Cookie Shop Planning

Okay, you’ve gotten your cookie shop assignment (CS 2 or BCS 2) from the Area Shop Keeper (ASK). Now what? You might want to have a mock cookie shop during a meeting to allow your girls and the supervising adults an opportunity to practice before going out in public. Have some adults role play various types of potential customers including: the eager customer who has been waiting for this day, the person that wants detailed information about each cookie, the rude person who ignores the girl or who yells their refusal, the person who has difficulty hearing or making up his mind, and the person who wants to pay with a credit card.

Practice making change, accepting checks, saying thanks to every customer, and identifying the price of multiple boxes. Discuss with both girls and their parents, how a cookie shop is an opportunity for the public to see the Girl Scout Promise in action.

The perpetual question asked by all cookie managers is “How many cookies do I need for a shop?” There is no hard and fast rule since there are so many variables that impact a sale. An unexpectedly warm day may send a lot of folks to the beach and no where near your shop or there might be a tour bus of cookie lovers that happens to stop at your location and buy every cookie in sight. Talking to people in your service unit might give you a starting point.

Besides cookies, what else do you take to the cookie shop? Your CS 2 or BCS 2 form, folding table, money box/bag with change, a sign identifying check writing procedures, chairs for the two required supervising adults, and shop decorations (tablecloth, cookie display, poster with goals, pictures of activities, Council bookmarks, cookie shop poster from bakery, signed permission slip for participation at the shop, first aid kit, and medical information sheets) are appropriate. Girls should wear their Girl Scout Pin and uniforms are always a plus. There are large banners and cookie costumes for rent from the Council product sales room.

What should you do if another troop is there and when you both look at your CS 2 or BSC 2 forms you discover that both troops were accidentally assigned to the same shop at the same time? Don’t panic. Make new friends and share the space or one troop can elect to leave. If there are two doors, each troop can be stationed at a different door. This can be a positive learning lesson for the girls on how Girl Scouts are flexible and kind to each other even when mistakes happen. Call the ASK later to let them know about the mistake. If you elected to leave, another shop time can be assigned.
After the sale, don’t forget to thank the business and leave the area cleaner than you found it. Take your empty boxes to a recycling bin. DO NOT place them in the trash receptacles in front of the business. Remember, Girl Scouts use resources wisely.

Remember:
Don’t let the girls go in and out of the business.
Don’t ask for donations.
Don’t tape your posters to the windows of a business unless you have permission.
Don’t forget to review the Cookie Sale Planbook for other cookie shop procedures.

Cookie delivery day is right around the corner. Here are some suggestions to help make it a successful day.

• The service unit cookie manager (SUCM) will need your help, so please plan to lend a helping hand.
  
• You will have already signed up for a delivery time. The sign up sheet should have been available at the January service unit meeting, or you may have been contacted directly by your SUCM. If you do not have an assigned time or if you have forgotten your pickup time, check with the SUCM a few days before the delivery. The delivery date for your service unit is on page 26 of your Cookie Sale Planbook.
  
• Make sure you know where delivery is to take place and where your alternate location is if you are having a trailer drop in case of bad weather. You should have phone numbers where your SUCM can be reached on the delivery day; this will usually be a cell phone or delivery site phone number.
  
• If you can’t be there on your delivery day to pickup your cookies, you must find someone to pick them up for you. You will need to inform your SUCM of whom that will be. There are no exceptions; the cookies must be picked up on your delivery day.
  
• Be on time. Make sure you have enough vehicles and people to help you from your troop, especially if you have a large cookie order. For your convenience there is a chart on page 25 of your Cookie Sale Planbook which gives the approximate number of cases of cookies that should fit in different size vehicles. Please note these figures represent an empty vehicle. Please leave all children and car seats at home.
  
• You are expected to load your car. Please plan on helping to load a few cars before yours and a few cars after. Remember, the more help the faster the cookies will be loaded and the earlier everyone will be finished.
  
• You will be required to count the cookie cases by variety with the SUCM and sign a receipt for the cookies.
  
• Remember that it is not wise to allow cookies to sit in a hot car. Even on cool days if it is sunny, your car can get warm and possibly melt the chocolate cookies. Please plan on taking your cookies home immediately.