One of the keys to having a great sale is effective Communication! The most successful units are great communicators! There is no one best way to communicate. Your unit should adopt a plan that works best for you, your unit leaders, and yours Scouts and their families.
So where do you start with putting a communication plan together?
Make sure you have your sale plan together. Review the Council Calendar dates. Set your unit dates, (see the art. in this “What’s Poppin’” for suggestions). Review the sale calendar from the Council website and in your Unit guidebook.
Second, you need to determine how you are going to communicate
. Use a mix of communication styles; Unit announcements, Email, Text messages, Newsletter, Social media, Use your kickoff! Use
familiar communication methods. How do you communicate other information through you unit? You know your unit best and what people look for.
Third, determine who to communicate with.
Communicate your deadlines and key information with Unit Committee Members and Leaders so they can help you stick to the plan. Communicate the plan to the parents (check out this tool for the kickoff). Benefits of popcorn and candy. Remember the “Ws”.
Who, can help Communicate the plan to the Scouts?
What, are the key dates? What, are the prizes and incentives that your Scouts can earn? What, we are selling? (Remember it’s Scouting)
Where, are you doing Show and Sells, Neighborhood sales, Wagon Dragin’? Where do the orders get turned in? Where do families pick up product?
When, what times are you doing sales? When do orders need to be turned in to you?
Why, do we sell? What are you trying to accomplish?
Using regular communication and reminders will help make your sale more effective and in the long run, your job easier. Have a GREAT sale!
