Timeline & Program Basics
September 4
Recorded training for experienced fall product managers available at gswo.org/fallproduct.
September 26
New fall product manager webinar at 7 p.m. Details are at gswo.org/fallproduct.
October 4
Order taking begins for all troops.
October 24
Last day caregivers can enter paper orders into M2.
October 25
Fall product managers can begin entering girl paper orders into M2 (caregivers no longer have access).
October 27
All orders must be entered into M2 by 11:59 p.m. (Don’t wait until the last minute!)
Why Participate in the Fall Product Program?
During the Fall Product Program, your Girl Scouts will launch their first business. The entrepreneurial skills they will learn will prepare them for the Girl Scout Cookie Program and give them tools that they will use for the rest of their lives.
The program is short and simple. It's an easy way to earn quick funds for your troop, which your troop can use to kick-start your year. Plus, your troop participation supports the program opportunities council provides throughout the year!
Participation Guidelines
• Register as the Troop Assistant - Fall Product Manager in MyGS.
• Participating girls must be registered members.
• Your troop must submit the annual Bank Information Form (usually submitted by June 30).
October 29
Last day customers can order nuts/ candy online to be delivered by girls.
November 7 - 9
Product delivery/pick-up.
November 10
Last day customers can order magazines or shipped nuts/candy.
November 11
Last day to choose rewards.
December 4
Money deposited into troop account.
December 6
Unpaid funds and check recovery forms due.
December 13
GSWO ACH from troop account of balance due to council.
Mid-December (approx.)
Rewards begin shipping.
Getting Started
• Fall product manager must be active in the role in MyGS and sign the online agreement form at gswo.org/ troopagreement
• Fall product manager should take training with the service unit fall product coordinator or watch the online training at gswo.org/ fallproduct
• After receiving your M2 access email, log in and set up your account and make sure all registered girls are listed. Contact the Customer Care Team at 888.350.5090 or customercare@gswo.org if you are missing any girls.
• Host a meeting with your caregivers to explain the program and deadlines. This can be in person or virtual. See p. 4
Scan the QR code or visit gswo.org/ fallproduct for more information!
Troop Proceeds, Participation, and Bonuses
How Much Will My Troop Earn?
During the 2023 Fall Product Program, the average troop earned $170 in proceeds! Not bad for a short, simple program. What's even better is that for the average girl, every email she sent equaled $3 in proceeds for her troop. Sending emails is the quickest way to maximize your profits!
Troop Proceeds
Troops will earn 13% of their total sales in troop proceeds.
Girl Scout Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops can make a majority decision to opt out of rewards and earn an additional 2% in troop proceeds (totaling 15%). Troops taking this option will still receive any earned patches.
If you have a multi-level troop, the majority of your girls must be Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, or Ambassadors in order to opt out of rewards.
Bonus Opportunities
Troops who registered or renewed at least 5 girls and 2 leaders by May 31, 2024 (Early Bird deadline) and have at least 3 girls selling in the Fall Product Program (with a troop PGA of 10+) will earn an additional $0.05 per package during the 2025 Girl Scout Cookie Program. You can calculate your troop PGA by taking the total number of items sold and dividing it by your number of sellers.
Patch Opportunities
Girls have the opportunity to earn a Personalized Avatar patch in the Fall Product Program when they:
1. Create an M2 account and personalize an avatar.
2. Send at least 20 emails in M2.
3. Have at least $375 in total sales in the Fall Product Program.
Additional Girl Reward Opportunities
Girls can enter for a chance to win Eartha, the giant plush elephant. To be eligible, girls must:
1. Set up an M2 storefront and create a personalized avatar.
2. Send at least 20 emails through M2.
3. Complete squares on the Elephant Bingo card found at the back of the Family Guide. Submit your entry form and include a photo of your bingo card by November 17, 2024 at gswo.org/elephantbingo.
Girls have the opportunity to earn a Personalized Cookie Avatar patch in the 2025 Cookie Program when they:
1. Create an M2 account and personalize an avatar and send at least 20 emails in M2 during the 2024 Fall Product Program.
2. Sell at least 250 packages of cookies during the 2025 Girl Scout Cookie Program.
Explore More Rewards
Check out the Fall Product Guide for Families to discover everything girls can earn in 2024! Find it online at gswo.org/fallproduct.
