GSEMA 2024-25 Cookie Program Quick Bites

2024-25 Cookie Program

Quick Bites

Reference Guide for Troop Cookie Coordinators (TCCs)

NEW THIS YEAR:

The Girl Scout Cookie Program gives Girl Scouts the ability to power unique opportunities and adventures for their troop while learning to think like an entrepreneur.

• The Digital Cookie® app will accept Venmo, PayPal, and credit card payments.

• The GSEMA Cookie Connector will include direct-ship-only troop links for all participating Girl Scout troops.

• Chiefs in Training perk for the 2025 top five cookie

2024-25 Cookie Program Quick Bites

Getting Started Checklist

o Ensure all Girl Scouts are registered for the 2024-25 troop year.

o Complete the required paperwork (available at gsema.org/forsellers):

o Troop Cookie Coordinator (TCC) Volunteer Agreement

o 2024-25 Troop Bank Information Form

o 2024-25 Annual Girl Scout Permission Form (all caregivers must complete for their child)

o Review the digital Cookie Book for all program policies and procedures.

o Download the GSEMA Troop Budget Plan, and meet with your troop to distribute materials and set moneyearning goals.

Resources

GSEMA.ORG/FORSELLERS

Visit the GSEMA For Sellers web page for all necessary forms, trainings, and resources like the Cookie Book (an in-depth resource that covers every aspect of the cookie program).

The Girl Scout Cookie Program gives Girl Scouts the ability to power unique opportunities and adventures for their troop while learning to think like an entrepreneur.

COOKIE EMAILS (EVERY SUNDAY)

Our Sunday cookie emails will keep volunteers updated on the program.

COOKIE CUPBOARD HOTLINE

844-PB-PATTI (727-2884)

SERVICE UNIT COOKIE MENTOR

The Service Unit Cookie Mentor (SUCM) is your local volunteer expert who can assist you throughout the program. If you need an introduction, email customercare@gsema.org

Reference Guide for Troop Cookie Coordinators (TCCs)

o Join an online Prep Talk and/or review training videos.

o Ensure each Girl Scout has cookie-selling materials. Service Unit Cookie Mentors (SUCM) for each town will provide Troop Cookie Coordinators (TCC) with a packet of troop materials. The packet includes a copy of Quick Bites, a cookie order card, a recognition insert/family guide, a money envelope, and a receipt booklet.

o Review the weekly Sunday Cookie emails, and make sure you are opted in for GSEMA emails.

NEW THIS YEAR:

• The Digital Cookie® app will accept Venmo, PayPal, and credit card payments.

BAND

Cookie Book For Sellers Web page

• The GSEMA Cookie Connector will include direct-ship-only troop links for all participating Girl Scout troops.

GSEMA CUSTOMER CARE customercare@gsema.org

• Chiefs in Training perk for the 2025 top five cookie entrepreneurs!

The product program team will provide real-time updates via BAND regarding weather closures, deadlines, urgent cupboard information, and helpful tips. Download this free app to your smartphone, then search “GSEMA Product Program” team.

SMART COOKIES HELP

Visit gsema.org/forsellers for the most up-to-date cookie program information.

Tech support: 800-853-3730 or ABCSmartCookieTech@hearthsidefoods.com Direct Ship inquiries: ABCSmartCookieDirect@hearthsidefoods.com

12 Troop online Prep Talk for experienced TCCs (12 PM & 7 PM)

20 New to the Cookie Program online Prep Talk (7 PM)

24 Digital Cookie® and Smart Cookies registration email sent to Troop Cookie Coordinators who have submitted the required paperwork

25 Digital Cookie® registration invitation emails to registered Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts can begin selling online through Digital Cookie®

3 Cookie Cupboards open (see schedules in Smart Cookies)

12 New to the Cookie Program online Prep Talk (7 PM)

20 Scheduled withdrawals from troop bank accounts and all GSEMA offices close for the holidays (5 PM)

21 Last day Cookie Cupboards will be open before holiday closure

2 All GSEMA offices open and all GSEMA council Cookie Cupboards open with delayed opening

17 Scheduled withdrawals from troop bank accounts

14 Scheduled withdrawals from troop bank accounts

21-23 National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend

1 Rewards opt-out forms due to GSEMA and last day to register Girl Scouts for the Cookie Program

7 Cookie Program ends, all online ordering ends, and all Cookie Cupboards close

13 Last day to allocate packages to Girl Scouts, review reward orders, and transfer packages to troops in Smart Cookies (11:59 PM)

