My daughter officially became a Brownie Scout this year. She’s learning about service, leadership, and now… selling cookies.
Image from www.GirlScoutCookies.org
We just got our 4 color fold out poster/sign up form/incentive list, and my daughter immediately decided she wanted to sell 1000 boxes of cookies so she could get a Flip camera as a prize.
She’s 7. She’s had a lemonade sale before, she’s very persuasive naturally (I’m the one she gets to practice on), and has a bit of that Enneagram 3/ High Achiever trait as I do.
But still… she needs some training. Maybe I do too, because I’m motivated by her goal and have to remind myself it’s HER leadership training and HER sale… not mine. I wish they would sell cookies online which would make moving those 1000 boxes sooooooooooooo much easier, but they don’t and I’m guessing it’s because of the character building experience of actually selling face to face.
However, I can help and I’m coaching her to build the skills needed so she can reach her goal.
Here’s our sales strategy so far. And please… we’re open for ideas so comment away if you find more ways to coach this future leader to 1000 boxes.
1. The “You Owe Me One” Approach
We started with our dentist. For her we used the “You owe me one” sales pitch. I simply reminded her how we’ve been her loyal patients for years (read: I’ve paid you so many thousands over the years, hope you’re enjoying that nice Mercedes you tool around in, etc) and how nice it would be to show appreciation for our contribution to her nice life by purchasing some Girl Scout cookies. We even anticipated her objections (after all, she’s a dentist and should be telling everyone NOT to eat sweets), by offering her the Cookie Share option, which would take her money but instead send the cookies to the food bank or to the troops. She bought 5 boxes.
When we go see my anti-wheat doctor/acupuncturist, he’ll get ushered directly to the Cookie Share option, sprinkled with that knowing look of “I pay you so much money, you better buy these buddy!”. Hate wheat? No problem, we’ve got you covered.
2. The “Cute” Approach
How can you say no?
Not everyone feels obliged to buy cookies from us. For them, we go for “Cute”. Smiling child, boxes of cookies in hand, Brownie vest with 3 merit badges. We’re going for the “Awwwwww! How cute!” response. The Cute approach is saved for neighbors, people I network with, business acquaintances (ooh, that might be you reading this, how convenient!), family, and anyone who’s ever as much peeped an adoring word her way for the past 7 years.
My sister MASTERED the art of this many years ago when her girls were in scouts. She had a picture of her smiling scouts on a clip board, made the rounds at the Disney studios where she works, and simply deadpanned: “How many?”. Michael Eisner, CEO at that time, even chipped in for a few boxes.
Note: I realize that Approaches 1 and 2 are pretty Mom-centered, but we’re modeling, OK.
3. The “I’m The Future!” Approach
In a couple weeks, we’ll be tabling outside a grocery store trying to get busy shoppers to make eye contact and BUY! You know they’re practicing their reasons to say no the minute they see us, so our goal is to catch them off guard. They’re expecting “Hi would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?”, to which they can say No very easily. How about this: “Hi. I’m a future leader and Girl Scouts is helping me. When you buy cookies, you’re supporting your future and mine.” I think we should follow this up with an assumptive close “How many boxes will that be today?”
Any other thoughts on helping her reach her 1000 box goal? Coach the future of our world by leaving a comment.
About Nancy Marmolejo
