROOPS: Hold a Virtual Cookie Booth/Pick-Up Event. Choose a convenient place in your community to schedule a curbside cookie pick-up event. In the days/weeks leading up to the pick-up event, be sharing the Virtual Troop Booth Link (NEW THIS YEAR. SEE PAGE 13) on social media and with family and friends via Smart Cookies eCards so they can place their orders and process their credit card payment ahead of time. During the event, customers show their ID and girls load their pre-packaged cookie orders into their vehicle. See more on page 13.
3. Most Contact GIRLS: Sell Cookies Door-to-Door If a family feels comfortable going door-to-door in the neighborhood or happens to be visiting family, they can sell cookies from their inventory. Girls collect money and hand off the cookies at the time of the sale. TIP: Cash and check are accepted forms of payment for cookies (we suggest wearing gloves when handling cash). However, we encourage families/girls to use the Smart Cookies app or another credit card processing service such as PayPal or Square for contactless payments. Learn more about these options on page 17. TROOPS: Hold a Traditional (In-Person) Cookie Booth In a traditional year, most troops hold several booth sales throughout the year where girls work together to achieve troop and individual goals. Traditional booths will be allowed this year, but with special safety requirements. Badgerland will be providing Booth Safety Kits; pick yours up from your PSL. More info on page 11. TIP: Cash and check are accepted forms of payment at cookie booths (we suggest wearing gloves when handling cash). However, we encourage troops to use the Smart Cookies app or another credit card processing service such as PayPal or Square for contactless payments. Learn more about these options on page 17.
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Direct & Order-Taking Sales
Managing In-Person Sales Direct Sales (Door-to-Door) If a family feels comfortable going door-to-door in the neighborhood or happens to be visiting family, they can sell cookies from their inventory. Girls collect money and hand off the cookies at the time of the sale. (TIP: Girls can use the Smart Cookies app to enter the customer's order and accept a credit card payment - no contact.) Managing a Direct Sale y Connect with families and use the chart and info on page 14 to determine how many boxes of cookies to order. y Submit the troop's Initial Order by February 15 (Instructions on page 14). y Throughout the Cookie Program (March 13 - April 18) girls take cookie orders, collect payments and hand over the Cookies at the time of the transaction. y Troops can always order more cookies if they run out. Planned Orders are due in Smart Cookies by Thursdays at 10 p.m. throughout the sale for delivery the following Friday/Saturday. Check in with families weekly to determine supply (page 15). y Troops and girls can exchange cookies with other troops and individual girls on the Badgerland Cookie Swap Website (page 15). y Troops may return unopened, clean cases on April 6 and 7 (page 19).
Traditional Order-Taking Sale Girl Scouts receive an order card and money collection envelope from their troop leader. Throughout the sale, they take orders from family and friends. Girls collect money at the time of the sale, but deliver the cookies to the customer as the Cookie Program is ending. Managing an Order-Taking Sale • The week of March 8, get the order cards and money envelopes from your PSL to distribute to your girls in time for the start of the sale on March 13. • Throughout the Cookie Program (March 13 - April 18) girls take cookie orders and payments from family and friends. • Collect all order cards and money envelopes from the girls by April 5. Double count the money with the parent and provide a receipt for money received. Deposit any cookie money as it comes in from families. • Place your Planned Order in Smart Cookies by 10 p.m. April 8. In the reference area, include: Order Taking Girls Planned Order. (Remember to use up any cookies leftover from booths before placing your Planned Order.) • Pick up your order from the Cookie Cupboard April 15-16 (we will tell you exactly when and where). • Distribute cookies to girls/families. Provide a receipt for the parent to sign AFTER they've counted their girl's order. • Complete Transfers in Smart Cookies, assigning cookies picked up to the girl who received them. • Girls should deliver their cookies to customers by April 25.
Booth Sales - See lots more info on pages 10-13
Is This Your Troop's First Cookie Sale? We suggest doing an order-taking sale (rather than direct sales). HERE'S WHY: Taking orders and delivering later means there's no guesswork in figuring out how many boxes each girl in the troop will sell. It also means families don't have to bear the financial risk by pre-ordering cookies for each girl to sell individually. First-Year Troops can also do online sales and a few Cookie Booths...whatever they're comfortable with. 7
Online Sales
Selling Cookies Online Smart Cookies: www.abcsmartcookies.com Smart Cookies is where Girl Scouts run their online cookie business. With parent permission, they can: y Take cookie orders on-the-go (for nearly contactless sales) y Create a shareable social media ‘shop now’ link y Send eCard invitations to family and friends inviting them to shop their online store y Upload a video introduction and thank-you y Track customer orders for girl delivery y Track sales goals y View rewards and achievements y Interact with her troop y Access artwork, marketing tools and bee-themed activities.
Ways Customers Get Their Online Cookie Orders 1. Direct Ship: The customer pays shipping fees and has them mailed directly from the ABC Bakers fulfillment center. The cookies will arrive in the mail within 5-7 days. 2. Girl-Delivery (optional): Local customers can request that the Girl Scout deliver their cookies to save on shipping costs. The girl/family is notified of the new sale and has up to 5 days to approve the Girl Delivery order (parents can reject orders that might not be suitable for delivery). The girl reaches out to the customer to schedule a contactless (whenever possible) porch delivery. Girls who send 15+ eCards through Smart Cookies earn this patch.
Cookies on Social Media Policy Families (and Girl Scouts over age 13 with parent permission) can advertise their sale on their personal social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Girl Scout Cookies may not be advertised or sold on online auction or sales websites including eBay, Craigslist, community buy/sell/trade sites and Facebook Marketplace. A good rule of thumb: only people who know the girl or her family personally should see her cookie sale information. 8
NEW: Shipping Subsidies Badgerland is subsidizing shipping costs this year for its direct-ship Cookie customers. Note that for every one dozen a customer purchases, Badgerland picks up $6.
2021 Direct Ship Shipping Rates # Packages Purchased
Shipping Fee
1-5
$12
6-12
$6
13-17
$18
18-24
$12
25-29
$24
30-36
$18
37-41
$30
42-48
$24
49-53
$36
54-60
$30
How To Track Girls' Online Sales All online sales are automatically uploaded into ABC Smart Cookies. To view a girl's Digital Cookie and Direct eShip sales, select 'Reports' > 'Current' > 'Summary Report' > 'Mobile & eCard Summary'. This report will show each girl's "girl delivery" and Direct Ship orders. Girl Delivery: y Girls are responsible for connecting with customers to deliver and collect payments. Direct Ship: y Cookies are shipped directly to the customer. y Orders have already been transferred to your troop and the girl. y Troop has received credit in ABC Smart Cookies for the financial transaction. y Any Cookie Share (CShare) boxes ordered through Direct Ship will be taken out of Badgerland Council's inventory (NOT the troop's).
Smart Cookies for Volunteers Your Cookie Management Site www.abcsmartcookies.com Smart Cookies is your home base for cookie season. It's where you'll order cookies, reserve booths, communicate with families and manage rewards. It also offers video walkthroughs and trainings to make it easy to answer your last-minute questions.
