Girl Scout cookie sales teach digital marketing skills, Northbrook, Glenview leaders say

"People who buy Girl Scout cookies know the treats taste good, but may not realize all the skills, from digital marketing to managing money to speaking to adults, they are helping to teach the young cookie salesgirls. Diana Zuver leads two troops in Glenview. One troop, to which Zuver's older daughter belongs, is for fifth- and sixth-graders. They are classified as Juniors (grades 4-5) and Cadettes (grades 6-8)."

"The Scout salesgirls learn skills which can benefit them in other aspects of their lives. "Definitely people skills," Zuver said. "They get confidence to start a conversation with someone they don't know. They learn about goal-setting and money management." She added that they are developing entrepreneurial skills. "The girls get really excited trying to outdo themselves from the previous year," Zuver noted."

"To help all of the girls, whether or not they're shy, they do practice scenarios, Zuver said. During those scenarios, they are coached in what to say to prospective customers and given important pointers. Zuver said they are told to smile and be courteous. Girls are also told, "It's okay if they say no," she indicated. "You can tell them what your favorites are. Tell them how you're going to use the money.""

Two Glenview troops include fourth- through sixth-grade scouts classified as Juniors and Cadettes, with cookie sales established since troop formation. Cookie sales serve as experiential learning for people skills, confidence initiating conversations, goal-setting, money management, and entrepreneurial thinking. Shy members are encouraged to pair up, and all scouts practice sales scenarios to learn phrasing and customer interaction. Scouts are coached to smile, be courteous, accept refusals, suggest favorites, and explain intended uses for sale proceeds. Troop meetings include setting project goals and deciding how cookie proceeds will finance those projects.

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