2017-18_GSUSA_WebTemplate_CookiePages_Find-Cookies

Important Dates

January: Digital Cookie Days at local offices
January 12: Digital Cookie Begins
January 24: Initial Inventory Orders are submitted
February 8, 10-13: Pick up Initial Cookie Orders
February 14: Cookies-in-Hand and Booth Sales Begin
February 28-March 1: National Girl Scout Cookie Weekend
March 22: End of Cookie Program

Cookie Program Promotional Kit
This Cookie Promotional Kit gives girls, troop leaders, and Cookie moms and dads, tools to highlight their businesses in creative ways, while also helping them meet their goals. Explore the kit and click on the links throughout to download graphics and templates to share on your social media pages!

Troop Participation Options

Looking for all of the guidlines, dates, earning opportunities, and cookie sale tips all in one place? Check out Cookie Connections!

Troop Cookie Calculator

Need to get your initial order calculated, but unsure where to start? Check out our Cookie Calculator! This handy resource will help new troops, as well as existing troops determine their initial order amounts.

Remember, this is just a recommendation. You can order more or less if you choose.

Video: The Cookie Calculator and Placing the Initial Inventory Order

Clover Credit Card Program

How do I Participate?

Click here to access the Training Power Point Presentation. Although the Clover system is easy to use, this training contains a lot of detailed information. We suggest that you read through the training first, then once you are ready to set up your account, have it accessible in case you need to refer back to it.
Once you have looked through the Power Point Presentation, click here to request a link to sign up. This will allow us to check and make sure you have your banking account and ACH information on file with council
You will receive a link to sign up. Links will be sent out after January 2, 2020.

What is it?

Clover Go Card Reader
Let your cookie buyers simply swipe, dip, or tap to pay using this portable device. Clover Go wirelessly pairs with your iOS or Android device via Bluetooth. It can accept credit or signature debit cards and mobile payments like Apple Pay or Android Pay or Samsung Pay. Perfect for your troop to use at a booth sale!

Clover Go app for payments on the go
You will also be able to securely take payments on the Clover app by keying in the card information or using your phone’s camera, without the need for any extra card reader. Perfect for individual girls making sales to friends and family!

What are the Benefits?

Convenient for customers
Customers buy more
It’s easy to use
Money goes straight to troop bank account
Low rate
More than one member can use the app

How Does is Work?

The reader is not required – the app allows for payments to be taken with phone’s camera
Readers are available for purchase for $39.95 (Bluetooth enabled) plus $10 shipping– use it to swipe, dip, or tap
2% interest rate plus 8 cents per transaction
Online training provided for troops
A link to sign up and online training will be sent to interested troops
Credit card fees will be charged to the eBudde account one time prior to the final ACH pull

Tips For a Great Booth Sale

Best Booth Ever!
Need materials to make your booth the best booth ever? Download posters, banners, name tags, receipts, thank-you cards, and more at Little Brownie Bakers.

Cookie Cupboard Basics

You can pick up cookies from any cookie cupboard listed in eBudde.
There are no returns on cookies unless they are checked out on consignment for a booth sale- then you have 48 hours from the time of the booth sale to return unsold cookies.
Cookie cupboards have limited inventory on hand – if you do not place a pending order, you may not get the cookies you need.

On average, a three-hour cookie booth assortment could be:

2 to 3 cases Thin Mint
1 to 2 cases Do-si-Dos
2 cases S’mores
2 to 3 cases Samoas
1-2 cases of Lemon Ups
1 case (or less) Toffee-tastics
2 cases Tagalongs
1 case (or less) Trefoils

A Few Booth Sale Rules

Review the Girl Scout Law. Your troop is representing Girl Scouts to the community and is expected to behave in a professional manner.
A minimum of one troop leader, one adult, and two girls are required to attend a booth sale. It is recommended that there be no more than four girls at a booth sale at one time.
Carry a cash box or money bag with around $30-$60 in change.
Dress appropriately for weather and wear uniforms, Girl Scout apparel, or Girl Scout pins.