How To Set Up Your Smart Cookies Account GETTING STARTED y y y y
Visit www.abcsmartcookies.com. Enter your username (your email) and password, which was provided in your welcome email. If you have more than one Smart Cookies user for your troop, we can provide each with a login and password. If your troop is not yet set up on Smart Cookies contact either your Community Product Sales Leader or info@ gsbadgerland.org.
CHECK OUT SMART COOKIES HOME PAGE (AKA TROOP DASHBOARD) y Messages: Click on the message and read it. y Calendar/Tasks: Place the cursor over the task or date on the calendar to view more information. Replace your default view with Important Dates. Be sure to review action items and tasks for important deadlines.
VERIFY YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION & SET UP YOUR TROOP y y y y
Select “My Troop” then “Troop Information.” Edit your troop details and update all of your contact information. Update your troop level and all information using the drop down menus. Important: Update all contact information, including your email. We use this to send lots of updates during cookie season so please make sure it’s listed correctly here and in your My GS account. y Enter/Edit your troop bank account number and routing number. y Alternate contact information should be your assistant cookie coordinator or troop co-leader. Click “Update Information” at the bottom.
SET UP GIRLS IN YOUR TROOP y Select “My Troop” then “Troop Roster.” y If you have new girls in your troop who are not listed, click “Add New Girl” at the bottom left to enter each girl’s first and last name. y Select the reward plan she is participating in and enter any sizes requested. y Enter parent information so that the girl registration invitation will be generated to the parental email address. This allows the girl to setup her online Smart Cookies account. y Even if a girl in your troop is not participating in the cookie sale, leave her name in Smart Cookies. Your troop’s per girl selling average will not be affected.
How To Set Up A Girl's Smart Cookies Account 1. Caregivers will get an email invitation that includes a link to register her account. 2. Once registered, another email will be sent to the caregiver's email address confirming the username and password. 3. Girls can login, setup their dashboards and get started building their online business! 4. The family will need to enable the "Girl Delivery" feature when setting up her account if she plans to offer that option to her customers. 9
Cookie Booths
All About Booth Sales A Cookie Booth sale is a great way for your troop to work together to achieve troop and individual sales goals. Girls get to practice their communication and financial literacy skills while having a blast with their troop. There are two types of booth sales: council-secured booths and troop-secured booths. Managing Your Booth Sales • At the family meeting in early February, talk about how your families want to handle booth sales this year. Decide if you'll be doing council-secured booths, troop-secured booths, or both. •
Starting February 8, you can log into the Smart Cookies Booth Scheduler and request booth time slots through the Fast Pass (if qualified), Lottery, and First Come, First Serve Process.
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Estimate how many cookies your troop will sell at each 4-hour booth sale. Use the formula below for guidance.
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Order your cookies to arrive at least one week before the booth sale. If you plan to have a booth sale for opening weekend, you'll need to order your cookies with your Initial Order on February 15.)
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NEW IN 2021: Troops will get their own Smart Cookies online store link. You'll be able to take orders and payments at booth sales through Smart Cookies app, as well as share the troop's unique link during virtual troop booths and Zoom-a-thons. Be sure to set up your troop's online store prior to your booth sale.
REMINDER that booth sales, and door-to-door sales, must be within the confines of Badgerland Council's membership area. Not sure? Ask us: info@gsbadgerland.org
Ordering Cookies for Booth Sales Order your troop’s Cookie Booth cookies with the Initial Order or as a Planned Order at least one week before the booth sale. See Planned Orders on page 15 for more information on how to order additional cookies.
OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR A 3-4 HOUR COOKIE BOOTH 4-5 Cases 3-4 Cases 3-4 Cases 1 Case 1 Case 1-2 Cases 1/2-1 Case 1/2-1 Case
Thin Mints Caramel deLites Peanut Butter Patties S’mores Lemonades Toast-Yays! Shortbread Peanut Butter Sandwich
Remember: this is only a guide. If your troop participated in booth sales last year, pull out your sales data and adjust your order accordingly. If you’re new to booth sales, start tracking this year’s so you can use the data for the 2022 cookie sale.
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FOR TROOPS!
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE FINDER APP New! Direct Ship Option for Troops
Customers can use the Girl Scout Cookie Finder app to find an in-person Cookie booth near them OR (new in 2021) choose to have cookies shipped directly to them. The customer gets access to the Smart Cookies link for a troop in their area (chosen at random). They order their cookies, enter their credit card info, and have them shipped directly to their doorstep from the ABC Bakers fulfillment center. (Girl delivery is not an option). The troop doesn't have to do anything, but still gets credit and proceeds for the sale.
Reserve The Cookie Trailer For Your Booth Sale The Badgerland Cookie Trailer is available to troops at no charge. It’s located in Madison and perfect for Cookie Booths! Interested? You can reserve it on Badgerland's Troop Resources Checkout System. Otherwise, contact us for more info: 800.236.2710 or info@gsbadgerland.org
Cookie Booths
Safety Guidelines: Cookie Booths During COVID •
For indoor booths, no more than 2 Girl Scouts and 2 adults/volunteers per shift will be permitted at a time to allow for proper social distancing. We suggest breaking your 3-4 hour booth into shifts so all girls get a chance to participate.
y All participants (girls and adults) must wear face coverings/masks during booths to protect themselves and others. y Troops are responsible for bringing their own table, chairs, signage and safety supplies. y We suggest grabbing one of our Booth Safety Kits from your PSL. These include extra face masks, hand sanitizer, gloves and other things to keep everybody safe. y Troops will clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and wash/sanitize hands often while staffing the booth. y Wear gloves when handling cash. y Girls must limit close contact with others and maintain proper distancing from customers. y The troop should encourage touchless payment methods to minimize cash handling. You can display the girl/ troop Smart Cookies store link to promote touchless transactions at your regular booths. Customers can scan the QR code with their smartphone camera and be taken instantly to the Smart Cookies store.
NEW: Booth Safety Kits
Cookie Booth Etiquette
Free and available from your Product Sales Leader. Each kit includes: y 2 small money exchange bins (for in-person cash sales) y Extra face masks y Cleaning spray with Paper Towels or Hand sanitizer y Box of Gloves y Vinyl Zipper Bags to Keep Everything
y Before setting up the booth, check in with the store manager. After the booth, give a thank you card that the girls have already prepared and signed. y Some stores have solicitation policies that don’t allow girls to ask customers to purchase cookies until they approach the booth. Clarify the policies at your location before selling. y A Girl Scout always is courteous and says thank you even when someone chooses not to purchase cookies. y Leave the area cleaner than you found it and remove all empty boxes. y When transitioning booth shifts, allow the first troop to complete their time before beginning to set up. y Sell only Girl Scout cookies at your Girl Scout cookie booth. y Girl Scouts should always be in uniform when selling Cookies.
Booth Sale Packing List Money Bag or Box $20 Cash for Change Mostly dollar bills with a few fives.
Gloves for handling money Decorated Posters and fun marketing signage Ideas: cookie types, Cookie Share info, what the troop profits will be used for; business cards/posters with a QR code linking to the girl or troop's Smart Cookies store. HINT: Find cute bee-themed graphics and marketing materials on Smart Cookies.
Card table, tablecloth and chairs A prepared thank-you note for the store manager A copy of this Troop Cookie Guide for reference Girl Scout Cookies!
