How Do Cookies Work?
The Five Parts of Cookie Season
Part 1: Preparation
All girls must be registered Girl Scouts and return a signed permission form to their leader or Troop Cookie Manager to participate. Once all that’s squared away – set your goal and start taking orders (with an adult of course)!
Part 2: Door-to-Door (aka initial order taking)
Girl Scouts make calls, go door-to-door, and contact those they know to take orders for Girl Scout Cookies. (Girls can use business cards or door hangers with their online store link so customers can order and pay online to reduce contact if needed.) Troop leaders then tally the amount of Girl Scout Cookies each Girl Scout sold in the Smart Cookies online system. Once the Girl Scout Cookies come in at a cookie delivery, the troop sorts them by individual Girl Scout. Each Girl Scout then delivers her Girl Scout Cookies and collects payment.
Part 3: Keep-Goaling
After the initial order cards are turned in, girls can Keep-Goaling and continue to take orders. This is a great way to reach your goals!
Be sure to turn in your Keep-Goaling orders to your Troop Cookie Manager, so they can pick up cookies from the cupboard, or use some of the troop extras.
Girls will continue to earn rewards and troops will continue to earn proceeds during this time. Get a Keep-Goaling order card when you turn in your initial order card from your Troop or Service Area Cookie Manager. They are online too!
Part 4: Cookie Booths & Walkabouts
During a walkabout, Girl Scouts sell cookies door to door, but instead of taking orders and delivering later, girls have the cookies with them and can instantly deliver them. This is so convenient for Girl Scouts and their customers!
Sometimes, troops meet and walkabout together as a group, on a weekend or early evening. This can be a fun meeting activity, and you can even combine it with other troop activities, like a neighborhood scavenger hunt, outdoor photography activity, or making a meal together afterward! Other times, girls and their parents can “check out” cookie packages for an individual walkabout, using cookies from their troop’s backup supply.
Cookie Booths are a great way for your troop to earn additional proceeds by selling Girl Scout cookies directly to the public at area businesses. They provide the girls the opportunity to set up, run and manage their own cookie store. Girls conduct transactions, handle money, build their presentation and conversation skills, set up product displays, manage inventory, and more! Troops contact local businesses to arrange dates and times for the sale. Cookie booths are held at many locations including grocery stores, gas stations, movie theaters, and malls. Cookies sold at a cookie booth should be transferred to the girls selling at the booth using the Smart Booth divider in Smart Cookies or through a troop-to-girl transfer. All troops are eligible to participate in cookie booths!
Consider these additional types of booths:
- Drive thrus – held in a safe area of a parking lot with plenty of room for cars to get off the street. One-way traffic ideally with separate entrance and exit.
- Virtual booths – troops can do virtual cookie booths by using the “Troop Cookie Link” feature in Smart Cookies. Link will be on the Troop Information page in Smart Cookies. Use this single link throughout the cookie program.
Part 5: Post Sale
Cookie Rewards will arrive in May. Don't forget to thank your customers. You can find printable thank you cards online.
