Girl Scouts of Connecticut

Troop Cookie Manager Training

Welcome!

Topics We Will Cover…

-Cookie Program Safety-5 Skills for Girls-Cookie Program dates and materials-Volunteer Resources-Goal Setting-Digital Cookie 2.0-Reaching out to customers and Cookies for Heroes-Earning Initial Order recognitions and Booth Sale Bonus-Ordering Initial Order cookies and recognitions-eBudde Updates-Cookie Booths and Cupboards-Final Girl Recognitions and TOP Troop- Finances

2015-2016 Cookie Campaign

2015-2016 Cookie Order Card cookies

Seven varieties of cookies are $4.00 per box.Toffee-tastics are $5.00 per box.

Troops earn $.75 in proceeds for every box sold.

cookiesFantastic Toffee-tastic!

Toffee-tastic cookies have been certified gluten free by the NSF.

We will be participating in the second year of the Gluten- Free Pilot with Little Brownie Bakers!

Toffee-tastic will continue to be the gluten-free cookie offered by our baker.

These cookies are not listed on the Initial Order cards but troops may order cases with their Initial Order. Every troop is guaranteed one case of Toffee-tastics with their Initial Order, if requested.

The price for Toffee-tastics will remain at $5.00 per box.

5 Skills for Girls

Goal Setting Girls learn the importance of goal setting and the skills needed to achieve a goal.

 Decision Making

How to market cookies, deciding where and when to sell cookies, and how to use troop proceeds are key in the decision-making experience for girls.

 Money Management

By collecting money from customers, making change, helping to develop the troop budget, and making plans to use the money, girls gain money management skills and

contribute to the financial success of their troop. 

People Skills Girls learn how to interact with people outside of their family and circle of friends by

approaching, talking, and listening to customers.

Business Ethics By participating in the Cookie Program, girls will learn about how to interact fairly and

honestly with customers.  

Cookie Program Safety

 

Tips for Staying Safe Girls must be registered and complete an Annual Consent form in order to participate in the Cookie Program.

Girls should always wear a Girl Scout membership pin, Girl Scout vest/sash, or Girl Scout clothing to identify themselves as Girl Scouts.

A parent/guardian or adult troop volunteer must know each girl’s whereabouts when she is participating in the Cookie Program

Throughout the Cookie Program, adults must provide age-appropriate supervision, including when she is participating in Digital Cookie 2.0

 For Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors, adults must accompany girls when they are selling, taking orders for, or delivering cookies.

For Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, the buddy system should be employed, and adults must be aware of how, when, and where the girls are selling products.

Adults must be present at all booth sale activities.

General Safety Tips

Cookie Program Safety

 

Using the Internet Safely

Before using the internet, girls and her parent/guardian must sign the Girl Scout Internet Safety Pledge.

An adult must supervise girls when they are participating in any online activity relating to the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

• Girls who are 13 years old or older may use social networking sites to market product, but should use first names only, their troop/group number and council.

Personal emails or street addresses of girls should never be used for contacting or responding to customers. Instead, an adult email address OR a group email address monitored by an adult should be used.

To participate in Digital Cookie 2.0 girls must read and agree to the Girl Scout Digital Cookie Pledge and her parents/guardians must read and agree to the Digital Cookie Terms and Conditions for Parents/Guardians of Girl Scouts.

Online Safety Tips

Cookie Program Dates

 

December 2015Hold Cookie Program Training for girls and families16: Invitations to sign up for Digital Cookie will be emailed to girls

January 20162: Initial Order taking begins!9: Cookie Rallies31: Initial Order taking ends

February 20161: Goal Getter Order taking begins5: Troop deadline to submit order in eBudde for cookies and recognitions.27-28: Cookie Delivery Weekend27: Booth Sales begin

March 201618: Troop cookie bill due for all boxes receive on the Initial Order and cupboards27: Booth Sales and Goal Getter order taking ends31: Troop deadline to make eBudde entries and final payments, and submit paperwork to the Service Unit Cookie Manager

Cookie Program Materials

 

For the Troop

Cookie Program GuideLarge Troop EnvelopeReceipt bookletCookies for Heroes flierTOP Troop formCookie/Money receipt bookletOne box of Thin Mints to sample

For Each Girl

Initial Order CardFamily NewsletterMoney EnvelopeGoal Getter Order CardCookies for Heroes Reminders

Volunteer Resources

 

We want to support your troop in the Cookie Program by offering resources you can access at any time.

