Read on for Smart Cookies registration emails for Girl Scouts, council Cookie Cupboards, prepping for pre-sales, cookie booths, Troop Cookie Manager Responsibility Forms due, assisting troops who missed the initial cookie order and more.
In this edition:
Up Next
What’s Trending
Reminders
For Service Unit Cookie Managers
- Troop Cookie Responsibility Forms Due February 1
- Service Unit Proceeds Reminder
- Assisting Troops Who Missed Initial Orders
The initial Girl Scout Cookie order has been submitted to ABC Bakers! Soon all those cases of cookies will be making their way to our delivery agents and into your homes. Watch for more details on what to expect during cookie deliveries in a future issue of The Cookie Press. We know the hours you’ve already spent training, distributing supplies, goal setting with Girl Scouts and families, and getting the initial order in on time. We see you, and we celebrate all your efforts. Thank you for being part of the magic that is the Girl Scout Cookie Program!
Smart Cookies Registration Emails for Girl Scouts Coming February 1
It’s the next big step toward the start of the Cookie Program! The primary caregiver of all currently registered River Valleys Girl Scouts will be emailed their Smart Cookies registration links on February 1. They will also receive an email from us on January 31 to help prepare for online sales. Girl Scouts and families will have plenty of time before pre-sales and online sales begin on February 10 to explore Smart Cookies and set up their online sales accounts. Becoming an online cookie entrepreneur is as easy as 1-2-3-4!
Steps to Get Started
- Open the registration email. The email will come from noreply@abcsmartcookies.com. This email will include a link to log in to abcsmartcookies.com.
- Note: To help prevent this email from going to a junk folder, remind your families to add this email address to their “trusted sender” list.
- Create the account. Girl Scouts can create their profile with a unique username and password. Instruct them to complete any open fields including the t-shirt size.
- Important: Girl Scouts can “opt-in” for social link Girl Scout cookie delivery orders at this time. If opting in, any customer that uses the Girl Scout’s cookie sales link can request that the Girl Scout deliver their order. Click on Submit to complete the process. This option can be turned off at any time during the season. An on-screen confirmation will be displayed, and an email confirmation will be sent.
- Pro tips: Save the confirmation email, because it contains the Girl Scout’s username and password. Troop volunteers can use the “mimic a user” feature in Smart Cookies to access their Girl Scout’s account from their troop volunteer account. See instructions on how to “mimic a user” in our Smart Cookies Guide for Volunteers.
- Once the account has been created, parents/guardians can download the Smart Cookies mobile app from the App Store or Google Play for their Girl Scout.
- Note: This app is only for Girl Scout accounts to take their cookie sale on the go. If you still have the app downloaded from last season, delete the app and re-install the app on your mobile device.
- Important: Girl Scouts can “opt-in” for social link Girl Scout cookie delivery orders at this time. If opting in, any customer that uses the Girl Scout’s cookie sales link can request that the Girl Scout deliver their order. Click on Submit to complete the process. This option can be turned off at any time during the season. An on-screen confirmation will be displayed, and an email confirmation will be sent.
- Explore the platform. Set sales goals, enter customer contacts, and check out the training videos in the Safety and Training section.
- Get ready to send e-cards and share their cookie links on social media starting on February 10.
Check out the Cookie Program Family Guide and Smart Cookies Guide for Families available on Cookie Central for helpful instructions on navigating the system. Smart Cookies has a fantastic tech support team to help families troubleshoot questions you can’t answer. Contact ABCSmartCookieTech@hearthsidefoods.com or 800-853-3730.
Girl Scouts River Valleys will continue to upload newly registered Girls Scouts into Smart Cookies throughout the Cookie Program. Encourage any families that are not currently registered to complete this important step before gaining access to Smart Cookies.
Council Cookie Cupboards
Now that the initial Girl Scout Cookie order deadline has passed, you may wonder where to go if you need more cookies. Girl Scouts River Valleys features a network of “Cookie Cupboards” throughout our council area. Cookie Cupboards are where troops can pick up additional cookie inventory. Our council Cookie Cupboards are open to all Girl Scouts River Valleys troops and primarily located in larger metro areas. We also feature a network of Regional Cupboards that serve troops outside the metro areas. Your Service Unit cookie manager will provide more details if your troop is assigned to a Regional Cupboard.
This year, we’ll have locations in the following cities: Blaine, Bloomington, Burnsville, Mankato, Maplewood, Rochester, Roseville, St. Louis Park, and Woodbury. More details about each location and operating hours will be in next week’s post.
