by Lyn Lomasi

Selling Girl Scout cookies is an essential part of being a troop member. Whether your daughter is a Brownie on up to Cadette, every girl who joins a Girl Scout troop will, at one point, be asked to sell the Girl Scout cookies, regardless of rank. It is a wonderful way to raise money for the troupe as well as teach the girls business skills. The Girl Scout Cookies help support the wonderful services that being a troop member provides for girls everywhere.

There are many ways to sell Girl Scout cookies. Remember that all methods should involve adult supervision. Some may wonder if it is okay to sell cookies door-to-door, either because they don't know many people to sell them to, do not know of another viable option, or cannot or do not wish to utilize any of the other available options.

Many parents may think about selling Girl Scout cookies door-to-door as an option, simply because there is an opportunity to get many sales. Girl Scout troops often have contests and prizes that are dependent upon how many cookies the girls sell. Selling door-to-door could significantly raise the amount sold.

However, there are downsides to selling door-to-door as well. One downside is that many times neither you nor your daughter will know all of the people you would potentially sell Girl Scout cookies to. Not only do you not know these people, but you don't know their character. They could be nice people. But, then again, they could also be child-molesters, thieves, or murderers. You may not be able to tell this just from giving them a quick sales pitch.

Remember that whomever your daughter sells to, you'll both be returning to their home to deliver the cookies if you don't have them on hand. You will also need to keep in mind that the more your daughter sells, the more she will have to deliver. If she has sold cookies door-to-door, that means going individually to every address she sold to for delivery. Not only will this be time-consuming, but if people aren't home, you will have to return to their homes repeatedly until they are. If you already have a supply of cookies on hand, this may not be a problem, but the problem of not knowing each individual still exists. Going door-to-door is not the safest option for selling cookies.

If your daughter wants to sell a large amount of Girl Scout Cookies, other options are likely more safe and convenient. Think about letting her bring her sales sheet to your job or, if she is younger, you can bring it to work with you. Doing this upon the time she first receives it is the most effective, as there is a better chance that your co-workers haven't already purchased their Girl Scout Cookies. If your workplace is at home or does not have a large amount of workers, you may want to try another option.

There is usually a pretty high demand for Girl Scout Cookies, so if you can find a pretty busy location that will allow your daughter (or troop) to sell cookies in, by all means utilize it. Malls and grocery stores often allow Girl Scouts to vend their cookies inside or outside of their stores. Be sure to get permission first. Doing this can prove very lucrative and it's also convenient because your daughter and/or her troupe can bring a large amount of cookies to one place. This option won't work if your daughter simply has a sales sheet. However, if your troop is one that allows the girls to pick up a large supply for vending, this can work well.

Another great way to sell Girl Scout Cookies is similar to door-to-door selling, but not quite as dangerous. You and your daughter can sell the cookies to businesses. Just be sure to honor "No Soliciting" signs when you see them. This is a much safer way to sell to a large amount of people than going door-to-door, as you and your daughter will not be going to private residences, but public locations. Stick to businesses that have a good amount of staff on hand. Avoid businesses with two or less people on hand. People are more likely to commit a crime when there are less witnesses. This is not to say that all people are bad, just that you should always be cautious. Businesses may be more convenient to vend to if you already have cookies on hand. This way there is no returning for hand delivering.

There are many other viable options as well, such as selling Girl Scout Cookies at your yard sale or a church function. Just remember that whatever option you choose should be safe for your daughter and as convenient as possible during cookie delivery. Be cautious with every decision you make, but still remember that this a fun and rewarding experience for you and your daughter. Happy selling!

*Note that this is not a complete list of safety tips or sales suggestions. The author is not responsible for any adverse event or action that occurs as a result of using this advice. Always do your own research and never rely on only one source for information.

~~

Have another sales suggestion or safety tip? Have something else to say?

This author welcomes feedback and discussion in the comments section below.