Have questions? Before you contact your SU Cookie Manager check these out:

VideosHow to Become a Cookie BossDigital Cookie 2.0Cookie Booth SalesGoal Getter SaleseBuddeCookie Program Wrap Up

One Page PDFsCookie Program: Initial Order, Goal Getter Sales and Booth SalesDigital Cookie 2.0Cookies for Heroes and Local GOCBooth Sale How-TosHow to Make an Online Payment

All of these resources (and many more!) will be available in the Cookie Connection page at gsofct.org.

All Troop Cookie Managers and Troop Leaders listed in eBudde will receive The Cookie Recipe via email. These emails are short and sweet reminders

about the Cookie Program right when you need them. Stay tuned for our first issue in December!

Cookie Rally

Did you know that girls who attend the Cookie Rally sell more boxes than those who do not?

Cookies Rallies are great events where girls can get excited about the Cookie Program and participate in

activities that increase their confidence in approaching customers, speaking about their

products, and developing plans to reach their goals.

Join us on January 9, 2016, from 12PM to 4PM. Troops and families can stop by anytime at:

Westfield Meriden MallDanbury Fair Mall

The Shoppes at Buckland HillsCrystal Mall

If you would like to volunteer at a Cookie Rally please email productsales@gsofct.org.

Cookie Rally

NEW for 2016! Every girl who attends the Cookie Rally and

visits the stations will receive a Cookie Program Marketing Kit.

This kit includes:Business cards to leave with customers

“Ask Me About Girl Scout Cookies” buttonDoor Hangers to advertise cookie sales in

the neighborhoodMarketing Tips flier with lots of ways to

promote the Cookie Program

All girls will also receive the 2016 Cookie Rally patch.

Goal Setting in the Cookie Program

Goal Setting is an important skill that can be learned through participating in the Cookie Program.

Goals should be set by….

All TroopsEvery Girl

Each Service UnitGirl Scouts of Connecticut

Creating a plan to reach a goal, sharing the goal with others, and securing their support are key to success

in the Cookie Program.

Our most successful cookie sellers are also great goal setters. They encourage other girls to participate in the Cookie Program and inspire customers to support their

efforts.

Every Troop should discuss and agree on a goal (or more!) before the start of the Cookie Program. A goal is about more than a certain number of boxes, it is based on what the girls want to do and how it will impact those around them.

Great questions to ask girls to begin this discussion include:1.What activities would we like to participate in?2.How can we help our communities?3.What does our troop need?

Once the girls have decided on their goals they can determine:1.How much money will we need to accomplish these?2.How many boxes of cookies will we need to sell to earn the amount in proceeds?3.What is our plan to sell this number of boxes?

Goals have included creating community gardens, travelling to World Centers, purchasing first aid kits and uniforms, going on a camping trip, purchasing and donating supplies to animal shelters, and so much more!

Goal Setting in the Cookie Program Troop Goals

Goal Setting in the Cookie Program Individual Goals

When a troop has a goal, it is easy for a girl to see that she has a part in making something big happen! Girls will know how many boxes they should sell to help their troop achieve their goal.

Girls can also determine their own goal beyond what the troop has set. Girls may challenge themselves to increase their sales from last year, they may decide to work toward a particular recognition, or they may decide to earn money for camp through Cookie Credits.

Every girl should record her goals on the front of her order card so that customers can see that their purchase is making a difference.

Goal Setting in the Cookie Program Service Unit and Council Goals

Service Unit GoalsEvery Service Unit can earn

funds when they achieve their goal!

Our Service Unit goal is to increase our sales by ½%, and our stretch goal is to increase

our sales by 2%. If everyone works together we

can reach these goals and earn the Service Unit Bonus!

GSOFCT’s Total GoalOur council’s goal is to continue offering enriching opportunities for

our girl and volunteer members. To do that, we want to sell 2,350,400 boxes.

Every girl, troop, and Service Unit has a part in reaching this goal!

Reaching Customers Initial Order and Goal Getter Sales

There are many ways for girls to reach customers and They are encouraged to try them all!

.

Sell to Family and Friends

Door to Door Sales Workplace Sales

Telephone Sales

Social Media Marketing

Digital Cookie Sales

Marketing Through Emails and Texts

Marketing Via Business Cards and Fliers

Everyone should know that it is Cookie Time!

