HOLYOKE/WORCESTER – For the first time in its history, Girl Scouts from local troops will be able to sell Girl Scout Cookies to customers through a brand new national Digital Cookie platform. The revolutionary addition to the Girl Scout Cookie Program will enhance and expand the program’s ability to teach girls new skills for business and life. The groundbreaking platform will expand the iconic cookie program by adding a digital layer that broadens and strengthens the essential 5 Skills girls learn in the traditional cookie program, including goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. The future of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, Digital Cookie will introduce vital 21st century lessons about online marketing, application use, and e-commerce to nearly 10 thousand excited Girl Scouts locally.
Digital Cookie follows Girl Scouts’ classic “hands on” approach to teaching girls new skills. Through the platform, local Girl Scouts will maintain their own protected, personalized websites to market their cookie business to local consumers, accept orders via credit card, and activate cookie shipments directly to customers. This means consumers who know Girl Scouts participating in Digital Cookie will receive e-marketing materials from them this season with invitations to visit their cookie websites and make purchases. The platform places an emphasis on the safety of girls and customers alike and offers an online experience that allows girls to learn about digital money management using dashboards to track their sales and goals. Overall, the new platform teaches modern skills while aligning with the interests of today’s girls.
“It’s an exciting time for the Girl Scout cookie program”, said Pattie Hallberg, CEO of Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts. “For the first time, girls in our council will be able to reach out to extended family and friends across the miles and share their goals and invite them to participate in reaching them. Through Digital Cookie, we are bringing the Girl Scout Cookie Program fully into the 21st century.”
As with the traditional cookie program, the net revenue earned from the cookie sale program stays with the local council and troops. Girls decide how to spend their troop cookie proceeds and reinvest it back into their neighborhoods through community service projects and learning experiences, like travel opportunities.
The eight varieties of cookies, which cost $4 a box, include last year’s favorites, Samoas, Trefoils, Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, and Savannah Smiles. And this year, Girl Scouts introduce two new cookies; Rah-Rah Raisins, a hearty oatmeal cookie with raisins and Greek yogurt chunks; and Toffee-tastic, the limited edition gluten-free cookie.
Additionally, as with the traditional cookie program, beginning the weekend of January 16- 19 will be the public’s first chance to secure their box of Thin Mints and the rest and their chance to launch a girl toward her goal as local troops officially kickoff the 2015 cookie season with “cookie booths” or “cash and carry sales”.
Visit www.girlscoutcookies.org for more information.
For more information on Digital Cookie visit www.girlscouts.org/digitalcookie.