17 Scheduled withdrawals from troop bank accounts

4 Scheduled withdrawals from troop bank accounts and last day for Girl Scouts to sell leftover cookie inventory

14 Rewards arrive to Service Unit Cookie Mentors

How Girl Scouts Sell Cookies

In-Person

Girl Sell Cookies

Sale Method How Customers Pay How Troop Pays for Cookies

Sale How Customers Pay Troop for

Order Cards

Walkabouts

Order Cards and Walkabouts

can pay with cash or credit card, Venmo, and PayPal

Digital Cookie®

Customers can pay with cash or credit card, Venmo, and PayPal via Digital Cookie®

Cookie Booths

Customers can pay or credit card, Venmo, and PayPal via the Digital Cookie® virtual cookie

Customers can pay with cash or credit card, Venmo, and PayPal via the Digital Cookie® virtual cookie booth

• Troop deposits into the bank account, which GSEMA debits on a monthly schedule

• Troop deposits cash into the troop bank account, which GSEMA debits on a monthly schedule

• Digital Cookie® automatically credits payments troop and will deduct from total balance

• Digital Cookie® automatically credits payments to the troop and will deduct from the total balance

OnlineGirl Delivery

Customers can pay with credit card, Venmo, and PayPal in Digital Cookie®

OnlineGirl Delivery can with credit card, Venmo, and in Digital Cookie®

• Troop deposits into the bank which GSEMA on a

• Troop deposits cash into the troop bank account, which GSEMA debits on a monthly schedule

• Digital Cookie® automatically credits payments to the troop and will deduct from total balance

• Digital Cookie® automatically credits payments to the troop and will deduct from the total balance

• Digital Cookie® automatically credits credit card payments to the troop and will deduct from the total balance

OnlineDirect Ship

Customer pays with a credit card in Digital Cookie®

Customer a card in Digital

• Digital Cookie® automatically credits credit card payments to the troop and will deduct from the total balance

• Digital Cookie® automatically credits credit card payments to the troop and from the balance

*Customer pays shipping cost. GSEMA plans to subsidize shipping costs during a limited promotional

COOKIE DONATIONS/COOKIE SHARE (CSHARE) ORDERS: Customers who want to support Girl Scouts but don’t want cookies can buy cookies online to donate to food pantries, military, and first responders.

COOKIE SHARE (CSHARE) ORDERS: who want support Scouts but don’t cookies can buy cookies online to donate to food pantries, military, and first responders.

How Troops Fulfill Orders / Girl Scouts Receive Credit

• Troop places a Planned Order in Smart Cookies and picks up inventory at a cookie cupboard

• Girl Scout returns to the customer to deliver the order

• TCC allocates packages to Girl Scouts in Smart Cookies

CShare Orders: Troop donates physical packages from inventory OR allocates packages to Girl Scouts via Smart Cookies Virtual Cookie Share for GSEMA to donate packages

• Troop places a Planned Order in Smart Cookies and picks up inventory at a cookie cupboard

• Girl Scouts have cookies in hand to sell to customers

• TCC allocates packages to Girl Scouts in Smart Cookies

CShare Orders: Troop donates physical packages from inventory OR allocates packages to Girl Scouts via Smart Cookies Virtual Cookie Share for GSEMA to donate packages

• Girl Scout reports orders (including CShare orders) to the Troop Cookie Coordinator

• Troop places a Planned order in Smart Cookies and picks up inventory at a cookie cupboard

• Girl Scout delivers the order to the customer

• TCC allocates packages to Girl Scouts in Smart Cookies

CShare Orders: Troop donates physical packages from inventory OR allocates packages to Girl Scout via Smart Cookies Virtual Cookie Share for GSEMA to donate packages

• The baker’s warehouse* ships the order directly to the customer

• Digital Cookie® automatically credits cookie packages to Girl Scouts

CShare Orders: GSEMA buys and donates packages locally

promotional period that is still TBD.

2024-25

Mascot and Theme

SMART COOKIES

abcsmartcookies.com

Smart Cookies is the Girl Scout Cookie Program online portal. Volunteers can manage every aspect of their troop’s cookie business from a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

ORDERING COOKIES FOR TROOP

Troop Cookie Coordinators use Smart Cookies to:

• place Planned Orders for troop cookies

• enter cookie booth locations

• allocate packages to Girl Scouts

• submit rewards selections

• manage troop finances

• manage troop inventory

DIGITAL COOKIE®

Troop Cookie Coordinators use Digital Cookie® to:

• accept Venmo, PayPal, and credit card payments at troop booth sales

• find/share the Troop Direct Ship link

Girl Scouts use Digital Cookie® to:

• create goals

• send ecards with their online sales links to family and friends

• accept payment for in-person sales

• track progress

• select rewards

Reserve cookies through a Smart Cookies Planned Order and pick them up at a Cookie Cupboard. The deadline to enter Planned Orders in Smart Cookies is 10 PM on Sunday. The person listed in the Order Notes field within Smart Cookies may pick up cookies throughout the week; they must show a photo ID to pick up cookies.

