Welcome! 2024 Troop Cookie Manager Training

Welcome! 2024 Troop Cookie Manager Training

Agenda Program Overview Engaging Troops, Families & Girls Cookie Product Updates Managing the Cookies Managing the Cookie Finances Smart Cookies Digital Cookies Q&A

NEW FOR 2024 New cookie mascot & theme New cookie price & proceeds All varieties are 6 Consumer price adjustment tip sheet Nine varieties from ABC Bakers New sales platform for Girl Scouts & Troops for online sales Digital Cookie Updated shipping promotion

Popular features are back! GSRV will cover 100% of the credit card transaction fees for troops that use Digital Cookie to take credit card payments on any device! Updated shipping promotion! 5 off shipping for 6 package purchases starting February 8: Minimum order of 4 packages Limited time promotion! Shipping rates on Cookie Central Refreshed patch program opportunities

Your Girl Scout Cookie Favorites Are Back! Nine cookie varieties All varieties are 6 per package View nutritional & allergen information on Cookie Central Information also available on your order card

You’re Invited! Cookie Retail Open Houses Come join in the fun! Shop for fun cookie items, enter the prize drawings, sample cookies, view the cookie rewards, test out Digital Cookie & meet the Product Program Team. Brooklyn Center Retail Shop: Jan. 27, 9am – 1pm Mankato Retail Shop: Jan. 27, 9am – 1pm St. Paul Retail Shop: Feb. 3, 9am - 1pm Rochester Retail Shop: Feb. 3, 9am - 1pm We can't wait to see you!

Cookie Rallies Service unit cookie rally on January 20th Council-wide Virtual Cookie Rally on February 6 o Details in The Cookie Press

Key Dates for 2024 Cookie Program Cookie Booth Lottery opens January 7 Cookie Booth Lottery selections awarded January 14 Troop Initial Order Deadline January 19 Service Unit Initial Order Deadline January 20 Online Sales & Presales Begin February 8 Cookie & Booth Go Day February 16 Cookie Program Ends March 24 Troop Reward Deadline April 2 SU Reward Deadline April 3 Girl Rewards ship to SUs Week of May 27

Troop Cookie Manager Role Overview Complete training Read the Cookie Press emails EVERY WEEK Distribute materials Set goals Host a Family Cookie Business Meeting Manage cookie inventory Manage Smart Cookies and Digital Cookie Distribute rewards Complete the online Troop Cookie Responsibility Form by Feb. 1

Cookie Policies Find policies on Cookie Central No changes from 2023 Cookie digital sales policies remain in place: Not Allowed: Sales on Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or any Garage Sale Sites Contact River Valleys if you have further questions

Responsibility Forms Troop Cookie Manager Responsibility Forms: https://form.jotform.com/203420671868155 Here’s my email address to add to the form: [email protected] Due February 1st Family Responsibility Forms: Troop Cookie Managers should: Establish Family Return Date add to Family Guide (recommended March 6 or earlier) Provide families with your email address and troop number to enter Confirm you have received forms from all participating families Do not distribute or allocate cookies to girls they have not submitted form https://form.jotform.com/203418711292148 You and the families will both receive a confirmation email *Forms located on Cookie Central also

Cookie Resources: Online: Cookie Central (GirlScoutsRV.org) o o o o o o o o The Cookie Press Cookie Guidebooks for Troops Smart Cookies Guides for Volunteers Digital Cookie Guides for Families and Volunteers Cookie Cupboard information A mix of program essentials & fun Cookie Swap Facebook Group – Girl Scout River Valleys Troop Product Program Volunteers Print: Troop & Girl Scout materials o Troop Cookie Companion – troop cookie manager checklist! o Cookie Booth Packet o Cookie Lanyard

Cookie Business Meeting Check out the online Family Cookie Business Meeting resources Set a time/date and invite families (virtual or inperson) Meeting topics: o Cookie sales options & resources Family Cookie Responsibility Form o o o o o o Setting Cookie Goals Volunteer Opportunities – what do you need help with? Cookie Return Date Troop Cookie Calendar Payment options Cookie Materials

