You know just how great Girl Scout cookies are! However you may not know how important the experience of selling them is for girls. Selling Girl Scout cookies allows girls to gain 5 learning skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics – skills that are needed in everyday life. But the experience won’t happen without YOU!

Here is a quick guide, from Girl Scouts themselves, on  the best way to buy cookies. It’s more than just handing over money for your cookies. It’s about helping girls learn how to reach their full potential.

Say hi!
“Hello” and a smile gets everything off on the right foot! It builds our confidence and is basically the greatest conversation starter ever.

Look me in the eye.
Some of us may seem a little shy, but that’s just because we don’t know you yet. It’s not easy talking to people you don’t know or asking people to trust you – but that’s what we’re learning to do. Making eye contact says, “Hey, we see each other, we respect each other, and we’re ready to do business.”

Let me know if you’re a Girl Scout.
There are a lot of Girl Scouts out there, everywhere. Over 21,000 in our council alone – 2 million nationwide. So definitely tell us if you’re a Girl Scout, and tell us how being a Girl Scout has helped you become who you are. It means a lot to us, seeing what we can become.

Please don’t call us cute.
We know we’re cute, but selling cookies is real. We’re learning how to run a business. We want you to buy cookies because you want them and respect what we’re learning, not because of our nice haircut or uniform. We’re running the largest girl-led business in the world. That’s not cute. That’s incredible.

Ask about our inventory.
You probably have a favorite (everyone does), but we have a lot of cookies to tell you about. It’s part of my responsibility to explain what we have and then make sure you get exactly what you ordered.

Ask where the money goes.
Our troop decides where our money goes. It’s amazing to see all the great things we can do with what we earn. Some groups use the proceeds to go on new adventures, to visit new places, or to support causes they care about. So definitely ask us.

Let’s talk money.
When you hand us the money, it’s about more than making change. We learn how to set up a budget and track money, and how money can do a lot of good in the world.

Ask us why we’re Girl Scouts.
Everyone joins for a different reason, but we all make great friends and accomplish things we wouldn’t otherwise. Our leadership awards and skill-building badges prove it. We learn that we can do anything. We can be anything.

Notice our new package design.
We redesigned all the boxes to share the real story of what Girl Scouts do today – and the fun we have while doing it. Tell us what you think.

Let us know how we did.
Selling cookies is hard work, and it’s a new thing for a lot of us. Feedback helps us get better and grow into leaders.