Read on for information about Cookie Central, Smart Cookies Registration Links, Flexible Participation Options, Troop Training & Program Materials, Online Service Unit Cookie Manager Training, Cookie Rally Order Reminder, Service Unit Notebook Request.
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Welcome to the first edition of The Cookie Press for troops! We’ve been busy as bees (like our Cookie Program mascot) designing a program to help your girls succeed in new ways of selling. No matter how your girls participate this year, they will still gain all the benefits of the program: decision-making, money management, goal setting, and people skills. Each week, we are here to pass along program updates and give you those “just in time” reminders to keep you on track. Thank you for sharing your time and talent to help equip girls with the confidence and know-how they need to dream big and do bigger! We know it’s bound to “bee” an amazing year.
Cookie Central
Tomorrow, December 11, is the long-awaited launch of Cookie Central! This new, one-stop hub will be your home base for all-things cookies like—troop cookie resources, online training, the Troop Cookie Manager Guidebook (available to view online Dec. 28), Cookie Press quick links, Smart Cookies guides, and more.
Cookie Central is for families too! Families will find links to everything they need to help guide their girl’s Cookie Program participation. It will include links to resources like the Family Cookie Responsibility Form, Smart Cookies account setup information, and fun stuff—like the girl rewards info.
Cookie Central is also the place everyone will look to during the season to view our special Cookie Participation Dial. This dial will be updated in real-time when any program changes occur so it is clear what participation options are currently available for troops and girls.
Cookie Participation Dial
We will continue to post new resources on Cookie Central as they become available, so check back for more helpful guides and tips to get you through the sale!
Smart Cookies Registration Links
Volunteers will receive their links to access Smart Cookies, the online cookie management system, on Monday, January 4. Once you gain access to Smart Cookies:
- Update your troop information including your contact information, expected number of girls selling, and girls’ t-shirt sizes.
- Verify your bank account information in Smart Cookies. If the bank account information is missing, enter it manually.
To access reports from last year, hover over the reports tab and select Archive. Select the 2019-2020 season to find the list of reports.
Please note: We had to adjust this date as we are in process in moving a lot of information into our new systems. In order to make sure all our kinks are ironed out and to provide you with the best customer experience, we moved the date from December 15 to Monday, January 4. Rest assured, you will still have time to orient and complete your actions (see 1 and 2 above) with this new timeline. Thank you for understanding.
Flexible Cookie Participation Options
Safety and flexibility are key this season as girls participate in the ways that work best for them and their families. One of the most important updates to this year’s program is that there are three cookie participation options: online, hybrid, and in-person. We also outline these options in more detail in the troop and family print materials, but here’s an overview of each one:
Online Participation
We encourage girls to expand their horizons to become online entrepreneurs! Girls can:
- Set up their Smart Cookies online account for both direct ship orders and online orders for girl delivery.
- Pro tip: Customers can pay online for girl delivery, too—which makes a porch drop super easy!
- Send e-cards, post their unique cookie sales link on social media, or send it by text or email
To encourage online sales this year, we have some exciting updates:
- There will be no credit card fees for troops that use the Smart Cookies credit card feature.
- Customers will receive half-price shipping for any cookie purchase made through Smart Cookies Direct Ship for sales of six or more packages.
- Online sales will begin on February 6. Girls will receive their Smart Cookies registration links by email on February 1. That’s when they can set up their online account and get ready to send emails to family & friends and share their cookie link on social media. Remember-girls must follow the Digital Sales & Social Media Policy when participating in online sales activities!
Hybrid Participation
Along with online sales beginning on February 6, girls also have the option to participate in pre-sales on February 6. That’s when girls can begin connecting with cookie customers early and record their orders, then start delivering cookies and taking contactless payment on Go Day.
With the hybrid cookies option, girls will take cookie orders, turn the orders in to the troop, and the troop will provide the girl with cookie inventory. Then, the girl will return to deliver the cookies to the customer with contactless payment.
In-Person Participation
With the in-person participation option, girls will load up their wagon or sled with cookie inventory, take contactless payment, and give cookies to customers on the spot. This option also includes in-person cookie booths.
Cookie Booths are another sales option available for troops. We are excited to announce that virtual cookie booths will be supported in Smart Cookies this season. Watch for more details on booths in a future issue of The Cookie Press.
Cookie Training & Program Materials
Your service unit cookie manager will soon be in contact to inform you of your cookie training options which typically happen in early January. Completion of this annual training will help you understand the program updates so you can best support your girls. If you are a new troop cookie volunteer, watch our Troop Cookie Basics video before attending your service unit training. This video will give you a brief overview of your role before, during, and after the sale.
Troop and girl program materials will be shipping to service units the week of December 28. The Troop Cookie Manager Guidebook will be also available through Cookie Central the week of December 28. Your service unit cookie manager will connect with you when these items are ready for pickup.
Online Training
If you were not able to attend one of our virtual Service Unit Cookie Manager training sessions, we’ve got you covered! Our River Valleys Service Unit Cookie Manager Online Training is available. Remember that you must have attended a virtual training session or complete the online training as a part of your service unit level role. Plus, one of the requirements to earn the annual service unit bonus is to have at least one service unit volunteer complete cookie training by February. 1.
Cookie Rally Order Reminder
If you’d like to host a Cookie Rally, there’s still time to order rally cookies and items! Read more in the previous Cookie Press post and be sure to place your order by December 22—no late orders will be accepted.
Check out ABC Baker’s Virtual Rally Guide for everything you need to know to host your event safely and still make it the buzz of the Service Unit! Orders will ship the week of January 11.
Service Unit Notebook Request
As you know, Girl Scouts River Valleys shipped a Service Unit Cookie Notebook and a special bee face mask last week to all service unit managers and service unit cookie managers who were registered in this volunteer role by November 12. If you did not receive either of these, complete the Service Unit Cookie Notebook Request Form.
The rest of the cookie print materials for troops and girls will ship the week of December 28.