Digital Cookie 2.0 digital

Highlights from Digital Cookie 1.0

More than 1,600 girls in CT sold at least one box online More than 40,000 boxes were sold via Digital Cookie 1.0 (5th highest

number of boxes sold by all participating councils) CT Girl Scouts sold cookies online to customers in all 50 states

Approximately 18,000 packages were sold within Connecticut and 22,700 were sold to customers in the other 49 states

Order Type # of Boxes

Donation 6,477

Girl Delivery 7,756

Girl Delivery + Donation 4,683

Shipped 14,132

Shipped + Donation 7,791

Digital Cookie 1.0 Sales by order type

Level # of girls

Daisy 694

Brownie 545

Junior 265

Cadette 90

Senior/Ambassadors 28

Digital Cookie 1.0 Sales by program level

Digital Cookie 2.0 digital

What’s new for 2.0 for girls/families/customers?• Reduced shipping fees and NO ADDITIONAL FEE for

cookies purchased for Girl Delivery OR Donation.• Mobile app (iPhone and Android) –

• available by January 15, 2016

• Girls/families will need to register and set up web page in Digital Cookie in order to use the app.

• Cookie Badges specific to the girl’s program age level will be available on Digital Cookie along with badge requirements.

• Games and videos specific to the girl’s program age level will be featured and can be used to fulfill cookie badge requirements.

Digital Cookie 2.0 digital

What’s new for 2.0 for volunteers?•Improved functionality for troop volunteers to see what types of orders (shipped, girl delivery or donation) girls have received•Parents/volunteers can easily switch between their role as leader, parent, and/or Service Unit Manager without needing to log out.•Parents/volunteers will only receive the one registration email in December.

Digital Cookie 2.0 digital

How to get started•Look for a registration email on December 16 from Digital Cookie at the email address used to register the girl with GSOFCT.

•This email will come from email@email.girlscouts.org.• Troop families should add this email address to their safe sender

list so Digital Cookie emails do not end up in SPAM

Digital Cookie 2.0 digital

• Parents/volunteers will need to register themselves first and then will be able to register their daughter(s). • Registering as a volunteer

does NOT automatically register her daughter(s)

• A parent/volunteer will need to specifically register her daughter(s) individually.

• NOTE: Girls will need to be registered Girl Scouts in Connecticut

Once you have registered, watch your inbox for a registration confirmation email and save this email where you can find it

during cookie season!

Cookies for Heroes Program Information

The Cookies for Heroes Program is a unique gift of caring project where girls can offer customers the opportunity to thanks our local heroes,

veterans, and active duty members of the military. This is a virtual program so girls and troops do not need to handle the boxes.

Girl Scouts of Connecticut works with several partner organizations to distribute cookies to our heroes. These organizations include:

Marine ParentsMolly’s Adopt a SailorHome for the Brave

Project Hometown SupportOperation Gift CardBlue Star Mothers

Navy LeagueAMVETS

Marine Corps AuxiliaryProject from the Heart

Veterans of Foreign War

Please let us know of any other possible partners in your community.

Dear Customer,

Cookies for Heroes is our council’s Gift of Caring service project that encourages customers to support Girl Scouting, our veterans and active duty military members at home and overseas as well as local community heroes. Please consider purchasing cookies for this great cause. Your donation helps our troop and enables Girl Scouts of Connecticut to send cookies to our deserving heroes. Thank you for your support.

Cookies for Heroes Customer Information

Customers can support the Cookies for Heroes program every time a girl asks them to make a purchase:

On the Order Card: The first column on each customer’s line on the Initial Order card and the Goal

Getter order card can be used to record Cookies for Heroes sales.

Girls will also receive a reminder slip to staple or tape to their order card.

.

Cookies for Heroes Customer Information

Through Digital Cookie 2.0: When a customer views a girl’s digital order card, she can select to support

Cookies for Heroes as well as purchase her favorite Girl Scout cookies.

At a Booth Sale: Girls can display their Cookies for Heroes flier and make their own posters to

market this program to customers at their booths. They can also use the Cookies for Heroes box wrap to cover a box of cookies and display it with the

other offerings on the table.

Troops should set a goal for Cookies for Heroes and share it with their friends, family, and customers.

.

Cookies for Heroes Recognitions

New Cookies for Heroes Recognition!Girls who sell 15 or more boxes in support of the Cookies for Heroes program will earn the Bracelet/ Hair Tie Trio.

Gift of Caring PatchGirls who sell at least one box of cookies in support of the

Cookies for Heroes program or a Local Gift of Caring Project as determined by their troop can earn the Gift of

Caring patch.

