2017 Popcorn and Nuts for 
Scouting Sale !



 

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL?
 
What do your Scouts hope to do this year? Go to summer camp? Visit a zoo? Go to Philmont? Sleep on a battleship? If you can dream it, you can do it and Popcorn and Nuts can help.

  If you know what your unit wants to do, you can easily put together a goal for this year's sale. We often get the comment when Unit Kernels submit their Unit Commitment Form , "I don't know what my goal should be."

  At your unit planning conference did you determine your unit budget for the year?  That is the first step.  If you don't know what you are going to spend, you don't know what you need to raise.  There is a program planning sheet available for anyone on the council website under popcorn forms, one for Packs and one for Troops.  It helps to show you what your unit needs might be, and how the fall sale can help you offset those costs you need to operate.
 
Can your Scouts sell the average amount of popcorn and nuts sold across the Council? We bet they can! On average a Scout sells between 8 and 14 items! We bet with encouragement every Scout can sell at least 10 items.  This automatically creates $100.00 or more in sales, which means at least $32.00 directly to your unit.
 
To help you reach your goal make sure each Scout sets an individual goal.  Be sure to use the prizes to show them what they can achieve.  Help them to stretch, but be realistic as well.  Last year nearly 100 Scouts throughout the council sold $1000 or more of product, and 16 sold over $3000 of product.  That's about 5% of all our Scouts who participated in the sale.  Make sure your parents understand this will help reduce their out-of-pocket expenses and how learning to help pay their way is an important part of a Scout being thrifty.  One last note is that units who set goals, even if they don't reach it wind up having better sales than units that do not.  Good luck!    
2017 POPCORN SALE COMMITMENT
 
To make sure that we have the most up-to-date contact information on you and your unit, please make sure that you have completed a 2017 Popcorn unit commitment form.  You should have received an email from Trails End, or the form can be downloaded here and sent to us.  You may also pick up a hardcopy at the office if you would like.

2017 POPCORN KICKOFF

If you have attended the popcorn kickoff in the past get ready for some big changes.  In the past our kickoff has focused on the unit Kernels.  This year we will be trying something different.  Our sales force, our Scouts, will be invited to attend a training on August 2nd.  All registered families have been sent an email asking if they would like to attend.  The kickoff will be held at one of our sponsors, Sky Zone.  To accommodate the greatest number of Scouts we will be offering 3 sessions, 5-7, 6-8 and 7-9.  Spaces are limited and will filled on a first come first served basis.  The first hour will be a round robin training.  The training will cover Safety Rules, How to make a Sales Pitch, How to Create your Own Personal Trails End Site, What Prizes we are offering and how to earn them and samples from our new Vender as you learn about our new products.  Scouts must be accompanied by an adult to participate.  If you have multiple youth one parent may be with both.
Once a family has signed up they will receive an email back with their assigned time.  Families should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to their assigned time to check in.    
At check-in each Scout will be given a passport.  At each station they will be acknowledged that they were there and then when the passport is filled the Scouts will have an hour in the park.  Sky Zone will generously be offering a special deal for families.  Any sibling of a Scout will be able to bounce at a reduced fee of $12.00, plus $2.00 for socks for the full 2 hours.
Also, there will be an additional training for new Kernels and those who just want to increase their knowledge of the sale.  We will be having that training Wednesday August 9th at the Scout Office in the Blair room.  All registered kernels will be sent an invitation to the event.  Packets will be available for pickup after August 2nd at the Council Service Center if you would just like to get your materials and start selling.
 
WEBINAR INFORMATION

Whether you are you a new Kernel or a seasoned veteran we have video trainings you can use to either review your knowledge of the sale or build it.  New this year on the trails-End website,
https://scouting.trails-end.com/ , is the Popcorn University.  The university is a collection of trainings you can review at your leisure. 
Topics include the following:
Several of these videos will also be posted on our website either under "Information for Parents" or "Information for Scouts."  Because Trails end has offered trainings on everything that we used to, we will no longer be offering our own webinars.  If you still have thoughts or questions, please feel free to reach out to either Scott or your district kernel. 

 
REMINDERS AND TIPS - UNIT KICKOFF

Don't forget one of the essentials to a great sale is your unit kick-off.  Here is a quick check list:
  • Make sure you have a unit goal
  • When is it scheduled for?
    • It should be scheduled for one of the unit's first meetings in August or September.
  • Reserve the Popcorn Popper
  • Reserve the Prize Table
  • Does your agenda include the following?
    • Get Scouts and families excited!
    • Emphasize what the Scouts will receive for hitting their goal
    • Review the year's Scouting Program calendar and explain to the families how the entire program can be funded with in fundraiser. The Popcorn and Nut Sales.
    • Communicate the Unit's Sales goal and each Scout's sales goal.
    • Role-Play with the Scouts on how to sell.
    • Review Sales materials and key dates.
POPCORN RESOURCES

Pennsylvania Dutch Council, BSA website -www.padutchbsa.org-From the Homepage follow the links for Popcorn and Nuts.  The council site gives you access to important documents and support items for your unit's sale.  It also provides contact information to help answer any questions you may have.

Trail's End Popcorn System website - http://scouting.trails-end.com/ - This is where you will log-in to place your unit orders for Popcorn, your prize orders and log important information for your sale.

Video Tutorials for the Trail's End Systems - http://sell.trails-end.com/ -This link includes some great videos from Trail's End, but most importantly it has tutorials of how to input your order in the Trail's End System as well as how to help Scouts set up a Personalized Selling Page.  These trainings have everything you need to help make your 2017 sale the best ever. 

PAST ISSUES

Missed a "What's Poppin'" or accidentally deleted it.  Don't worry.  There is an archive of past issues on the Council Website.  Just go to  http://padutchbsa.org/popcorn/whats-poppin/ , look at the menu on the left hand side and click on "What's Poppin'," and pick the issue you are looking for.
Council Popcorn Machine

The popcorn machine is available for units to borrow for their Kickoff and Show and Sell Events this fall!  It's a great way to help generate excitement for the sale!! You can down load the request form a nd return it to Leisha, at  [email protected]   to schedule  the use of it.  Machine use is on a first come first served basis.  As long as the machine is being used as part of your sale there is no fee.  Use of the machine includes corn and oil packets, the first 8 packets are free.  Additional packets are available at $1.00 each.  Each packet feeds approximately 10 people.  Please be sure to clean the machine before returning.  If you would like to use the machine for other events there is a small cost.

Meet Your 2017 Popcorn Team
Popcorn Team
Phone
Email
Joe Flaim
Council Kernel
717­-768­-0961
 
Roger Harvey
Conestoga River Kernel
717-­468-­5438
 
Heidi Patterson
Harvest Kernel
717-406-8776
Tom Carr
Horseshoe Trail Kernel
610­-203­-4335
 
Leishamarie Rivera
Council Popcorn Admin.
717-394-4063
Scott Arnold
Council Staff Advisor
717-­553-­4208