Caregiver Meeting
Caregiver Meeting
Help set your girls up for success by hosting a meeting or virtual training with girls and caregivers where you can explain the program and set expectations. During this time, you can go through the products, rewards, ways to participate, and deadlines they will need to follow. At the same time, have them complete the online Caregiver Product Agreement Form at gswo.org/productagreement. Pro tip: Encourage girls to use M2. Girls who use the online system average higher sales than girls who do not.
Meeting Checklist
ƒ Verify your troop roster in MyGS and contact the Customer Care Team at 888.350.5090 for any inaccuracies.
ƒ Fill out your troop information on the 2024 Fall Product Guide for Families. Fill out the information on each girl’s order card, or have the girls do this while you’re talking with caregivers.
ƒ Distribute the Fall Product Guide for Families while you explain the Fall Product Program and ways to participate.
ƒ Instruct each caregiver to complete the online Caregiver Product Agreement Form at gswo.org/productagreement. (When doing this, they can complete for only Fall Product or for both Fall Product and Cookie Programs.) Instruct caregivers to put in your email address so you receive an emailed copy once submitted. Unsure if someone has completed the agreement? Contact the Customer Care Team at 888.350.5090 and they can confirm.
ƒ Girls in separated households should have each caregiver complete the agreement. Following these guidelines will help avoid issues with money collection and financial responsibility at the end of the program. See p. 5 for more information.
ƒ Remind families that the Fall Product Program does not begin until October 4. No early order taking. Girls can set up their M2 storefront on October 4.
ƒ Give caregivers a deadline to have money turned in. Make this deadline a few days before your December 4 deadline so you have time to get the money into your troop bank account. Remind caregivers of the potential consequences of not paying on time.
Caregiver Meeting
Divorced/Separated Families or Families with Multiple Caregivers
• Have each caregiver complete a separate agreement form for the Girl Scout.
• Provide each caregiver with a separate Girl Order Card for when she sells while in their custody.
• Remind caregivers that girls can only set up one M2 account so caregivers should work together if both want to use the online account. (Girls who set up more than one M2 account will have the additional accounts deleted).
Return Policy
There is a no return or exchange policy on any fall product. Caregivers cannot return or exchange product. If a package is damaged, please contact Customer Care at 888.350.5090.
What Do I Explain to the Families?
• Fall Product Program dates & guidelines.
• The five skills girls learn during the program.
• Encourage online participation. Since online orders are paid for with a credit card, there is no money to collect. Plus, girls who participate online have a higher sales than girls who don't.
• Review the product assortment and reward line. Remind caregivers the online shipped option featured items not available on the paper order card.
• Product Program sales should always be led by a Girl Scout under caregiver supervision. While posting in community groups or neighborhood group pages IS now permitted, girls should never share their last name or personal information. Use caution when sharing the link on public pages since Fall Product orders do not need caregiver approval. Caregivers are responsible for delivering ALL online girl delivery orders.
• Sales links should never be posted to online resale sites such as eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or Amazon.
• Be direct regarding rules and business ethics. This includes no selling prior to October 4, no returning product, and no money collection (outside of online paid orders) before product is delivered.
Skills Girls Learn During the Fall Product Program:
Decision Making
Girls decide where and when to sell product, how to market their business, and what to do with their earnings. As girls get older, making big and small decisions is a key life skill!
Goal Setting
Girls set individual goals and, with their troop, then create a plan to reach them. Being able to set and reach goals will help girls succeed in school, on the job, and in life.
Money Management
Girls develop a budget, take orders, and handle customers' money. Learning this skill young gives girls a leg up as they grow older and can handle their money—from lunch money to their allowance and their future paycheck.
People Skills
Girls learn how to talk (and listen) to their customers, as well as how to work as a team with other girls. This helps them perform better with group projects, sports teams, on the playground, and later at work.
Business Ethics
Girls act honestly and responsibly during every step of the Fall Product Program. This matters because employers want to hire ethical employees and customers want a positive experience—and the world needs ethical, positive leaders.
Setting Up Your Troop
Step 1 — Logging Into M2
• Wait for your M2 access email (These will be sent starting September 27, after you have signed the fall product manager agreement form).