Cookies for Heroes sales count toward a girl’s final number of boxes sold, so the more Cookies for Heroes boxes she sells the closer she will get to her goal! These boxes count toward recognitions and Cookie Credits for the girls, and

troops earn proceeds from each box sold.

.

Initial Order Recognitions Girls

Special Opportunity!

Girls can earn a special recognition when they sell 115 boxes or more on their Initial Order.

These boxes may include:Any Cookies for Heroes or Local Gift of Caring purchases

All orders received through Digital Cookie 2.0Orders received in person, over the phone, or through

other connections with customers

The Initial Order period runs from January 2-31, 2016 so girls will want to contact customers early in the

Cookie Program to earn the Cookies and Milk Apron recognition!

The length of the apron can be

adjusted.

Just for Troops!

Every cookie seller with orders in eBudde and two adult volunteers can earn this special recognition for Initial Order sales.

Troops that average 115 boxes or more per girl participating in the Initial Order will earn Poppin’ Paisley Bandanas!

The average will be calculated based on all girls’ sales in the Initial Order period, plus any cases ordered for booth sales or Goal Getters

on the Initial Order.

Initial Order Recognitions Troops

Booth Sale Bonus

Troops can order additional cases of cookies with their Initial Girl Orders in eBudde. These cookies can be used at upcoming booth sales or to fill Goal Getter Orders.

Increase the number of cookies ordered with the initial order! Booth sales boxes count toward the number of cookies sold and can help troops earn their Poppin’ Paisley Bandanas. These boxes also bring you closer to reaching your troop and Service Unit goals.

Earn more in troop proceeds! For every 20 cases ordered on the initial order troops receive a $20.00 bonus. Troops having multiple booth sales can order more and earn more. Order 40 cases earn $40.00!

Have cookies available and skip the cupboard! It’s great to have cookies on hand to fill additional orders. Troops choose the varieties of cookies they would like, so make sure to order the most popular varieties to keep customers satisfied.

Booth Sale Bonus cookies may not be returned to a Cookie Cupboard.

eBudde

 

General Information

eBudde is the online system our council uses to manage the Cookie Program.

In eBudde, Troop Cookie Managers will:Enter/update troop contact information and level

Enter cookie ordersOrder recognitions

Record girl paymentsEnter booth sale information

Select cookie pick up time for Delivery WeekendRecord troop payments to the council

Assign boxes to girlsReview “DOC Orders by Girl” Report

Initial Order eBudde Instructions will be available online and from your Service Unit Cookie Manager in January.

https://ebudde.littlebrownie.com

eBudde

 

Updates for 2016

Password UpdateAll eBudde users will use 3185@RahRah when they sign in for the first time this season. eBudde will require you to create a unique password after you log in.

Girls Listed in eBuddeOur council is uploading girl names and ID number into eBudde. All girls that have been entered into our membership database will be listed for the Troop Cookie Manager. Please do not change or delete these entries as they link each girl to Digital Cookie 2.0. When names or IDs are changed eBudde and Digital Cookie cannot communicate and neither the troop nor the girl can automatically receive credit for online orders.

eBudde Assigned ID NumbersIf a girl is not listed in eBudde she can be added by the Troop Cookie Manager. She will be assigned an ID number by eBudde. Once assigned please do not change this ID number. It will look different than the other numbers assigned in the troop; that is okay.

eBudde

 

Submitting the Initial Order

eBudde Initial Order Checklist for Troops

Update all troop contact informationEnter any girls who are not listed Enter orders (in boxes) under each girl’s name*Enter booth sale order (in cases) under the Booth lineSubmit Initial OrderSelect a time to pick up your Initial OrderOrder Initial Order Recognitions

The deadline to complete all items on this checklist is 11:59 p.m. on February 5, 2016.

Only troops who list boxes by girl can receive Initial Order Recognitions and the Booth Sale Bonus.

Cookie Delivery

 

The Most Exciting Weekend of the Year!

Cookies will be delivered to multiple sites the weekend of February 27 and 28, 2016. Each Service Unit will be assigned a date, location, and timeframe

for their troops to pick up.

Troop Cookie Managers will reserve a time to pick up their cookies when they submit their Initial Order in eBudde.

Please make sure that two adults are available to pick up cookies during your selected timeslot: one adult to drive the vehicle and one adult to count the number

of cases as they are loaded. If more than one vehicle is needed to transport the order all drivers must be made

aware of where they are going and when. All vehicles must be present before joining the line.