Helpful Resources

Updated Cookie Booth Return Policy

Per GSUSA food safety protocol for Girl Scout Cookies, cookie cupboards may accept returns of UNOPENED cases of cookies only – NO EXCEPTIONS! – within 48 hours of the booth sale. This only applies to cookies checked out from a cupboard, NOT booth cookies ordered from the initial order. Those cannot be returned at all.

Tips and FAQ’s:

You may still check out individual packages of cookies from cookie cupboards.
You will not be allowed to exchange individual packages of cookies with cookie cupboards.
You may exchange full, unopened cases of cookies with cookie cupboards.
Use extra cookies that girls or the troop already has on hand at booth sales.
Don’t over-order the less popular varieties – such as Do-si-Dos, S’mores, Savannah Smiles, Toffee–tastics, and Trefoils.
Contact your Cupboard Manager or Service Unit Product Manager for help placing your order.
If you have leftover packages that you are not able to return, hold another booth sale, give them out to the girls in the troop to sell door to door, schedule a Cookie Caravan where the troop canvasses neighborhoods to sell cookies, or hold a text-a-thon at your next troop meeting where girls will text as many friends and family members as they can in one hour
Use eBudde's new Cookie Exchange to trade cookies with other troops.

Helpful Resources

Cookie Booth Return Policy PDF

Cookie Rally

At a cookie rally, girls will learn everything they need to know to become cookie bosses and will have a lot of fun working with other Girl Scouts. Use the resource links from Little Brownie Bakers for activities, decorations and more to begin planning your troop’s rally event.

Cookie Rally Guide
Cookie Rally Flyer
Cookie Rally Invite

Cookie Rookies and Captains

Rookies

Check out the Little Brownie Bakers website for an interactive program and activities all about Cookie Rookies!

Cookie Rookies are girls and troops new to the Cookie Sale Program. Cookie Rookie girls will receive special training at your local Cookie Rally (and a special patch!).

Girls will learn:

How the sale works
Cookie names
Easy ways to ask a customer to buy
Cookie booth essentials
Safety rules
How to set a goal

Captains

Check out the Little Brownie Bakers website for a fun video and an awesome guide, notebook, flyer and more just for Cookie Captains!

Cookie Captains are girls and troops that are experienced cookie bosses. At your local Cookie Rally, Cookie Captains will have special activities and receive a patch.

Earn Additional Cookie Credit!
Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors have the opportunity to become Cookie Captains and earn additional program credits! Because the largest girl-led business in the world is a major part of Girl Scouts and greatly benefits our council, we want to provide older girls an opportunity to share their expertise with younger girls.

There are optional activities for girls to complete to earn credits, but all girls must complete the online training to earn an initial $5 in program credit and train a Cookie Rookie Troop to earn another $5 in program credit. All Cookie Captains will need to complete a final report as well. Below is a list of other activities to earn additional credits.

Help at a Cookie Rally = $5
Help half of the girls in a troop setup Digital Cookie accounts = $5
Help a troop achieve a PGA (Per Girl Average) of 175 = $15

Cookie Captains must complete their final report by Friday, April 17, 2020. Reports can be mailed to 317 7^th Avenue SE, Suite 201, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 2401 or emailed to Info@GirlScoutsToday.org.

Cookie Crew (Leaders/Volunteers)

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! Apply to Join the GSEIWI Cookie Crew!

During Girl Scout Cookie Season there are multitudes of people that make the cookie season a success! GSEIWI is currently looking for 10-15 volunteers to assist council staff with cookie program activities/events. You will even get your own Cookie Crew t-shirt to wear in proud support of the GSEIWI Cookie Program!

Some of these events may include (and are not necessary limited to) assisting with the following:

Cookie Rallies
Attend troop leader trainings
Attend parent meetings
Digital Cookie Days
Open Houses
Serve as a mentor to new troop leaders (can be done by phone or email)
Cookie Program Celebrations

Requirements:

3 or more years Cookie Program experience
Availability to help at a minimum of 4 cookie program activities/events
Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, somewhat flexible schedule
Attend a webinar training conducted by GSEIWI Product Program Staff

Click Here to Apply

Cookie Pro Contest

This cookie season, six girls nationwide, one per Girl Scout grade level, will be named GSUSA's Top Cookie Pro.

