Each year, girls in Troops all over the world look forward
to participating in Product Sales. The Cookie Sale is such a deep rooted
tradition in Girl Scouting, that (unfortunately) it can overshadow the other
wonderful aspects of Girl Scouts. In fact, some girls join the organization just to sell cookies!
During the Cookie Sale and Fall Opportunity Sale, girls are
busy! They spend many hours a week talking with family and friends to promote a
product and practice their public speaking skills, delivering product and
collecting money to work on their organizational and money management skills,
and following up on any re-orders to hone their customer service skills.
Shortly after the sale closes, girls start anxiously awaiting the coveted
recognition items. But, what happens next?
By mid-May, the sales are done and the prizes have been
delivered. Troops start gearing up for day camps and assorted programs offered
throughout the summer. Many Troops
forget about the product sale during this time. However, product sales can
still be a very fun and educational part of Girl Scouting…even during the off
season! Here are some ways in which Troops can incorporate aspects of the
product sales program into their meetings and events over the summer:
- The off season is an excellent time for girls to work on Financial Literacy badges from the new Girl Guides to Girl Scouting.
- Use this time to encourage girls to practice their public speaking skills. This can double up as a community service opportunity, such as having girls read books at a local library or day care center.
- During the summer months, many Troops focus on community service projects. As you are planning these projects, tie in the ways in which the project you are doing hit on the 5 key elements of product sales: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics.
What are some ways in which your Troop focuses on product
sales during the off season? Please share your ideas in the comments section
below!
