Sales Experience: From A Girl Scout
As a Girl Scout Ambassador, I have sold cookies for eight years now. Over the years, my confidence has built, I have outgrown my booth table at least once, and I have talked to thousands of people outside grocery stores.
Some things I’ve picked up about selling over the years:
Lead with a smile. People don’t need your entire spiel about troop sales and cookie flavors, just a friendly greeting and a box of cookies in front of you will do the job. Kindness attracts customers, and a simple wave can make someone’s day.
Engage with people. Plenty of people have stories to share about Girl Scouts. Listening to someone talk about what it was like to be a Brownie in the 1970s fosters connection. Often, at booths, I hear a “this is my daughter’s favorite flavor” or “should we call Dad and see if he wants some?” To me, these conversations are one of the best parts of cookie sales.
Keep good records. Another important aspect of the cookie program is the practical skills it teaches girls. Count your inventory, tally sales, sort your cash, and do it all yourself! Girl Scout Cookies is a girl-run business, leaving you with skills you can use for the rest of your life.
An aspect of Girl Scouts I wish more people knew about is our Fall Product Program. My family always gives out their tins of chocolates as holiday gifts. In the fall, Girl Scouts sell candies, nuts, magazines, and even themed Bark Boxes full of treats and toys for your dogs. For any customer who wants to spoil their furry friends, there is a new treat coming out this year for dogs! Patch Pals are a soft-baked, blueberry muffin-flavored treat available online this cookie season. I would bring my dog to booths with me, so I am excited that the love for cookies is spreading this season. My first year in Girl Scouts, our troop's Hometown Hero was the Dumb Friends League, and we brought our donated boxes and cash donations to the shelter at the end of the season. Maybe this year the dogs will get some Girl Scout treats, too!
Girl Scouts are well-known for cookies, which allows girls to spread the word about other fantastic aspects of the program, like Fall Sales or Girl Scout Camp. If I get questions about cookies or being a Girl Scout in general, I have the opportunity to educate or even recruit new members. Girl Scouts is always accepting new members and volunteers on the website https://www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org