TCCs can place as many orders as necessary throughout the cookie program. Order cookies in case units; there are 12 packages of cookies per case.

Call the Cookie Cupboard hotline at 844-727-2884 to correct or adjust an order.

INVENTORY TRACKING

TCCs need to keep an accurate inventory of cookies on hand and communicate with families throughout the program to avoid excess inventory. Unsold cookies are the troop’s responsibility.

HELPFUL REPORTS

Troop Balance Summary Report

This report details all financial transactions generated and the balance owed to GSEMA. Girl Cookie Totals Summary Report

Use this report to review participant package allocation to keep a Girl Scout’s sales record up-to-date. They will like tracking their progress toward their goals, like 500 Club.

year for

COOKIE CUPBOARD LOCATIONS

We may add additional cupboard locations; see Smart Cookies for details.

Andover – 143 Abbot Street

Dorchester – 500 Morton Street

Gloucester – 42 Reynard Street

Hingham – 26 Burr Road

Holliston – 1750 Washington Street

Marlborough – 212 Phelps Street

Middleboro – 111 E Grove Street

Norfolk - 10 Sherwood Drive, Unit 4

Rowley - 888 Haverhill Street

• Waltham – 265 Beaver Street

• Wayland – 24 Oxbow Road

• West Dennis – 109 Main Street

For safety reasons, cookies cannot be returned or exchanged. However, you may exchange damaged cookie packages.

GIRL SCOUT ONLINE SELLING

TROOP ONLINE SELLING

Troop Direct Ship links (found in Digital Cookie®) allow customers to buy cookies online from a troop. Troops may promote these links on personal or public webpages but not re-sale sites such as Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace. Please first check with your Service Unit Cookie Mentor for schedules and policies.

The GSEMA Cookie Connector allows customers to purchase Girl Scout Cookies directly from a randomly selected troop for shipment only. The Cookie Connector includes all participating Girl

Girl Scouts are encouraged to sell to their out-of-town friends and family networks via e-card and private social media and websites. Girl Scouts may also post their sales links on public-facing social media but need to adhere to GSEMA online safety policies.

Cookie Payment Schedule

GSEMA collects all cookie payments via scheduled automatic withdrawals from the troop bank account. Visit gsema.org/forsellers

GSEMA collects all cookie payments via scheduled automatic withdrawals from the troop bank account. Visit gsema.org/forsellers for more information.

GSEMA will address delinquent payments. Please see Cookie Book for details.

The Perks

TROOPS EARN $1.10 PER PACKAGE SOLD

Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops may opt out of the reward program and earn an additional $0.05 per package. Troops opting out of rewards are still eligible for Cookie Credits, the 500 Club rewards, a theme patch, and a crossover patch (if they participated in the Fall Product Program) once they achieve the required milestone and packages are allocated in Smart Cookies. Opt-out form due March 1, 2025.

COOKIE CREDITS

In addition to reward items, Girl Scouts can earn Cookie Credits once they have sold 100 packages of cookies. They use their credits for GSEMA programs and camp, in GSEMA shops, at camp trading posts, and GSEMA or GSUSA Destinations programs.

500 CLUB

When Girl Scouts sell 500 packages or more of Girl Scout Cookies, they earn a spot in the prestigious 500 Club! Membership perks include an in-person celebration at Canobie Lake Park in the spring of 2025. The event (date to be announced in early 2025) includes a ceremony and giveaways, and Girl Scouts get a sneak peek at the 2025-26 cookie program theme and mascot.

CHIEFS IN TRAINING CLUB

The top five GSEMA 2024-25 cookie entrepreneurs become members of a new club, Chiefs in Training. These Girl Scouts will be able to participate in a special day with our new CEO, Monica Roberts, to participate in exciting CEO workshops and ongoing Chief duties for the rest of the year (more details to follow).

TROOP TREASURE

Troop leaders can earn the following cumulative Troop Treasure incentives based on the Per Girl Scout Average (PGA) metric:

• 50+ CShare packages sold: Troop coordinators earn a volunteer patch (1 per troop).

• 50+ CShare packages sold: All Girl Scouts in troop receive a CShare patch.

• 150+ PGA and Zero Inventory: Troop coordinators earn the Cookie Program Volunteer T-shirt (2 per troop).

• To calculate the PGA, divide the number of total packages the troop sold by the number of Girl Scouts registered in the troop.

Congratulations to Emma, a Yarmouth Girl Scout Brownie, GSEMA’s 2023-24

Top Cookie Entrepreneur! Last year, Emma sold 7,443 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies and earned the top reward, becoming GSEMA CEO for the day. Emma sold cookies door to door, advertised on the family car, and sold at Emma’s favorite spot, Peterson’s Market.

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