What It Takes To Sell Girl Scout Cookies

Up until now, my only real connection with Girl Scout cookies is that I used to sell them, and I love to eat them.

Now, I have two daughters who are selling them this year, which means I will have more opportunities to eat my favorites.

More importantly however, I’ve come to realize that my experience as a Girl Scout selling cookies likely helped shape who I am today. Lessons learned selling those treats helped me become a confident business owner who works well with others and who sells services on a daily basis.

I’m thrilled that my oldest daughters are learning these skills as well, by being part of the Girl Scout family. They joined more than 4,000 Girl Scouts who attended the official Cookie Kick-Off Program with the Chicago Wolves on January 7, 2012. Girls ages 5-17 came together for one of the largest events in the program, learning how to become the best entrepreneurs possible. Some of the key components to the program include:

1. Goal Setting
2. Decision Making
3. Money Management
4. People Skills
5. Business Ethics

“These skills will translate into any career a girl chooses," says Jennifer Fredericks, vice president of Product Program for Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Public speaking, financial literacy and the other key components offer vibrant, action-oriented visuals. “We have a massive phone bank where girls can practice their cookie pitch to our volunteers." Ms. Fredericks says they have cards from which Girl Scouts can choose, which are addressed to Grandma, neighbor, teacher or friend, so they can practice both cold calling and calling loved ones.

Social media also took center stage, especially for the teens involved in Girl Scouts. They are being encouraged to “tap into their inner CEO” and become Cookie Entrepreneur Officers. The girls learned more about the Cookie Club, an online system used to track orders, and social media outreach initiatives techniques they are incorporating into their sales efforts.

Susan Beacham, CEO of Money Savvy Generation and a financial literacy expert, says that this type of teaching is invaluable. “Anytime parents have a teachable moment, they need to embrace it." Ms. Beacham also says that it’s never too early to start. “When kids start young, time is on their side. For example, show them how skipping the daily fruit smoothie and instead investing the $4.60, that money will add up to $1,642.50 a year. At 5% interest, not getting that smoothie will give you $21,000 in your savings account in 10 years.”

More than 86 thousand girls are involved in the Girl Scout Program in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, which is celebrating 100 years this March. As the organization celebrates its anniversary year, some girls are setting their goals high, trying to each sell 2,012 boxes of cookies by March!

My daughters picked up a few new selling tips and we sampled all the cookies, including the new 100th anniversary cookie, Savannah Smile. It's a lemon cookie dusted with powdered sugar, and is now my oldest daughter's favorite cookie. So how many boxes would you like? Seriously, to find out where cookies are being sold in your area, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org.

Tagged as: Girl Scouts , Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scout Cookies , entrepreneurs, girls, selling, Jennifer Fredericks, Susan Beacham and social media

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Christine Garcia is founder and president of Plan It PR, a public relations and marketing firm. She dishes tips and survival stories in “Play Dates and Power Lunches.” Ms. Garcia started working public relations after a long career in broadcast journalism, which included work as a television anchor, reporter and producer.