• Follow the instructions in the email to watch the required training video and create your password. Go to gsnutsandmags.com/gswo and click on Volunteer to log in.
• Check to make sure your registered girls are listed. If you are missing a girl, contact Customer Care at 888.350.5090 or customercare@gswo.org.
• Create your own personalized avatar and share with your girls how fun and easy this is. Remind girls they can earn their own personalized avatar patch during both the Fall Product and Cookie Programs. Plus, you can earn your own patch when your troop achieves the fall bonus.
• Launch the Parent/Guardian Email to all your caregivers. This will remind them to set up an M2 account with their Girl Scout. Remember, this step is a requirement to earn the troop bonus.
Step 2 — Delivery Location/Time & Reward Opt Out
If applicable for your troop/service unit, you will need to choose a pick-up location and time.
1. Click Product Pick Up in M2.
2. Select desired delivery site and time; click Save & Continue.
3. Close tab to return to your M2 homepage.
If your troop is a Junior, Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador troop, you can opt out of rewards and earn an additional 2% in troop proceeds by clicking on Reward Opt Out. Please note: Once you select Opt Out, you cannot change the option, so be sure your troop wants to opt out before making the selections.
1. Click Reward Opt Out.
2. Slide the button to the left so the option turns from green to red.
3. Click Update.
Note: Pick up locations and times will open on October 4.
Placing Your Order
Step 1 — Product Order
Caregivers of girls who have used the M2 system will be able to add their paper orders directly into their account. This will automatically add them to your troop totals. For any caregivers unable to do this, you will be able to enter orders for them October 25 - 27. Outside of that time, that feature will be locked for fall product managers. Encourage your caregivers to enter paper order card orders right into their M2 account.
1. Log into M2 and click Paper Order Entry.
2. Select the girl from the drop down menu. If the girl is not showing, please contact Customer Care at 888.350.5090 to verify she is registered for the 2025 membership year and to have her added to your troop.
3. Enter the quantities from her paper order card and click Update.
4. If you need to edit the quantities after the order has been entered, simply click on the girl’s name, revise the quantities, and click Update.
Note: You do not need to enter any online orders placed by customers in the M2 system. These will automatically show up for your troop. Once the quantities are put in M2 and you click the Update button, the order has been entered. You do not need to press any Submit button.
Placing Your Order
Step 2 — Reward Order
Rewards are ordered automatically based on the orders in M2 for the girl. However, if a girl reaches a level where a choice is needed, one will need to be selected. Caregivers who set up an M2 account will be prompted to make reward choices. If they do not do this, you will need to do for them. Choices are needed at the 55 to 100 item levels.
Please note: It can take up to a few hours for the system to update earned rewards after orders are entered, so choices may not show up right away. You have until 11:59 p.m. on November 11 to make all reward selections.
To make choices:
1. Log into M2 and click on Rewards.
2. Use the search feature to filter out girls missing reward choices.
3. Click on the girl and make the selection(s), then click Update.
Be sure to follow up with girls that have orders of $375 or more to make sure they have created an account and sent at least 20 emails so they can receive their personalized patches. Since avatar patches are mailed directly to the girl’s home, make sure she has her address entered. Once a girl reaches the criteria to receive this, it will be sent to production to be made.
After final rewards have been received, you can pull a report in M2 to determine how to distribute to girls. (Please note this report will not be available until after November 13, 2024). To do this, simply:
1. Log into M2 and select the Delivery Ticket icon.
2. Scroll down to Reward Delivery Tickets.
3. Choose “All girls” and click Create Ticket to download a PDF report.
Delivery & Money Collection
Step 1 — Delivery
• You will receive exactly what your girls sold for online, girl delivery, and paper orders. No extras.
• To print a delivery ticket, click the Delivery Tickets icon (after November 1). You are encouraged to bring a copy with you to pick-up, but your pick-up location will also have a ticket for your troop.
• Arrive at your pick-up location at your selected time. Be sure to follow any specific instructions that may be communicated regarding your specific pick-up location. Your pick-up time (if not participating in a service unit delivery) will be on your delivery ticket.
• Use a vehicle large enough to hold your entire order. Make sure your vehicle is free of car seats, strollers, people, etc., to maximize loading space.