Girls who participate in a Cookie Booth earn this patch! 11
Cookie Booths
Reserving Council-Secured Booths Badgerland coordinates directly with several retailers to set up cookie booths throughout Cookie Season. Troops can reserve these 3-4 hour booth slots through Smart Cookies. See our website for the most up-to-date list of council-secured locations.
Cookie Booth Lottery All council-secured booth locations will be put into a lottery for opening weekend and beyond. This will allow equal access to all troops interested in securing a high-traffic location. February 10-11: Booth Lottery Sign Up Beginning Wednesday, February 10 at 10 a.m., troops can use Smart Cookies to select two location/time slots that works best for them to hold a booth during the sale. The sign-up is open for only 24 hours; it closes the following day (Thursday, February 11) at 10 a.m. February 11: Booth Lottery Selection The lottery winners will be drawn the following day, Thursday, February 11, at 11 a.m. Troops will be awarded either one or no booths (no troop will get two). Look for an email after the lottery is drawn listing any booths they received. Any both slots remaining after the lottery will revert to First Come, First Served time slots.
First Come, First Served Booths After lottery winners are drawn, the remaining slots open up for first-come, first-serve reservations. Troops can use the Booth Scheduler in Smart Cookies to request up to three additional booth slots from the council-secured location list per week. 1st Week Sign-Up: From 8 a.m. February 12 to 7 a.m. February 14 troops can use the Booth Scheduler in Smart Cookies to request up to three time slots from the council-secured location list. Reserving More Throughout The Sale: Every week beginning Sunday at 8 a.m. troops can log back in and request up to three additional booth slots, one of which can be a premium site. To see what booth slots are available, go to the Smart Cookies website, then Reports > Current > Booths > Available Booth Summary Report. To be able to sort by date, view and download the report as TEXT_EXCEL.
How To Reserve a Council-Secured Cookie Booth • Login to your account at abcsmartcookies.com. y Select “Booth” then “Schedule Booth.” y The First Come, First Served schedule will appear at the top of the screen and the available locations will appear down the left side. y Use the ‘Search’ field to find booth locations by date, time or zip code. y Double click on the name of the booth you want to secure. A calendar screen will display available dates in blue (or purple, if during the booth lottery). y Single click any date(s) in blue. The available booth time will appear below. Select your desired time then click “Save.” y From the main menu, select “Booth” then “My Reservations” to see your booth reservations. Canceling a Booth Reservation y If you wish to cancel a booth request AFTER you have saved the request, go to “Booth” then “My Reservations.” Scroll all the way to the far right of the reservation row and click “Remove Reservation,” then click “Delete Forever.” y By deleting your booth reservation, it will open up for other troops to reserve. 12
Cookie Booths
Planning Troop-Secured Booths Troops can use their contacts and reach out to local businesses and arrange a booth location in their community. These can be retail stores, grocery stores, hair salons, churches, parking lots (with safety protocols) or other areas with lots of foot traffic. Troops must get permission from the store or property management to set up a date and time for their booth and sell Girl Scout cookies. Once secured with the location, please follow instructions below to enter your Troop Secured Booth into Smart Cookies.
Creative Booth Ideas for 2021 Drive-Through Booths Secure a convenient and public location (such as a local business, park or library) to host the drive-through booth. In the days leading up to the sale, the girl/troop promotes their sale via email, social media, door hangers, yard signs and other creative ways. (Hint: Include a QR code that customers can scan with their smartphone camera to be taken directly to the girl/troop's online store.) Encourage customers to place their order in advance, pay by credit card and enjoy curbside pickup. On the day of the event, customers drive to the booth location, provide their name and the girls help load their Cookie order into their vehicle. Community Walkabouts Hang flyers and door hangers around the community to let your neighbors know that Girl Scout Cookies are back and how girls are planning to sell. Set up a cookie stand in a central location in the neighborhood and invite neighbors to drop by. Share your "open times' with the community and on social media. Zoom-A-Thon The troop or individual girl schedules a social media event or livestream to reach potential customers. When it's time, the girl "goes live" on Facebook or Instagram (with proper supervision) and drives business to their online Smart Cookies store. Virtual Booth A troop-secured booth that you hold online for local delivery of cookies to customers OR create a location for pickup. You can even create a "virtual" booth along side an in-person booth to take "preorders" from customers so they can drop by your in person booth and simply pick up their cookies already ordered. Entering a Virtual booth in Smart cookies is exactly like a troop-secured booth except that you also click the "virtual booth" box during set up.
How To Get Your Troop-Secured Booth Listed on the 'Cookie Finder' App y Under “Booth” click “Troop Secured Booths” then fill in the * fields. y Click “Save” after all your booth information is entered. y Click “Request Appointment Times” to enter booth dates and times. y Select dates from the calendar view and then enter starting time and ending time, denoting AM or PM. y Click “Save” after all your booth times are entered. y Once your booth is approved, you will receive an email stating you are approved for the specific cookie booth.
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Placing Your Initial Order
Order Cookies By February 15 Place your initial order in Smart Cookies by February 15 if your troop is planning to do booth sales or direct selling to make sure you have them in time for opening weekend (March 13-14). WHAT IF YOU MISS THE FEB. 15 DEADLINE? Contact your Product Sales Leader, then place a Planned Order in Smart Cookies by 10 p.m. March 11. Select the location where you plan to pick up your order by Friday, March 19.
How Many Cookies Should I Order? Ordering the correct amount is not an exact science since each troop is different. We are the experts, so let us guide you. Use the formula below. Badgerland retains the right to modify your troop’s initial order if it appears excessive for the number of girls selling.
Badgerland's Suggested Order (Per Girl Selling In Your Troop) Cookies are ordered by the case. Each case has 12 boxes of cookies. NEW TROOPS: We suggest following the Simple Sale for first-year troops selling cookies. See page 7. 5 Cases 3 Cases 3 Cases 1 -1 1/2 Cases 1- 1 1/2 Cases 1 1/2-2 Cases 1/2-1 Case 1/2-1 Case
How To Place The Troop's Initial Order Place Your Initial Cookie Order By February 15 y Select “Orders” then “Troop Initial Order” then “Cookies” next to “Build Order By.” y Enter the total number of CASES per variety. One case=12 boxes of cookies. Smart Cookies will total everything for you. Remember your cookie booth extras. If you are doing booth sales, order them now. y Save the order. You will be able to modify the totals before February 14. y Do not enter an order for gluten free cookies. If your troop did order them, the council will add the number you ordered to your initial order.
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Thin Mints Caramel deLites Peanut Butter Patties S’mores Lemonades Toast-Yays Shortbread Peanut Butter Sandwich
Notes: y These numbers reflect a traditional Cookie Season (not during COVID). Consider that when placing your order. y You may want to change quantities. y You do not have to order all varieties. y Top sellers are Thin Mints, Caramel deLites and Peanut Butter Patties.
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER: y Troop Sales Goals y Number of Planned Cookie Booth Sales y Number of Girls Selling via minimal/most contact. y Badgerland’s per-girl selling average is about 21 cases (252 boxes). Review your archived data to see your troop’s per girl average and let that be your guide. RETURNING TROOPS: Use the Troop Initial Order Estimate worksheet on our website to automatically calculate 100% of your troop’s last year’s order; you can increase or decrease the numbers depending on your goals and the number of girls selling this year. Wondering what the troop sold last year? Reach out to our Customer Care team (800.236.2710 or info@ gsbadgerland.org) and they can provide Girl Cookie Details, a Troop Sales Summary and/or the Troop Balance Summary.
