New Cookies, New Selling Plan
Girl Scouts keep up with the times with new cookies,
new sales plan
For six weeks each year, Girl Scouts in Arizona participate in the largest girl-led business: the Girl Scout Cookie Program. From Jan. 26 to March 8, more than 17,000 girls in central and northern Arizona will be walking around neighborhoods with boxes of irresistible cookies in hand and selling cookies at booths in front of local stores.
The 2015 Cookie Season will be an extra special one for Girl Scouts – Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. After the most successful sale in the council’s history, local Girl Scouts will have even more going for them. They are introducing new cookie flavors and attempting to set new records – all in the name of girl leadership development and making an impact on the local economy.
NEW COOKIE FLAVORS
GSACPC is introducing new cookie flavors to the lineup. “The main attraction to the lineup is Rah-Rah Raisins,” says Tamara Woodbury, GSACPC CEO, “a modern take on oatmeal raisin cookies with Greek yogurt chips.”
The organization will also be testing customer demand for a gluten-free cookie, called Toffee-tastic. It’s a buttery shortbread with toffee bits and sells for $5 a box, a dollar more than the other flavors. It is available in limited quantity.
These new flavors join the traditional favorites: Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Trefoils and Do-si-dos.
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
In honor of the 49th Super Bowl coming to Arizona, local Girl Scouts are playing to win a Guinness World Record. Leading up to the “big game,” thousands of girls plan to be out and about for the festivities. Beginning at 3 p.m. on Fri., Jan. 30, girls will attempt to sell at least 49 boxes each to break the world record for most “Most Money Raised for a Charity through the Sale of Cookies in 24 Hours.” The record currently stands at &75,000 – they are aiming for at least $100,000.
COOKIE DESSERT CHALLENGE
For the second year in a row, chefs from more than three dozen restaurants across the Valley and in Flagstaff will go head-to-head to create a winning dessert using one of the Girl Scout cookie flavors. The new creations will be sold in their restaurants in February. The chefs are putting their support behind the girls and want to inspire the community to do the same and buy an extra box or two.
CABINS FOR CAMP SOMBRERO
This year, girls are hoping to set an even higher sales record of 3.4 million packages and fund two more cabins at Camp Sombrero in south Phoenix. Council proceeds from packages sold over 3 million will once again be used to help fund more cabins as Camp Sombrero is transformed into the Leadership Center for Girls and Women. Last year's proceeds for this project raised $555,800. Girls are going for $1.2 million total from the 2014 and 2015 cookie sales to support the renovation, which will make them the largest donors to this project.
HOW THE GIRLS BENEFIT
All proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie program are used to support Girl Scout programming in Arizona. Beyond that, the cookie program gives girls the opportunity to learn important business and entrepreneurial skills like goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills and business ethics.
HOW THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS
The Gift of Caring program allows customers to purchase cookies and donate them to community partners serving those in need. This program allows girls to learn about serving their community and social responsibility. Recipients of donated cookies include St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, St. Vincent de Paul and USO Arizona.