• You may be required to get out of your vehicle and count, sign, and help load. It is your responsibility to make sure you have your complete order before leaving the delivery location.
• If your troop misses your pick-up due to an unforeseen emergency, contact Customer Care at 888.350.5090 for instructions.
• If your troop was supposed to pick up from a service unit delivery and you miss your pick-up, you need to contact your service unit fall product coordinator immediately.
• After you pick up your product, sort into girl orders before allowing caregivers to pick up. This will help you make sure each order is accurate before being picked up. You can print a report by girl to use when sorting into girl orders by clicking the Delivery Ticket icon and choosing Girl Tickets.
• Prepare a receipt for each girl. When caregivers pick up, they need to count and verify the order is correct and sign the receipt.
• Complete a receipt for each transaction. Remember, caregivers are financially responsible for all the product for which they sign. The fall product manager will be held responsible if there is a payment discrepancy and no signed receipts.
• If you have a girl with multiple caregivers taking orders, each caregiver should pick up and sign for their own orders.
Step 2 — Council Payment
All funds collected by a girl or troop should be deposited into the troop’s bank account. GSWO will perform one troop bank account withdrawal for the amount due to the council. This will take place on December 13, 2024. Since all M2 online customer payments are deposited into the council’s bank account, these deposits will be reflected on the Banking and Payments tab under Total Owed and will count toward your troop’s amount due.
Finance & Finalizing the Program
Money Collection
• No money should be collected for any fall product until it is delivered. (Exception is customers who order online— all online orders are paid for through M2 at the time order is placed).
• All checks should be made payable to GSWO Troop XXXXX. Checks are deposited into your troop’s bank account.
• Any time a caregiver gives you money, you must complete a receipt. Both parties sign and each keep a copy. The fall product manager will be responsible if no receipt is given and there is a payment discrepancy between caregivers and fall product manager.
• To determine how much your troop owes the council, you can click on the Banking and Payments icon. The report automatically calculates in any M2 online payments, so the amount listed under Total Owed is the amount outstanding to the council. This is the amount GSWO will withdraw on December 13.
Money Issues: Caregiver With Outstanding Balance & Returned Checks
• At GSWO we treat all money as girl money and have created procedures to help make sure girls always receive their troop proceeds. If a caregiver has missed their deadline to pay the troop, please use the Unpaid Funds Collection Assistance Form, and we will work with the caregiver to collect any remaining balances. By doing this you ensure that all troop funds remain intact.
1. Complete the Unpaid Funds Collection Assistance Form at gswo.org/unpaidfunds. GSWO will deduct the outstanding caregiver amount from the amount we will withdraw from your troop account on December 13.
2. If the caregiver completed a paper Caregiver Product Agreement Form, be sure to attach a copy, along with signed receipts when submitting the Unpaid Funds Collection Assistance Form. (If the caregiver submitted their agreement online, GSWO will have a copy). Unpaid Funds Collection Assistance Forms cannot be accepted without these supporting documents.
• If your troop has a check returned for insufficient funds, you can submit the Check Recovery Form at gswo.org/checkrecovery. GSWO will deduct this amount from the amount we will withdraw from your troop account on December 13.
Note: We take concerns of potential mistreatment or theft of troop money very seriously. If a troop or caregiver is unable or unwilling to resolve financial concerns, then appropriate action will take place. This could include participation/volunteer restrictions, collections, or legal action.
When you participate in the Fall Product Program, you’re learning skills that help you build financial literacy! Use these life lessons to work toward badges at any age level. Visit gswo.org/badges for more information.
When you participate in the Fall Product Program, You're learning skills that help you build financial literacy! Use these life lessons to work toward badges at any age level. Visit gswo.org/badges for more information.
Fall for Camp
Did you know that by participating in Product Programs, you are helping keep camp fun and adventurous for all Girl Scouts? Proceeds from the Fall Product Program and Girl Scout Cookie Program stay 100% local and support camp programs and properties!
Girls are learning important entrepreneurial skills and earning funds for fun troop experiences while simultaneously supporting camp. Investing in our camp properties is a priority for Girl Scouts of Western Ohio—we know that a surefire way to help girls grow their confidence and leadership skills is to get them outside!
888.350.5090 | gswo.org customercare@gswo.org
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