Ordering More Cookies
Planned Orders Due Thursdays How To Place A Planned Order y Click “Orders” then “Planned Order.” y Select your cupboard. y Choose a pick-up date and time. y In the Order Reference Area, it is helpful to include a reference to why you needed to order the cookies. Example: Ruby's cookies, Week 2 booths, etc. It is also helpful to indicate if someone else is picking up the cookies on the Troop's behalf. y Enter the number of CASES (your order is for cases of cookies - not boxes) for each variety and click “Submit.” y A pop up at the bottom of the screen will display ‘Order Was Successfully Saved.’ y Use the “Print Receipt” icon to generate a paper receipt for your Planned Order. (optional) After the Planned Order cookies are picked up from the cupboard, the Planned Order will become a “cupboard-to-troop” transfer that is viewable on Smart Cookies’ Order Management page. When the transfer is complete, the cases will be available for you to transfer to girls for additional sales or booth sale credit to girls.
Changing, Viewing & Committing Orders To view all of the different order types for cookies and rewards, the Manage Orders page MUST be used. y Select “Orders” and click on “Manage Orders.” y Select the type of order you would like to view from the order type row, then click “Apply Search Parameters.” y You can edit the order by selecting the icon with three dots located at the far right of the order row. y At the bottom of the page, you can view a summary of the order types and ‘click the arrow for more’ to display Planned Order details, total cases ordered, sold, and on hand inventory.
Need more cookies? Great! Troops can reorder them weekly through a Planned Order. These are due in Smart Cookies by 10 p.m. on the following Thursdays:
Planned Order Deadlines • • • • • •
Thursday, March 11 Thursday, March 18 Thursday, March 25 Thursday, March 1 Thursday, April 8* Thursday, April 15*
All flavors will be available through the April 8 Planned Order. Cookies are ordered by the case* (12 boxes). *Planned Orders placed on April 8 & 15 will be in PACKAGES instead of cases. This will allow troops to order only what they need to finalize their sale. Picking Up Cookies: Planned Orders will be ready for pickup the following week, Friday or Saturday, from the Cookie Cupboard you selected while placing the order. You can request a specific day and time for pickup, however you should still connect with the Cookie Cupboard Manager via phone or email to confirm the cookies will be ready at that pickup time. (Times are not guaranteed, as the Cupboard may be waiting on a delivery.) PRO TIP: Before you place your planned order, communicate with the families in your troop. Are any families holding too many cookies they won’t be able to sell? If yes, transfer cookies among families first.
Badgerland Cookie Swap Swap Cookies With Nearby Troops http://badgerlandcookieswap.invisionzone.com/ Short on Shortbreads or too many Lemonades? Badgerland troops can connect and make plans to swap cookies by the box or case using the Badgerland CookieSwap Website: Return Policy Reminder: A troop may return only 1/2 case (6 boxes) per each girl registered in the troop. (If you have an odd number of girls in the troop we round up to the next full case.) See more details on page 19. 15
Transferring Cookies
Types of Transfers Any time you distribute or trade cookies, a 'transfer' in Smart Cookies must be made by the Troop Cookie Coordinator. There are 4 types of transfers.
1. Troop to Girl Transfer (most common) Any time you distribute or trade cookies among your families/troop (including your initial and planned orders), a Troop to Girl Transfer must be made. This ensures girls receive correct credit when creating their rewards order as well as accurately figures the troop's per-girl selling average (which is directly related to your troop proceeds).
2. Girl to Girl Transfer If one girl in the troop is in need of cookies and another girl has the inventory to spare, they can swap cookies. The Troop Cookie Coordinator would need to input a Girl-to-Girl Transfer.
How To Transfer Cookies How to Do A Troop to Girl Transfer y Click “Orders” then “Transfer Order.” y Your troop will auto default to the ‘From’ field and your available inventory quantity will display. y Select the girl you are transferring to. Click “Apply.” y Enter quantities to be transferred. Pay close attention to the Unit of Measure so that your transfer amounts are correct. y Click “Save.” A pop-up will appear from the bottom of the screen indicating your transfer order was successfully saved. y To view all orders go to “Orders” then “Manage Orders” and use the filters to customize your order view.
How to Do A Girl To Girl Transfer y Click “Orders” then “Transfer Order.” y Select the ‘From’ girl’s name from the girl list. Select the ‘To’ girl’s name from the girl list. Click “Apply.” You’ll be prompted to enter the number of boxes to be transferred. y Click “Save.”
How to Do A Girl To Troop Transfer 3. Girl to Troop Transfer
y Click “Orders” then “Transfer Order.”
If a girl has excess cookies she will not be able to sell, they can be transferred back to the troop's inventory.
y Select the ‘From’ girl’s name from the girl list. In the 'Type' box, choose "Girl To Troop". Click “Apply.” You’ll be prompted to enter the number of boxes to be transferred. y Click “Save.”
4. Troop to Troop Transfer If you give cookies to another troop (whether locally or through the Badgerland Cookie Swap site) you must make a Troop to Troop transfer. No funds are exchanged when cookies are given to another troop. The troop giving away the cookies will make the transfer in Smart Cookies.
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How to Do A Troop To Girl Transfer y Select “Troop to Troop” in the Type box. y Click on your troop in the ‘From’ box. y Enter the number of boxes you are transferring to the other troop. Note: If you are transferring to a troop in a different Service Unit select the proper name of the Service Unit. y Select the troop in the ‘To’ box. Click “Save.” A pop up will appear from the bottom of the screen indicating your transfer order successfully saved. y To view all orders go to “Orders” then “Manage Orders,” and use the filters to customize your order view.
Transferring Cookies
How To Transfer Booth Sale Cookies Using the Smart Booth Divider You may divide up cookies to girls from any booth that you’ve scheduled in Smart Cookies. This will help maintain your proper on-hand inventory as exact boxes are transferred to girls through this process. You may choose to distribute the cookies individually for each booth or distribute all booth cookies equally to all girls. y Click “Booths > My Reservations” then select the booth you want to record the packages sold. y Click the icon with three dots located at the far right, choose Smart Booth Divider and enter the number of packages sold by variety. y To distribute the cookies immediately click “Save and Distribute.” Select the girls that participated and click “Continue.” The system will distribute the cookies as evenly as possible. Any remaining boxes to distribute will be indicated at the top. You may edit the girls totals to include these remaining boxes, then click “SAVE.” y To distribute the cookies for ALL your booths at the same time click “Save and Go Back.” After you have entered the sales from your final cookie booth, click on “Distribute Total Booth Sales.” The boxes will immediately be removed from your Troops "on hand" inventory. If you wait to "Distribute Total Booth Sales", the cookies will remain in your "on hand" inventory until you click the "Distribute Total Booth Sales".