Setting Goals Troop goals o Camp, travel, community service project Individual Girl Scout goals o Rewards Plans to achieve the goals Inform parents/guardians Report on the progress during the sale

Cookie Rewards Plush, patches, & fun stuff oh my! New & returning items Cookie Credits & Camp Coupon Troop PGA rewards Full details on Cookie Central & in your cookie materials shipment

Ways to Sell Online o Digital Cookies sales link and emails/social media Phone or text o Call customers o Text an ask or Digital Cookies sales link Cookie Booths o Virtual o In Person Door-to-Door and Mobile Sales o Business Cards/Door Hangers o Bring Inventory or take orders Workplace o Order card and hand written letter ask o Email Digital Cookies link o “Cube-to-Cube” sales Business-to-Business o Make a pitch!

Cookie Program Participation Options Three cookie participation options:

Pre-Sales & Online Sales Pre-Sales & Online sales begin on February 8 Connect with cookie customers early Record cookie orders on order card and/or share Digital Cookie site/emails Deliver on Cookie Go Day

Cookie booths: 2023 Stats Over 14,000 booth timeslots attended by Troops Nearly 30% of cookie sales are through booths Average sales per hour LY: 33 Booth hours by chain: Troop-secured: 34% Cub: 27% Walmart: 14%

Cookie Booths: Council-secured Partners

Cookie Booth Sign-up Calendar: Council-Secured Booths Lottery Selections: January 7-14 at 11am Lottery Runs: January 14 at 12:00pm FCFS Dates: January 17, 18, 19, 20, 31

Cookie Booths: Troopsecured Drive-thru booths Family –friendly Craft breweries Convenience stores Car dealerships Places of worship VFW/American Legion Virtual booth sales Lemonade Stands Check the Do Not Contact List First!

Troop-secured Cookie Booth Tips Remind troops to submit requests as early as possible (72 hours minimum) Two troops accidentally show up for the same timeslot? Ask the store if both can set up, at separate entrances if able, and work together! Add a note in your SU booth request that other troops will be signing up for approved timeslots, encourage troops to also add a note to improve efficiency Frequent booth conflict? Discuss with your troops the advantages of council-secured Overcome the "us versus them" mentality. We are all part of the Girl Scout family! Top reasons a request is declined: 1. Another troop has already secured that timeslot 2. Location is too close to another booth 3. We always explain why in the approve/decline email

Cookie Booth Resources GSUSA Cookie Finder Cookie Booth & Sales Kit Items for sale in the shop Cookie Central/Smart Cookies Sales per hour, booth instructions, step-by-step instructions Cookie Chat on Booths

NEW: Cookie Pro Patch Program Troops submit their unique cookie skills, customer service, marketing materials, or best pro tip to close the sale One winner from DBJ & CSA Cookie Pro of the Year Grand prize of an Escape Room or Trampoline Park experience

Cookie Care Donation Program Last year, nearly 100,000 packages were donated in our council area! It’s a great way to give back and an awesome inventory management tool! Two donation options return: River Valleys Donations Virtual Cookie Share Note: All shipped only donations will benefit this program Troop Donations Tracked Cookie Share In-person, booth, & donations made via online orders for local delivery

Cookie Badges Entrepreneurship badges at each program level Incorporates five business skills

Parent/Guardian Participation Family involvement is key to troop success Opportunities to help support the troop Talk to your Girl Scouts about their goals Discuss the rewards they would like to earn & how they'd like to participate Review the Family Entrepreneur pin guidelines, which features goal setting information

Initial Orders

Gluten-Free Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies For troops that placed a pre-order: Email reminder with order in early January Troops must enter their order in Smart Cookies For new troops or troops that did not place a pre-order: Limit of two cases per troop Exception request process in The Cookie Press Not guaranteed to be in stock at cupboards