Cookie Pre-Sales Prep 101
Girl Scouts have the option to participate in cookie pre-sales beginning on February 10. Not only can they begin sending e-cards and sharing their Smart Cookies sales links on social media, but they can also use their order card to record customer orders. Order card orders can be collected in person, through video chat, text, or over the phone.
Now is a great time to discuss pre-sales at a troop meeting or email these important reminders to your families.
- Families must follow the Girl Scouts River Valleys Digital Sales & Social Media Policy which covers how Girl Scouts can safely use social media and the internet to gain digital marketing skills.
- Remember, do not post Girl Scout sales links on resale websites like Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, garage sale sites, Amazon, etc.
- Orders made through a Girl Scout’s Smart Cookies online sales links for Girl Scout Cookie delivery cannot be delivered to customers until Cookie Go Day, February 17.
- Families must approve any online order for Girl Scout Cookie delivery through the email sent to the Girl Scout’s primary caregiver within five days or the order will be canceled.
- For customers that purchase cookies for direct-ship from a Girl Scout’s online account sales link, their orders are ready to ship within 72 business hours.
- Note: Delivery times may vary, and Girl Scout Cookies are shipped via FedEx. Cookies will arrive to the customer within 10-14 days.
- Don’t forget, customers receive discounted shipping for purchases starting at 9 packages when using Smart Cookies direct-ship!
- Inform families of the troop’s preference for money collection for pre-sales made outside Smart Cookies. Troops can instruct families to either collect at the time of the order or upon delivery.
Did you know? Girl Scouts who use their Smart Cookies online account to power their cookie sale sell more cookies. In fact, the PGA (per girl average) for Girl Scouts that sell with a Smart Cookies account is 343 packages.
Pro Tip: Set a deadline for families to report their pre-sales to you. This will help you determine if you will need to visit a Cookie Cupboard on Go Day weekend to fill orders. As pre-sales begin soon, this is a great time to remind families to complete the online Family Cookie Responsibility Form. Families must complete this form prior to receiving any cookie inventory.
First-Come, First-Served (FCFS) Cookie Booths
On February 1, troops can secure additional cookie booths! Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule:
| DATE | EVENT | ACTION |
| Jan 31 | FCFS Round 5 opens at 7:00 pm (CST). | Choose 10 new booths. |
| Feb 1 | FCFS cap is lifted. | Troops may select any new booths still available. |
For each round of first-come, first-served booths, the selections will close at 4:00 pm (CST) before the following round opens at 7:00 pm (CST). During this time, we will upload any new booths secured.
Tip: Remember to refresh your webpage at 7:01 pm (CST) to see the new options for the new round.
Cookie Chat on January 31
Join Girl Scouts River Valleys on January 31 at 7:15 pm (CST) for the first Cookie Chat of 2023 on Zoom. This is an informal time for you to connect on trending topics and get answers to your questions. The first Cookie Chat topics will be cookie booths and cookie cupboards.
When you register, you’ll receive the Zoom meeting link and you can download the event to your personal calendar. We look forward to chatting with you!
Troop Cookie Responsibility Forms Due
Now is a great time to follow up with troop cookie managers who have not yet completed the online Troop Cookie Manager Responsibility Form due February 1. If a troop decides to participate after February 1—No problem! Inform the troop cookie manager to complete the form as you arrange to provide them with their materials and training options.
Service Unit Proceeds Reminder
Service Units can earn proceeds from achieving participation goals during the Cookie Program. There are three levels starting at 50% participation. Check out the full details in the Service Unit Cookie Manager Guidebook.
How to Qualify for Service Unit Proceeds:
- Service Units must have completed their Girl Scout Finance Report for 2021-2022.
- At least one Service Unit cookie volunteer must complete all cookie training by February 1.
- Participation is based on the number of Girl Scouts in the Service Unit as of January 31. Don’t worry, we’ll send you an email with your membership numbers in early February.
Assisting Troops Who Missed the Initial Cookie Order
Troops that missed the initial Girl Scout Cookie order may be looking to you for guidance on how to obtain cookies for their Girl Scouts. Troops will be able to pick up cookie inventory at council Cookie Cupboards starting on Cookie Go Day, February 17. Next week’s post will have details on Cookie Cupboard locations including hours of operation.
Troops that utilize a Regional or Regional Express Cupboard should watch for information on their cupboard’s location/contact/hours of operation coming to the Smart Cookies dashboard before Cookie Go Day. Share with your troops the process of how to use a Regional Cookie Cupboard and the importance of placing a planned order for extra cookie needs each week.
Even if troops missed the initial cookie order, they can still participate in online sales in Smart Cookies for both direct-ship purchases and online orders for Girl Scout Cookie delivery when pre-sales begin on February 10.