How To Give Girls Credit for Booth Sales Without the Smart Booth Divider To give a girl credit for boxes sold at a Booth Sale without using the Smart Booth Divider, simply complete a Troop to Girl Transfer and enter the number of cookies for each variety in the Booth Box until it equals her credit for that booth when completing a Troop to Girl Transfer. The girl is NOT financially responsible for these cookies - these are troop cookies. They simply help her achieve more rewards!
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Money Management
Collecting Money From Families y Cookie money should be turned in weekly to the troop and any time a girl picks up additional cookies from their Troop Cookie Coordinator. NOTE: Double count the money with the parent, have them sign a receipt, and give them a copy. y Troop cookie money should be deposited into the troop account promptly and frequently. y Deposit all cookie money into the troop account by April 25. y Checks to the troop account that are returned for insufficient funds should be submitted to the council. Complete the Returned Check Reimbursement form with the necessary documentation and the council will reimburse the troop account for the amount of the check and any related fees. The form is available on gsbadgerland.org.
Trouble Collecting Money From A Parent? When the troop’s cookie money is due to Badgerland, and you have not been able to collect from a troop parent, DO NOT WAIT FOR THEIR MONEY! y Complete the Delinquent Parent form found on gsbadgerland.org and turn it into the council (info@gsbadgerland. org) no later than April 24. Please include the parent's signed Product Sale Permission Slip, any signed receipts by the parent/guardian for cookies, and documentation of any communications with the parent in your attempt to collect the funds. y Once the form is turned in, Badgerland will contact the family directly and work with them to collect the funds. y Do NOT collect funds from parents after turning them in as Delinquent. Instead, direct them to the nearest Badgerland Council Service Center to turn in the funds.
Paying for Troop Cookies Troops pay Badgerland Council for all cookies received. These payments are debited from the troop’s checking account using the ACH (automated clearing house) withdrawal process. To ensure your troop account is ready for ACH, you must enter the troop’s bank account number and routing number into Smart Cookies (page 9). About a week prior to each withdrawal, look for an email with the exact amount being pulled. This email will be sent to the troop’s main contact listed in Smart Cookies. NOTE: If you don't receive the email within 24 hours of the date it was to be sent, please reach out to Customer Care to inquire about the amount of funds to be pulled.
AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL DATES March 31: 30% Withdrawal The debit from your troop account will reflect 30% of what is owed according to reports on Smart Cookies as of March 23. Make sure you have at least one Troop to Girl transfer completed by March 22 so that Smart Cookies can figure your troop proceeds. Payment is recorded in the Finances section of Smart Cookies. April 14: 40% Withdrawal The debit will reflect 40% of what is owed according to reports on Smart Cookies as of April 7. May 5: Balance Due as of April 27 The debit will withdraw the final balance. Any Delinquent Parent forms received by the council will be entered into Smart Cookies prior to this date, as your troop is no longer responsible for the payment of these cookies or the collection of the funds from the parent. The council will retain the troop profits on any delinquent parent cookies until the balance is paid in full.
Damaged Box?
y Take a picture of the damaged box or wonky arrangement of cookies in that case that caused the damage. y Email it to info@gsbadgerland.org | Subject line: Damaged Cookie Credit y Include your troop number, the cookie flavor, the number of boxes damaged or missing and Lot # from the box or case. The Lot # is located on the side of a case or the end of a box. It looks like this: 28IF0911. y We'll enter a “damage order” in Smart Cookies so that you are no longer financially responsible for that box.
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Money Management
2021 Cookie Return Policy Badgerland council is among just a few in the nation that permit troops to return cookies. The Return Policy is a safety net designed to help troops manage cookie inventory and expenses. The goal of each troop’s sale is to maximize troop profits by, ideally, selling all or as many as possible of the cookies ordered. However, there are many factors involved in the sale - such as inclement weather or illness - that can influence how many cookies Girl Scouts are able to sell. That’s why, near the sale's end, we offer the option to return 1/2 case (6 boxes) for each girl registered in the troop.
Return Guidelines: y Returns are accepted only April 6 & 7. y Returns are limited to 1/2 case (6 boxes) per girl registered to the troop. (This includes girls not selling cookies) y Returns are made in full case increments. y Troops with an uneven number of girls, round up for returns. Example: a troop with 9 girls can return 5 full cases; a troop with 11 girls can return 6 cases, etc. y Returned cases must be unopened, clean (no writing on the cartons!) and undamaged. y Gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip cookies are not allowed to be returned. y A troop must have placed an Initial Order by February in order to make returns. y Troops continue to sell cookies after the return period and may order additional cases, as needed.
Return Dates: Tuesday, April 6 | 2-8 p.m. • Janesville Service Center • La Crosse Service Center • Madison - Location TBD • Platteville Service Center (note: this is the only return date for Platteville)
Wednesday, April 7 | 2-8 p.m. • Janesville Service Center • La Crosse Service Center • Madison - Location TBD
How Do You Know If Your Troop Needs To Make Returns? Communicate with troop families before April 1 and find out if they are holding too many cookies. Have families return cookies to you by April 3 then shuffle these returned cookies to other families in your troop that still need them. Review your inventory and assess if your troop needs to return any to Badgerland Council.
Ways to Take Cookie Payments From Customers CASH - Wear gloves and use hand sanitizer when handling cash CHECK - Checks must be written out to the troop or Girl Scouts of WI - Badgerland (not to the parent or girl) CREDIT CARD - Contactless! Plus, sales are stronger when customers have the option to use a credit card. y Smart Cookies App y Online Sales: Customer can also use girl's unique Smart Cookies store link to place and pay for their order with a credit card and select whether they want girl delivery (new in 2021), or pay to have the cookies shipped directly to them. y For in-person sales: girls and troops can take payments using their Smart Cookies app. The customer simply selects Girl Delivery and she hands over the cookies. Simple as that. Badgerland covers all credit card fees for transactions through Smart Cookies, saving the troop some money. y For booth sales, the booth must be listed in the Smart Cookies Booth Scheduler in order to take payment using Smart Cookies. y Square Reader or PayPal Account y Troops can take credit cards out in the field or at booth sales using a Square device, PayPal account. y Credit card readers are not provided by Badgerland. Troops are responsible for all transactional fees charged by the company. y For more information on these choices, contact our Customer Care team: info@gsbadgerland.org or 800.236.2710. 19
Cookie Share
What Is Cookie Share? Participating in Cookie Share is a great way for girls to experience the power of giving back to their community while boosting their sales. Plus, it gives cookie customers who cannot or choose not to eat Cookies the chance to still support Girl Scouts. Before the cookie sale begins, the troop agrees on a local nonprofit organization they want to give cookies to. A customer purchases these cookies, but instead of receiving them, the girl/ troop sets them aside and donates them to their organization after the sale. Customers can donate to a girl's Cookie Share while ordering online, too. Cookie Share cookies are included in the girl's total and will count toward her rewards. Girls who participate in Cookie Share earn this patch!