Initial Cookie Order: Due January 19 Using the Cookie Calculator: cookiecalculator.org o Recommendations for new & returning troops Advice to troops: Know how your Girl Scouts want to participate The initial order is for those who: o Want cookies in hand on Go Day o Want a supply of the gluten-free cookies Initial Order Reward: Troops must order the total # of cases as recommended by the Cookie Calculator 2024 Year Bar patch for all selling in the troop 2 Cookie-themed car coasters for the adults (1 per Juliette)

Our Service Unit participates in a mega drop delivery Make sure you have enough space in your vehicle or bring multiple cars Must go through line together if multiple cars picking up your initial order Initial Order Deliveries: Feb. 815

Cookie Cupboards Three types of Cookie Cupboards: Council Cupboards-on demand orders Council Express-planned orders, full cases Regional Cupboards-planned orders Pick up cookies by the case or package (except Council Express locations) *No exchanges except to replace Cupboard info coming to Cookie Central before Cookie Go Day

How to Use Cookie Cupboards Review Cookie Central to view Council Cupboard location/hours/instructions Demand for cookies decreases as the sale progresses Check-in before using a cupboard: o Can I move cookies between girls? o Can I pick up cookies from other troops? Cookie Swap

Encourage troops to: Maintain good records Collect at least 50% of money owed before providing additional inventory Set a firm cookie return date o Write date in each Family Guide Set a cookie schedule Remind families cookies must be in “sell-able” condition Assist troops with too many cookies Helping Troops with Cookie Management

Managing Cookies Online with Smart Cookies Record transfers & payments weekly Review cupboard transfers for accuracy Connect with (me/us) if you have issues in Smart Cookies

How to Handle Extra Cookie Inventory: Schedule additional cookie booths or walkabouts Business 2 Business sales Cookie donations Transfer cookies to other troops in the SU Cookie Swap Facebook Group Finance/Inventory Issue Form (for an extension to sell excess inventory)

2024 Cookie Proceeds TIER NAME TROOP PROCEED PER PKG. SOLD* TIER REQUIREMENTS Base Base 0.90 PGA Early Bird †(EB) EB met PGA of 235 1.00 *Senior and Ambassador troops can choose to opt-out of girl rewards and receive an additional 0.05 per package by emailing [email protected] by April 1, 2024. Girls will still receive Cookie Program patches. † Troops that qualified for the Early Bird Bonus Proceeds registered at least one troop leader and half of the # of 2022-2023 members in the troop during the Early Bird Campaign.

Troop Bank Account Numbers Account numbers uploaded into Smart Cookies All troops must verify that the account number is correct (update if needed) New troops must enter account numbers TCMs do not need to be added to the troop bank account to deposit money

Family Payment Options from Customers Credit card through Digital Cookie Payment is deposited in the RV account Troop is credited full sale price in Digital Cookie No transaction fee charged to troop Checks and cash also accepted Checks can be made out to “Troop #” or “Girl Scouts” Mobile payment services (such as Venmo) are NOT to be used to collect money from customers Display flyer for accepted payment types

Troop Payment Options from Families Deposits money collected from families into troop bank account Deposit Weekly Set-up schedule to turn in money Payment options Mobile Payment Services: Venmo, CashApp, PayPal Friends & Family Checks and cash Receipts MUST be exchanged for all money and cookie transactions Required to submitted Finance/Inventory Issue Form Track money collected from families in Smart Cookies Juliette Girl Scouts deposit all money into River Valley's Wells Fargo account using encoded deposit tickets mailed directly to Juliette Mentor

Automated Clearing House (ACH) First ACH (March 15) 1 x total packages received by the troop as of March 8, minus any credit card payments made through SC Money needs to be in account by March 12 Refund ACH (April 19) Final ACH (April 26) Only for Troops that are owed proceeds from taking only online orders or had more orders paid with credit cards. Remaining balance owed to River Valleys. Money to be deposited into the troop account by April 2 Finance/Inventory Issue Form due April 2 (if needed) See ACH FAQ on Cookie Central for more information.