By entering the contest, girls get a chance to:

Unlock the limited-edition Cookie Pro 2018 Patch
Travel to NYC for a Girl Scout Cookie Entrepreneur Experience
Be featured on our Girl Scout Cookie box

Registered Girl Scout Cookie sellers can participate by completing their very own Cookie Pro Resume Survey online and submitting it along with a photo. Check out the guide for more details.

Cookie House Party

A Cookie House Party is a sweet strategy that encourages girls to invite their best customers to a cookie-themed gathering to have fun, enjoy snacks—and buy cookies by the case! Girls share their BIG goals, and customers make BIG purchases.

Check out the Little Brownie Bakers website to get a guide, invitations, decorations and much more!

Helpful Websites and Apps

eBudde: ebudde.littlebrownie.com

Order cookies, track girl activity, and order girl rewards. New this year: You can watch microburst (mini) eBudde video trainings on many topics at the helpdesk on eBudde!

eBudde App

Download this free app in iPhone App Store or through Google Play. Volunteers can manage their cookie sale through their mobile device!

Little Brownie Bakers: littlebrowniebakers.com

Find girl activities, marketing ideas, cookie facts, program resources, and clipart to help girls prepare for the cookie sale. You can even use the Built by Me Cookie Planner, to plan your troop’s cookie sale step-by-step!

Digital Cookie: digitalcookie.girlscouts.org

Parents will receive a personal email to set up their daughter’s account. Girl Scouts can set up their own personalized sales pages, take credit card payments, and ship cookies directly to their customers.

Cupboard Keeper app

Download this free app in iPhone App Store or through Google Play. Record sales in real time at booths, making record keeping a breeze.

Girl Scouts of the USA: girlscoutcookies.org

Locate information on the Girl Scout Cookie Program and national cookie badges and pins.

Booth Sale Recorder app

Download this free app in iPhone App Store or through Google Play. Record sales in real time at booths, making record keeping a breeze.

Handouts, posters, Videos and more!
To help you have fun and stay safe as you build your cookie business check out the Girl Scouts of the USA's Cookie and Product Activity page.

Fun Activities
Want to make this cookie season the best one yet? Check out some of the fun activities and materials for girls from our partners at Little Brownie Bakers.

Helpful Resources and Information

Troop Profit Information

How Much Will My Troop Earn?

Troops earn 55¢ per package sold. Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador troops who opt out of rewards for higher troop profit earn 65¢ per package sold. Troops that opt out will still qualify for all patches, the Capri Bonus, Program Credit, and the Super Seller Club rewards.

Product Sale Bonus

Troops have the opportunity to earn an additional product sales bonus per package sold if they reach a certain per girl average (PGA) for the cookie sale. Take the total number of packages sold by your troop, divided by the number of girls selling and plug that into the chart to figure out how much your troop will earn per package sold. You can also find your troop PGA in eBudde on the total sales report or the final rewards page – already calculated. Girls not selling do not count toward your troop PGA.

Per Girl Average	*Rate (Standard)**	*Rate (Opt Out)**
1-174	$0.55	$0.65
175-199	$0.57	$0.67
200+	$0.60	$0.70

_{* Rate per package}

Troop and TPM Responsibilities

Troop Responsibilities:

A current bank account including a completed ACH form.
At least two registered and approved Troop Leaders.
A registered and approved adult as the Troop Product Manager who has signed the Troop Product Manager Agreement form.
The Troop Product Manager can also be a Troop Leader, but this must be added as a role.

Troop Product Manager (TPM) Responsibilities:

Teach girls the 5 Skills of the Cookie Sale Program.
Create a receipt any time cookies or money is exchanged. Receipts must be dated and signed.
Ensure that all cookies that are ordered, picked up at a cupboard, or transferred from another troop are inventoried.
Collect and keep all permission forms and signed receipts.
Track all payments received from parents or at booth sales and follow financial procedures for money management success.
Track and order all girl rewards earned by the troop. Rewards should be distributed to girls within two weeks of receiving them.