How To Record Cookie Share Donations When a customer purchases Cookie Share cookies, it's important to record the transaction in ABC Smart Cookies properly, so that the correct number of boxes are donated, and that the girl receives the appropriate credit for her Cookie Share sales. How you record the Cookie Share sale in Smart Cookies depends on whether the cookies were sold at a booth sale, and whether the box of cookies will be taken from the girl's inventory, the troop's inventory, or if it will come from Badgerland Council's inventory at the end of the sale. Girl's Inventory: A customer makes a Cookie Share purchase from a girl, and she sets aside cookies from her OWN (already transferred to her from the troop on Smart Cookies) inventory to be donated. y Direct/Door-to-Door Sale: Record the transaction in the 'Tracked Cookie Share' section of ABC Smart Cookies. Troop's Inventory: A customer makes a Cookie Share purchase from a girl, and the box of cookies is taken from the TROOP'S inventory (the girl will save her own supply), and is set aside to be donated. y Booth Sale: Include her sale in the 'Tracked Cookie Share' column of the Smart Booth Divider. y At the end of the sale, conduct a Troop-to-Girl (T2G) transfer on ABC Smart Cookies that reflects the girl's Cookie Share sales that were set aside from the troop's inventory to be donated. y Direct/Door-to-Door Sale: Record the transaction in the 'Tracked Cookie Share' section of ABC Smart Cookies y At the end of the sale, conduct a Troop-to-Girl (T2G) transfer on ABC Smart Cookies that reflects the girl's Cookie Share sales that were set aside from the troop's inventory to be donated. Badgerland Council's Inventory: A customer makes a Cookie Share purchase from a girl (at a booth or direct sale), and instead of a box being set aside by the girl or the troop, Badgerland Council will make the donation to a local food pantry at the end of the sale. The girl and troop's cookie inventory will not be affected. You may do this if you are out of cookies and don't want to have to get more in to fill orders. y Record the donation in the 'CShare' column of the Smart Booth Divider. y Record the transaction in the 'Virtual Cookie Share' section of ABC Smart Cookies.
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Gearing Up The Girls
Cookie Events The Cookie Buzz via Zoom Saturday, March 6 | Sessions All Day Grades K-12 & Adults | $5 per participant Kick off the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie season with a day filled with online workshops, trainings, hands-on activities and exciting bee-themed programming! Choose which workshops you want to pop by for, or join us all day. Don’t worry, there will be lots of active breaks and snack times. The full schedule of events will be posted February 8. Continuing That Week... This fun filled day then kicks off a week of exciting programming and activities that also incorporate the Cookie Rookie and Cookie Boss events. The week will conclude with our Cookie Countdown Party that Friday.
Cookie Countdown Party via Zoom Friday, March 12 | 7-7:45 p.m. The week of preparation will conclude on Friday, February 12 with a Cookie Countdown Party on Zoom from 7-7:45 p.m. - complete with a milk & cookies dunk countdown. The cookie sale begins the next day!
The 5 Skills By participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls develop valuable business and lifelong skills. Goal Setting Setting cookie goals and making a plan to reach them.
Decision Making Choosing how her troop will spend their cookie proceeds.
Money Management Making a budget, taking orders and handling money from her business
Business Ethics
ORDER A KICKOFF PARTY PACK FOR THE TROOP Each Cookie Kickoff Party Pack has everything a girl needs to get prepared for cookie season! It includes an activity guide + supplies specific for her GS level, a lanyard, a Cookie Activity Pin and the 2021 Cookie Program fun patch for each girl. Get one for each girl in the troop and get blinged out for Cookies! Each kit costs $10 per girl and are available for pick-up through February at our Badgerland service centers (Madison, La Crosse, Janesville or Platteville). Shipping available; fees apply.
Girl Scouts need to be honest and responsible every step of the way.
People Skills Talking to new people and listening to customers while selling cookies.
NEW: Contests for Girls & Troops Submit entries on Facebook or use a
Busy Bees - Patch Program March 7 - May 31 Cost: $10 per participant Get a fun passport and travel from flower to flower as you complete fun bee themed activities, learn more about bees, meet bee experts, sample honey, plant flowers and help Badgerland save the local bee colonies. All participants will get a fun bee-themed activity kit, honey samples, seeds to plant and a fun patch. $1 of each registration will go to our philanthropy partner, the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund.
free file transfer app to send a link to communications@gsbadgerland. org. Contest photos may be used publicly for marketing purposes. Create Your Best Sales Pitch January 16 - March 8 Bling Your Mask February 8 - March 8 Most Creative & Unique Sales Ideas March 13 - April 1 21
COOKIE PROGRAM 2021
CHOOSE ONE ITEM FROM YOUR FINAL EARNING LEVEL: Example: Sell 300 boxes and choose one item from Level 3.
Level 1 100-174 Boxes
$5 Badgerland Bucks
$5 Philanthropy Donation
Be Amazing Sunglasses
Cloud Slime
Level 2
Be Amazing Sunglasses & Small Stuffed Bee
175-249 Boxes
$10 Badgerland Bucks
$10 Philanthropy Donation
Bee String Lights
Level 3 250-324 Boxes
$15 Philanthropy Donation $15 Badgerland Bucks
Lunar Light Show
Be Amazing Sunglasses & Flower Pillow & Journal With Gel Pens
Level 4 325-407 Boxes
2021-22 Girl Scout 2 Tickets to Kalahari $20 Philanthropy Donation Membership $10 Badgerland Bucks Waterpark & Large Bee Plush Sell more than 407 boxes? Great! You've officially earned Adventure Points! Choose something from Level 4 PLUS your Adventure Points on the next page. >>
INSTANT REWARDS Get these from your troop leader as soon as you sell 24 and 60 boxes.
SELL 24 BOXES Be Amazing 2021 Patch 22
SELL 60 BOXES Stress-Relieving Squishy Bee
EARNED PATCHES Earn these bee-themed patches. Achievement Bar (100 box increments)
Participate in a Cookie Booth
Send 15+ eCards through Smart Cookies.
Participate in Cookie Share
Girls who sell 408+ boxes earn Adventure Points in addition to one Level 4 Reward on the Girl Rewards page. HOW ADVENTURE POINTS WORK: Girls earn the number of APs at their final earning level, but they can be mixed and matched from multiple AP levels. For example, if a girl earns 16 Adventure Points, she could choose 1 thing from the 16 AP level; OR 2 Weeks of Summer Camp (13 APs) AND $75 Badgerland Bucks (2 APs) AND a Wisconsin State Parks Pass (1 AP); they all add up to 16 APs. Girls who sell 408-599 boxes should let her troop leader know which item from the 1 AP level she chooses. Girls who sell 600+ boxes (2 AP or higher) will be contacted by Badgerland after the sale to choose how she wants to spend her Adventure Points.
1 ADVENTURE POINT: 408 BOXES
10 ADVENTURE POINTS: 1416 BOXES
y 2021-22 Girl Scout Membership y Govee LED Lights y 2021 Wisconsin State Parks Pass y Experience Package:* Trampoline Park Tickets for 2
2 ADVENTURE POINTS: 600 BOXES y $75 Badgerland Bucks y Pool Package: Inner tube, Be Amazing towel & tote bag y Art Package: Deluxe Art Set & Two Sketch Pads y Experience Package:* Horseback Trail Ride for 2 y BONUS: Top Cookie Seller Status - Girls selling 600+ boxes will be recognized at the Top Cookie Seller Ceremony on Sunday, May 23, 2021.