Finance/Inventory Issue Form Due April 2: Due May 31: Excess (unsold) troop inventory Bank fee reimbursement Family unpaid balance Returned check reimbursement Other remaining situations Juliette unpaid balance TCM/TL unpaid balance Stolen product/money or counterfeit money received See the Finance/Inventory Issue Form FAQ on Cookie Central for more information.

When will I be able to log into Smart Cookies? Timeframe Who will have access? Week of December 18 Troop Leaders & Troop Cookie Managers February 1 All currently registered Girl Scouts & families https://www.abcsmartcookies.com Volunteers & Girl Scouts must register their Smart Cookies account each cookie season. Add [email protected] to your safe sender list!

Smart Cookies: Top 5 Things You Need to Know . 1. Troop sales management will continue in Smart Cookies. Entering your initial order Transferring/reviewing cookie inventory Scheduling cookie booths & allocating booth sales Entering reward choices Crediting girls with cash/check payments Running reports 2. SU volunteers can mimic Troop volunteers to assist with issues.

Smart Cookies: Top 5 Things You Need to Know . 3. Girl Scout online sales accounts move to Digital Cookie 4. Troop online sales links move to Digital Cookie. 5. Credit card sales will now be made in Digital Cookie Check out our Understanding Roles in Smart Cookies & Digital Cookie Tip Sheet for an overview of the changes.

Smart Cookies: Resources Smart Cookies Guide on Cookie Central Safety & Training Tab in Smart Cookies Girl Scouts River Valleys Staff ABC Smart Cookies Help Desk: [email protected] m

Digital Cookie Highlights of the new system Access dates Service Unit Basics Troop Basics Girl Scout Basics Digital Cookie App Resources

Digital Cookie is the new online platform that Girl Scouts and caregivers use for digital cookie sales. All Girl Scouts and their families will get access to Digital Cookie on February 1st Girl Scouts can use their Digital Cookie account to set up their online account sales link which they can share by email, text, social media, or even their parent/guardian workspaces: o Shipped cookie orders o Girl Scout Cookie delivery orders Digital Cookie

Digital Cookie has great new features! Customize your site & explore the learning activities Ability for customers to purchase and pay online for local delivery You can turn on/off local delivery at any time Approve orders for local delivery in the site You’ll receive an email reminder to login and approve orders if you have outstanding orders to approve Note: Online orders for local delivery must be approved within 5 days or the order is cancelled. Ability to turn on/off cookie varieties for local delivery A robust Help section built right into the site with tip sheets & videos to assist if you need them Digital Cookie

Digital Cookie Resources Family Guide Digital Cookie Guide for Families on Cookie Central Help section in the site with tip sheets & videos Watch for information on joining a Digital Cookie Rally in Rallyhood for families to connect on questions Digital Cookie office hours provided by Girl Scouts River Valleys staff Digital Cookie

Digital Cookie Highlights Unified experience for all Girl Scouts & cookie customers New & engaging site for Girl Scouts to supercharge their online sales A robust Help section built right into the site for both families & volunteers The Digital Cookie App for accepting Girl Scout & Troops credit card payments for booths & in-person sales

When will I be able to access Digital Cookie? Timeframe Who will have access? January 22 All Troop Leaders & Cookie Managers All Service Unit Cookie Managers & Managers February 1 Girl Scouts/Families Add [email protected] to your safe sender list!

Digital Cookie: Role Selection Toggle between accounts as a SU/Troop/Caregiver Have multiple Girl Scouts? You can toggle between each account. Parent role won’t appear until after Girl Scout access date.