Cookie Delivery Sites are always in need of volunteers! Please consider joining us for the day or putting us in contact with groups in your

community who may be interesting helping.

Cookie Booths and Cupboards

 

Cookie Booths Cookie Booths can be held from February 27-March 27, 2016 All troops and individual girls may hold booth sales.Booths are a great place for girls to market the Cookies for Heroes

Program and interact with new customers. Boxes sold at cookie booths count toward recognitions and total sales!

Cookie CupboardsCupboards are volunteer run and will be open in March 2016Volunteers may pick up boxes of cookies for Booth Sales and Goal Getter SalesA full list of Council Cookie Cupboards will be available in February 2016

TOP Troop Recognition

 Troops will earn an additional 5¢ per box in council store credit and be recognized

as a TOP Troop when they meet these requirements:

T Troops average 125 boxes per girl selling. O Troop’s payment is made ONLINE and ON TIME. Payment for ALL COOKIES PICKED UP PRIOR to MARCH 16 is due on March 18, 2016.P Turn paperwork in on time. Complete all entries into eBudde, hand in online payment confirmations and TOP Troop Recognition forms to the Service Unit Cookie Manager by March 31, 2016.All TOP Troop Recognition certificates must be redeemed by September 19, 2016 

Cookie CalculationsA troop of 10 girls would need to sell 1,250 boxes

of cookies and meet the deadline/paperwork requirements to earn TOP Troop.

That means they would earn $937.50 in troop proceeds plus $62.50 in TOP Troop Credit

for a total of $1,000.00!

Final Girl Recognition

 Girl Recognitions and Cookie Credits are based on the total number of

boxes girls sell throughout the Cookie Program.

These include all boxes sold on the Initial Order, as Goal Getter sales, at Booth Sales, through Digital Cookie 2.0. and in support of the Cookie for Heroes Program.

 

All recognitions are pictured on the back of the Initial Order Card.

When girls sell 150 boxes of cookies they receive these great recognitions plus a $10 Cookie Credit, and help the troop to earn the TOP Troop Recognition!

Troop Finances

 

•Payment for cookies by customers should be made when they receive the cookies. However, payment for any Cookies for Heroes or local Gift of Caring cookies should be paid for at the time they are ordered by the customer.

•Troops are financially responsible for any cookies that they order on the initial order, those picked up to fill Goal Getter orders, and all cookies sold at booth sales.

•Payment for cookies purchased through Digital Cookie will be automatically recorded in eBudde both for the girl and the troop.

•eBudde will automatically calculate the troop’s proceeds and the amount due to the council.

General Information

Troop Finances

 

• Banking through Webster Bank’s online banking system

(accessible at gsofct.org) is the preferred method of payment to Council. • There is a new link and procedure for paying online. The system no longer

requires a username and password but the troop bank account and routing number needs to be entered.

• Bank carefully: overpayments of $10.00 or less will not be refunded.

• All deposits into the Council account must be recorded in eBudde.

• Troops must provide online payment confirmations or validated deposit ticket with the final paperwork to the Service Unit Cookie Manager

• Payments must be made on or before the due dates:• March 18: Payment due for all cookies ordered with the Initial Order and all

boxes obtained from cupboards through March 16• March 31: Deadline for final deposits for Goal Getter Orders and booth

sales.• If a family has not paid for their Girl Scout’s cookies by the payment deadline

the troop should not cover their payment. Contact your SU Cookie Manager if you are having trouble collecting funds from a family.

Payment Information

Next Steps

 

Review the Cookie Program MaterialsLook through the materials for the girls as well as the Cookie Program Guide. Make sure you have the correct number of items for the girls in your troop.

Review the Cookie Program MaterialsLook through the materials for the girls as well as the Cookie Program Guide. Make sure you have the correct number of items for the girls in your troop.

Schedule Your Troop’s Cookie MeetingSet a date with the Troop Leader and share it with your troop’s families

Log In to eBuddeeBudde will be open for troops on December 20. You can log in then to updates your troop’s information and familiarize yourself with the site.

Contact Us With QuestionsPlease let your Service Unit Cookie Manager or the Product Sales team know how we can help or if you would like to review the Cookie Program information.

Check Your EmailIssues of The Cookie Recipe will begin arriving in your in-box in December. These emails offer timely information to guide you through the Cookie Program. The links to all electronic resources will also be listed in these emails as they are posted on the Cookie Connection.

Thank You!