3 ADVENTURE POINTS: 804 BOXES y $125 Badgerland Bucks y Elephas Mini Movie Projector y Aria QR+ Full Face Snorkel Mask y Experience Package:* Medieval Times Show for 2 (transportation included)
y $400 Badgerland Bucks y Camping Package (Tent, Cot, Sleeping Bag, Mess Kit, Lantern, Pillow) y Room Makeover Shopping Spree at 'At Home' in Madison with virtual Interior Designer Workshop y Experience Package:* Trip to St. Louis for 2 (includes City Museum, Aquarium and Arch passes) 3 days/2 nights; includes transportation & hotel)
13 ADVENTURE POINTS: 1620 BOXES y $500 Badgerland Bucks y Summer Camp Sessions of Your Choice (10 nights max) y Computer Package (Laptop, Bluetooth Headphones, Carrying Case, Keyboard & Mouse) y Experience Package:* Trip for 2 to Chicago (3 days/2 nights); Includes transportation, hotel & tickets to Adler Planetarium, iFly, Navy Pier and shopping)
16 ADVENTURE POINTS: 1824 BOXES
5 ADVENTURE POINTS: 1008 BOXES y $200 Badgerland Bucks y Razor Electric Drift Rider Cycle y Unicorn Summer Party Island y Experience Package:* Milwaukee Shoreline Cruise for 2 (transportation and lunch included)
y Extended Camp Stay Experience in 2021 y Water Fun in WI Package (family floating island, Aria full face snorkel mask, waterproof speaker, air pump, WI State Park Pass, 2 collapsible oars, personalized water bottle, beach bag and towel) y Experience Package:* Trip for 2 to Hershey, PA (4 days/3 nights; Includes flight, hotel & excursions)
19 ADVENTURE POINTS: 2021 BOXES
7 ADVENTURE POINTS: 1212 BOXES y $300 Badgerland Bucks y Sky Scout Personal Planetarium y Vlogging/YouTube Tech Package (tripod, backdrop, mic, lights, case) y Experience Package:* Trip for 2 to Mall of America & Sea Life (includes transportation & 2 nights in hotel)
y Unlimited Badgerland Camp Experiences in Summer 2021 y Experience Package:* Trip to Key West for 2 (5 days/4 nights; includes flight, hotel & excursions)
For every 96 boxes she sells above 2,021 she'll earn one additional AP.
*Experience Packages are group trips organized by Badgerland exclusively for our high-achieving Cookie Sellers and their adult. Trips include lodging, transportation and excursions (one-day events include only bus transportation). Package dates will be posted by March 1. If the dates don't work for your family, you can choose a different item.
Badgerland Bucks These come in the form of a gift card and can be used on items in our shops, or to cover memberships, program and camp fees.
Philanthropy Reward Instead of choosing a traditional reward item, girls can make a donation to the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund, an organization that establishes pollinator habitats to ensure the honey bee and monarch butterfly populations thrive. Girls who choose the Philanthropy Reward earn a free patch. 23
Girl Rewards
How Girl Rewards Work Girl Scouts earn rewards based on all cookies she sells, including Cookie Share cookies, digital cookie sales and booth sales. Before the sale begins, girls choose one item at each earning level that she would like as her reward. After the sale, she'll earn the reward she chose at whatever selling level (number of boxes) she achieved. These rewards are not cumulative. Check out the rewards flyer on pages 22 for more info. Instant Rewards This year all girls will receive their Participation Patch (24 boxes) and stress-relieving squishy bee (60 boxes) from you as soon as they turn in money for those cookies sold. The patch and squishy bee will be available from your PSL at the beginning of the sale. When your girls achieve that level, request the items from your PSL then celebrate your cookie-selling Girl Scouts at the next troop meeting. Earned Patches Girls earn bee-themed patches depending on their involvement. Troop leaders will select these when placing the girl rewards order in Smart Cookies at the end of the season. Girls earn patches with they: y Send 15+ eCards through Smart Cookies. y Participate in a Cookie Booth, and/or y Participate in Cookie Share Achievement Bars Each girl will receive an achievement bar representing her highest level of boxes sold (in 100 box increments) starting at 100+ boxes. Number bar patches will be calculated automatically.
How To Enter Rewards Before You Create the Rewards Order y Reward orders are due in Smart Cookies by April 26. Girl Scouts earn rewards based on their total number of cookie boxes sold. y Make sure all troop-to-girl transfers are done and that the sales total for each girl is correct BEFORE ordering final rewards. The automated reward feature will calculate the quantities for each girl.
Creating the Girl Rewards (Recognition) Order y Click “Recognitions > Create Recognition Order” and select “Main” under the plan type drop down. y Each girl will be listed with the total number of boxes she is getting credit for. Wherever there is a choice, click on the button under the reward she chose. y If a girl earned the Cookie Share Patch or Cookie Booth Patch the number “1” needs to be physically inserted in the quantity box. The number bar patches will be sent automatically, you do not need to select them. y You will enter the reward choice for any girl earning 1 Adventure Point (over 408 boxes). Girls who earned 2 or more Adventure Points will be contacted directly by Badgerland regarding her reward choice. Please let those families know to watch for the Adventure Point email between May 5-12 asking for their reward selection. y After all rewards for all girls are selected, click “Save” at the bottom.
Creating the Troop Reward (Recognition) Order y Click Recognitions > Create Recognition Order and select “Troop” under the plan type drop down. The system will calculate the level your troop earned. y Choose the theme the girls want to receive. Click "Save". 24
Troop Rewards
How Troop Rewards Work We've revamped troops rewards for 2021! Troops with a 100+ boxes per-girl-selling average (PGSA) will get access to an expert-led program that aligns with one of the themes below. The higher PGSA in your troop, the more add-ons and goodies you earn that align with the theme. You'll receive one kit per girl selling at the level and theme the troop chooses. We encourage you to enjoy these activities together as a troop, although all can be done on-her-own. Talk about which theme and reward the troop wants to work toward at your Family meeting in February so the girls know what to strive for. At the end of the sale, the troop will complete the Troop Recognition Order and choose the theme the girls have decided on. Kits will be sent to the main contact listed on the troop account in Smart Cookies. Troop Rewards Are Based on Per-Girl-Selling Average To find your PGSA, divide the number of boxes your troop sold by the number of girls who participated in the Cookie Program this year (even if they only sold a few boxes).
For Juliettes & Troops With Only 1 Girl Selling
Per-Girl-Selling Average
Per-Girl-Selling Average
Level 1
100-174 boxes
124-198 boxes
Level 2
175-249 boxes
199-273 boxes
Level 3
250-324 boxes
274-348 boxes
Level 4
325-407 boxes
349-431 boxes
Painting Party
Save The Bees
Virtual Program with Space Center Houston
Virtual Program with Temple Lipizanns
Virtual Program with PaintingParties.com
Virtual Program with The Bee and Butterfly Habitat Fund
• Virtual Program Above • Basic Activity Book • Horseshoe Craft w/ Stickers
LEVEL 2
I Love Horses
• Virtual Program Above • Basic Activity Book • Astronaut Ice Cream
LEVEL 3
Space Explorer
• Virtual Program Above • Intermediate Activity Book • Astronaut Ice Cream • Night Sky Projection Kit
• Virtual Program Above • Intermediate Activity Book • Horseshoe Craft w/ Stickers • White Horse Diamond Art Kit
• Virtual Program Above • Intermediate Activity Book • Paper & Watercolor Set • Paper, Brushes & Paints
• Virtual Program Above • Intermediate Activity Book • Marigold Seeds • Honey Straws • Donation to the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund
LEVEL 4
LEVEL 1
Each Girl Gets One!
