Hello Troop Cookie Managers & Leaders,
Here's an important update on what we know at the present time and our steps to navigate the smoothest and least stressful end to the Great Cookie Rush of 2022!
We’re all experiencing frustration regarding our favorite items being out of stock or slow to arrive. It didn’t seem like Girl Scout Cookies would be affected and then….BOOM! Girls across the country have been selling cookies right and left! And while that’s fantastic for our troops, it’s causing our baker to run behind. This isn’t just a GSKSMO issue; it’s effecting every council across the USA. Some councils more than others. Though frustrating, we are actually experiencing relatively minor constraints compared to others. This is 100% due to the planning, teamwork and dedication of our Service Unit Product Programs managers and you, our Troop Cookie Managers and Leaders. Thank you!
But I thought you said we were fine.
We did, because for the first couple of weeks after initial delivery we were. As sales have continued at an incredibly high rate, our baker, ABC, has continued to bake to support us but there are some things they can’t control like packaging, trucks & drivers and peanut butter. And while they wait on those supplies to come in and trucks and drivers to be available, we’re stuck.
But we have Girl Delivery orders to fill!
We know and we want you to fill those orders. Our direction is to do your best to fill those orders. Now is the time to help troops that have extra product to get those transfers and fulfill all the customer orders you can. Many of those customers ordered, and paid, back in January. Encourage families to get them delivered. IF you’re waiting on cookies, ask girls / families to contact them and let them know their cookies will come as soon as our stock arrives.
Remember the last Planned Order is due in Smart Cookies tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 27 at 9:00 pm. You should order what you need to fill those customer orders and remember if you were shorted this week, we don't backorder... order what you need at this present time. We would like to get a feel for troops that have 10 or more customer orders to fill due to delayed product. If this is your troop and you have no inventory and haven't been able to obtain any, please complete this short collection form. This form does not negate the Planned Order, that order is the most important. We just want to see the overall impact on customer orders we are experiencing at this present time.
What about our booth sales?
Your priority should now be to Girl Delivery orders and then booths. You can have a booth without a variety or two. You really want to have Thin Mints but you can be sold out of anything else and still have a successful booth. Or you can make the decision to release your booth in Smart Cookies. We hate that you might have to do this but it’s the reality of the situation. Troops and girls have gone above and beyond expectations, and it's now time to wrap up the program. If you are a troop that has had lots of booth sales and you know a troop in your service unit that hasn't, consider helping that troop so that their girls get a chance at a booth sale. We know there are very few troops out there that would be having a first booth sale on this last weekend of the program.
Are you extending the program?
Yes and no. We’re going to extend your access to Smart Cookie to March 18 (previous deadline March 14). You should have all transfers completed and recognitions ordered by that date and all cash/checks that you collected deposited by 2:00 pm on March 18. The first ACH pull stay as is for Feb. 28 where we take a $1 per package of your current inventory including counting credit toward direct ship sales and customer payment made through Smart Cookies.
- The Troop Direct Ship Link and all Girl Social Media links will close on March 6.
- The booth no call list stays in place. Do not call these locations to set up another booth. If we can get some of those locations to offer us another weekend we will add to Smart Cookies.
So you’re getting more cookies?
We’re trying! We have an order in now and are prepared to place another order. The problem is finding out when we are going to get that order. Normally when we place an order we find out in 24 hours when it’s coming and that’s usually within 3 – 5 days. With everything that’s happening, we are seeing a huge delay (example: order placed 2/21, we don’t know when it’s coming and if it will be 100% fulfilled).
Our main goal is to get you the cookies you need to fill girl orders. Our secondary goal is to get you cookies so you don’t have to cancel booths. As soon as we find out when we are getting more cookies, we’ll communicate that info., along where you can pick them up.
What about the second ACH pull? When is money due?
Girl Recognitions
Girl Recognition Order portal on Smart Cookies opens March 1. The deadline for placing your Girl Recognition order is March 18.
Things to remember:
Finally, check for any Troop Direct Ship orders. When someone visits the Cookie Finder app, they are given the option of ordering a Direct Ship order from a troop in their zip code. To see if your troop received any of these orders, go to the Orders tab in Smart Cookies and click on Troop Direct Ship orders. If you see a red bar that says Pending Distribution you received an order and you should distribute the order to your girls. Click on Pending Distribution and distribute!
If your troop is Cadette, Senior and/or Ambassador you can opt out of recognitions and earn an additional .12¢ per package. To opt out, go to the My Troop tab and choose Troop Information. Under Proceed Plan, choose 2022 GSKSMO Cookie Proceeds Opt Out. Directly below that field, under Main Recognition Plan choose GSKSMO 2022 Opt Out. Finalize by scrolling down and clicking Update Information. This must be a unanimous troop decision by the girls. Girls in troops that opt out will receive most of the patches offered in addition to the extra .12¢ per package for the troop. Girls in multi-age troops are not eligible for opting out if there are Daisies, Brownies and/or Juniors in the troop.
Our next Cookie Coach is all about placing your recognition order. And as always, we’ll have open forum immediately after. Join us! Monday, February 28, at 6:00 pm.
Two, FUN & Important Reminders
We want to say thank you to our girls, families and you are PAW-MAZING cookie managers and leaders. We are creating a new patch that will be given to all girls who sold 5 packages or more. All you have to do is make sure transfers are done and we will take it from there. This is not a part of your recognitions order. In addition, you will receive a small token of our thanks with a fun item with this same image for you as well. The "I Survived the Cookie Rush of 2022" patch is in the image at the top of this Gram.
Thank you for all your hard work and flexibility,
The Product Program Team