Helpful Resource:

Troop Product Manager (TPM) Agreement Form

Payments and Finances

Collecting Payment

No money should be collected for cookies until they are delivered.
Initial cookie orders should be delivered within two weeks.
Retrieve money from sellers and deposit often. Do not hold cash or checks – deposit them immediately. Once cookie money is turned in to you, you are responsible for it, even if it gets lost or stolen.
If parents have $500 worth of cookies out and they haven’t made a single payment, request that they bring payment back before you give them additional cookies.

You are required to give a receipt each and every time cookies or money exchanges hands with parents/girls.

Return Policy

Troops and parents who sign for cookies cannot return them to the troop or to the cupboards/council unless a troop has checked them out for a booth sale. If a package is damaged, it can be replaced at any cookie cupboard that has extra cookies available.

Problem Collection Forms

In the event that a parent does not turn in their cookie money by the due date, complete a Problem Collection Form (PCF). As the Troop Product Manager, you are required to complete this form for any outstanding balance - no matter who the parent or the money owed.

Do not pay the past due amount with troop proceeds.

As soon as the money is turned in, council will end the problem collection process and there will be no further action. The form must be turned in to Finance by March 25, 2020.

Problem Collection Form

Returned Checks

Checks returned against your troop are the responsibility of the council. If you get a returned check, follow the instructions on the Returned Check Form.

Returned Check Form

Counterfeit Money

Identifying Counterfeit Money

Hold the bill up to the light and look for:

Watermark: In the unprinted space to the right of the portrait, the watermark can be seen from both sides of the bill since it is not actually printed on the bill, but is embedded in the paper.
Security thread: This is a thin, embedded strip running from top to bottom on the face of the bill. On the $10 and $50 bills, the security strip is located to the right of the portrait. On $5, $20, and $100 bills, it is located to the left of the portrait.
Color-shifting ink: Tilt the bill back and forth and observe the numeral in the lower right-hand corner. On the $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills (produced in 2004 and later), the color shifts from copper to green. Bills produced between 1996 and 2003, will shift from green to black. Please note: The $5 bill does not have color-shifting, regardless of the year it was produced.

If You Receive Counterfeit Money

If you suspect counterfeit money, do not put yourself or girls in danger. Do not attempt to return the bill(s) to the passer and contact your bank and local authorities.

Spoiler Alert: Counterfeit pens are unreliable

These highly popular pens used to detect counterfeit bills are no longer reliable indicators of whether a bill is counterfeit. An alternate option is to use ultraviolet light, but these also come with limitations because they are difficult to use outside. More information on how to spot counterfeit money can be found at secretservice.gov/data/KnowYourMoney.pdf.

Training Videos and Materials

To have a successful cookie sale season, we encourage all Troop Product Managers to attend online trainings. All webinars will be recorded.

Troop Product Manager Cookie Sale Training

Watch Video

This online training provides an overview of the 2020 Cookie Sale Program. You will learn all the basics you need to have a successful sale! After you view this video, you will still need to receive Service Unit-specific information and materials from your Service Unit Product Manager.

Troop Product Manager eBudde Training

Watch Video

This online training provides an overview of eBudde, your cookie management system. It will include all you need to know within eBudde from the beginning through the end of the sale.

Cookie Chats

Each Wednesday before and during the Cookie Program, we will be holding webinars on various topics. Webinars will take place at 6:00 pm. Click below to register. All webinars will be recorded. If a webinar date has passed, simply click on the same link to watch the recording.

Training Videos

Training Materials

Family Cookie Meeting Help

Schedule a meeting with girls and families prior to starting the Cookie Sale Program. At the meeting, explain the program with the Cookie Program Family Guide, collect permission forms, and encourage parents to volunteer.

What families should know:

Cookie dates and guidelines.
The 5 Skills girls learn.
The importance of goal setting.
Troop proceeds and girl rewards. Funds that do not directly
go to girls support services for troops like volunteer training,
special events, and program opportunities.
Ways to participate and phases of the sale.
Cookie varieties and cost.
Rules and responsibilities.