For Troops with 2+ girls selling
• Virtual Program Above • Immersive Activity Book • Astronaut Ice Cream w/ Dried Fruit • Glow Mini Stars • Discovery Launch Propulsion Rocket
• Virtual Program Above • Immersive Activity Book • Horseshoe Craft w/ Stickers • Tack and Grooming Lesson at Local Stable w/ Pony Ride • Bag of Treats for your Pony!
• Virtual Program Above • Immersive Activity Book • Painting Party Kit (includes 3 canvasses, brushes, paints & 1 easel)
• Virtual Program Above • Immersive Activity Book • Marigold Seeds • Donation to the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund • Honey Straws • Solitary Bee Habitat • Virtual Spa-Themed Bee Program w/ Supplies
• Virtual Program Above • Basic Activity Book • Paper & Watercolor Set
• Virtual Program Above • Basic Activity Book • Marigold Seeds • Donation to the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund
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Cookie Lineup
Cookie Box Prices Each box of cookies is $4, except Gluten-free Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies ($5 per pouch). Cookie prices may not be discounted or increased.
All Cookie Profits Support Badgerland Girl Scouts
NEW IN 2021: TOAST-YAYS!
THIN MINTS
PEANUT BUTTER
PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH
CARAMEL DELITES
SHORTBREAD
LEMONADES
After paying the baker for the cookies, 100% of the money that Badgerland troops raise through the Girl Scout Cookie Program stays local. Cost of 1 Cookie Box $1.05 (what we pay the baker) Girl & Troop Rewards $0.21 Troop Earnings* $0.63 - $0.75 Girl & Volunteer Services $1.99 - $2.11 Total $4 per box
Troop Proceeds All troops earn at least 63¢ per box on cookies sales. The higher the troop's per-girl-selling average, the more the troop earns. To find your PGSA, divide the number of boxes your troop sold by the number of girls who participated in the Cookie Program this year (even if they only sold a few boxes). Troop proceeds belong to the Girl Scout troop and not to the individual members of the troop. Decisions about spending troop proceeds must reflect the wishes and interests of all the girls. This is their girl-led business! Per-Girl-Selling Average
Troop Proceeds
1-203 Boxes
63¢ per box
204-299 Boxes
69¢ per box
300+ Boxes
75¢ per box
NOTE: The breakdown is different for Juliettes (individually registered Girl Scouts). Badgerland will be connecting with those families separately.
Troop Rewards Troops with a minimum 100 PGSA can also earn the Troop Reward (see page 25).
Girl Rewards Girls earn rewards based on the number of boxes of cookies she sells. See pages 22-23.
S'MORES Last Season for S'mores!
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Orders for Gluten-Free Cookies were due in October. Miss the deadline? No worries...we ordered extra! You can request gluten-free Cookies from Badgerland's inventory by filling out the link online. Place your by February 15 to pick them up with your Initial Order. CARAMEL CHOCOLATE CHIP order Keep in mind this will only be a request; we cannot guarantee (GLUTEN FREE) that you'll receive the number of GF cases you request.
DATE
WHAT TO DO
PAGE
✓
JANUARY Saturday, January 9
Let's Go: Be Amazing Entrepreneurs (Cookie Rookie & Returning Volunteer Training)
2
Saturday, January 30
Cookie Technology (Smart Cookies) Training
2
Early February
Hold Your Troop Family Cookie Meeting (before initial orders are due Feb. 15)
4
Sunday, January 31 Saturday, February 6
Badgerland-led Family Cookie Meetings
3
FEBRUARY
Wednesday, February 10-11 Booth Scheduler Lottery Open for Council-Secured Booth Sites
12
Thursday, February 11
Booth Scheduler Lottery Winners Drawn
12
Friday, February 12 Sunday, February 14
First Come, First Served Booths Open - Choose 3 additional booth locations.
12
Sunday, February 14
First Weekly Booth Scheduler Opening - Troops can log back in every Sunday at 8 a.m. to request additional council-secured booth locations.
12
Monday, February 15
Initial Cookie Order Due
Monday, February 15
Gluten-Free Cookie Request Due
14 26
MARCH 9, 18 21
March 7
Update Your Troop Bank Account Info In ABC Smart Cookies
Week of March 7-12
Cookie Buzz - Virtual trainings for events for girls, families & volunteers
Thursday, March 11
First Planned Order Due - Planned Orders Due Every Thursday at 10 p.m. Thru April 15. Orders will be available for pick-up the following week on Friday/Saturday.
15
Friday, March 12
Cookie Countdown Party - Virtual kick-off event for girls, families & volunteers, complete with a cookies & milk dunk countdown.
21
Prior to March 13
Return the Troop Cookie Coordinator Agreement to your Product Sale Manager.
Prior to March 13
Collect Permission Slips from Families
Saturday, March 13
Cookie Program Begins! Girls start taking orders.
Wednesday, March 31
ACH Withdrawal 1: 30% of troop’s balance as of March 23.
4 4 2 18
Thursday, April 1
Communicate with families and determine if your troop needs to return cookies.
19
Monday, April 5
Order-Taking Troops: Collect order cards and money from families. Place Planned Order by April 8.
7
Tuesday, April 6
Cookie Returns in Madison, La Crosse, Janesville & Platteville (only return date for PV)
Wednesday, April 7
Cookie Returns in Madison, La Crosse & Janesville
Thursday, April 8
Order Taking Troops: Planned Order due in Smart Cookies by 10 p.m. for pick up on April 15-16.
Wednesday, April 14
ACH Withdrawal 2: 40% of troop’s balance as of April 7.
Thursday, April 15-16
Order Taking Troops: pick up cookies from Cookie Cupboards. Distribute cookies to girls.
Sunday, April 18
Cookie sale ends. Keep selling until your inventory is at 0.
Saturday, April 24
Turn in any Delinquent Parent information to Badgerland
Sunday, April 25
All Cookies should be delivered to customers
Sunday, April 25
Deposit Cookie Money Into Troop Bank Account
Monday, April 26
Girl Rewards Order due in Smart Cookies. Rewards arrive in early June.
APRIL
19 19 15 18 7 2 18 7 18 24
MAY Wednesday, May 5
Final ACH Withdrawal: remaining balance of what's owed to council as of April 27
Sunday, May 23
Top Cookie Seller Ceremony. Girls selling 600+ boxes are recognized.
Early June
Pick up Girl Rewards from Product Sale Manager and distribute to girls.
Mid June
Badgerland Bucks and Adventure Point Certificates mailed to girls by Badgerland.
18 23 24 22-23 27
Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Madison WI Permit No. 2127
2710 Ski Lane Madison, WI 53713
CONTACT US 800.236.2710 gsbadgerland.org info@gsbadgerland.org FOLLOW US
Awesome Fact
90%
of Badgerland Girl Scouts say their favorite part of the Girl Scout Cookie Program is spending more time with their family & friends!
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