Digital Cookie: Basics for Service Units Monitor the Service Unit digital sales Pull reports for troop orders Review the Girl Scouts that are engaging in the site View the dashboard for a quick glance on how Troops are progressing through the season

Digital Cookie: Basics for Troops What can Troops do in Digital Cookie? Review digital sales progress for Girl Scouts Review orders to view individual orders/process refunds Set up Troop cookie links & virtual booths (optional) Run reports

Troop Dashboard

Dashboard Troop links setup and troop links. See if your troop link or any Girl Scouts in your troop have an order to approve. Troop sales data and send a Cheer to a Girl Scout in your troop. Need to request girl reward selections earlier than the council date? Change it here. 59 2021 Girl Scouts of the USA. All Rights Reserved. Not for public distribution.

Where to go to refund an order Orders ABC/LBB 60

Review troop goal progress, cookie site publishing by girl, outstanding orders to approve, and click details to see order details by girl and if she has turned off any varieties My Troop 1 2 3 4 5 61

Digital Cookie: Basics for Girl Scouts What can Girl Scouts do in Digital Cookie? Get started in four easy steps! Utilize customization options for marketing their cookie sale Turn on/off cookie varieties Approve online orders for local delivery in the site! Make reward selections to alert the Troop volunteer of their choices

Step 1-Register Sender: “Girl Scout Cookies” [email protected] Subject: It’s time to register your Girl Scout for Digital Cookie! Create Password/Login with password Click: “Register Now” 63

Step 2-Setup Your Site Have multiple Girl Scouts? Easily switch between each site here. To setup the Girl Scout’s cookie site, click on the “Set up your Digital Cookie site ” link in the My Cookie Site section, or the “Site Setup” link at the top. 64 2021 Girl Scouts of the USA. All Rights Reserved. Not for public distribution.

Step 3-Invite Customers Add or import customers 1 Send one of three marketing emails Copy URL Email link or share QR code 2 4 OR 3 65

Step 4: Track Progress/Orders: How to set up local delivery & turn on/off varieties

To recap: Girl Scouts can opt in/opt out for in person delivery Can change at any time during the sale Orders for local delivery must be approved within 5 business days or orders will be canceled Turn on/turn off cookie varieties

Step 4-Track Progress/Orders My Cookies Tab-Inventory by Variety & Finances 1 2 3 68 2021 Girl Scouts of the USA. All Rights Reserved. Not for public distribution.

Digital Cookie Mobile App Your Digital cash register for in-person & booth sales: 1. Set up Digital Cookie site with a browser 2. Download app 3. Login with your DC email & password Available from the App Store & Google Play Store. View the Mobile App Tip Sheet coming to Cookie Central.

Digital Cookie Help Center Your go-to place if you need support! 70 2021 Girl Scouts of the USA. All Rights Reserved. Not for public distribution.

Digital Cookie Help Center Select which role and category you need support on. Inside, each category will have detailed instructions, links to tip sheets, or even video tutorials to help you. 71 2021 Girl Scouts of the USA. All Rights Reserved. Not for public distribution.

Digital Cookie Help Center After looking, still can’t find what you need? Contact customer support. Click the topic you need help with and complete the form for more assistance. Or click the Live Chat button to chat with a Digital Cookie support agent during business hours. 72 2021 Girl Scouts of the USA. All Rights Reserved. Not for public distribution.

Digital Cookie Resources Digital Cookie Guides on Cookie Central Girl Scouts River Valleys Staff Digital Cookie Rally in Rallyhood Cookie Chat on Digital Cookie Digital Cookie Office Hours

Key Takeaways Volunteers will use Smart Cookies for 2024. Girl Scouts will use Digital Cookie for online sales in 2024. Troops that wish to engage in online sales also use Digital Cookie. Credit card payments for in-person and cookie booth sales are made through the Digital Cookie app. Familiarize yourself with AND direct troops to the Smart Cookies and Digital Cookie learning resources

Your Cookie Support System: We got you! GIVE US A CALL 800-845-0787 SEND US AN EMAIL [email protected] Phone line hours: M-F, 9 AM-5 PM PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT Girl Scout River Valleys Service Unit Product Program Volunteers Girl Scout River Valleys Troop Product Program Volunteers FIND US ONLINE The Cookie Press e-newsletter Rallyhood Cookie Central