Thank you so much for volunteering for one of the most important adult positions a Pack, Troop or Crew should have. This sale plays an essential role in allowing you to generate funds for your unit s program. Imagine being able to pay for EVERYTHING your unit does for an entire year with popcorn sale profits. Trips, camp outs, trainings, advancement, blue & gold banquet, courts of honors, trailers, uniforms and more have been purchased with popcorn funds earned by units. So if you are ready for your unit to make money here are some things you need to know: Each District will be offering a training. Every unit attending training will be able to learn the following: How to run a successful popcorn sale Key dates and deadlines Product line up and pricing Unit commission structure, bonus, and incentive plan Ordering, scheduling, and online resources Distribution and return information Guidebook and support materials Prize program
Step by Step Instructions for Unit Popcorn Kernel Recruit a Unit Popcorn Kernel August to November is the entire job. 1.) The Unit Kernel attends either one of the District Popcorn Kickoffs These events are designed to educate and motivate the unit kernels and their teams to make the most of the sale. 2.) Unit s Committee Meets to determine sales goals and how to manage the unit campaign. 3.) Kickoff the Sale at a Unit Event Conduct a fun and energetic Unit Kickoff. Be sure each Scout and his parent have instructions of how to sell, whether they will be selling in front of a store or from an order form to friends and family. Produce an Information Sheet that explains the sale to families of each Scout that is specific to your unit. Here are some items you may wish to include: The website addresses http://www.trails-end.com/ for Scout sales training and the Scout s opportunity to sign up for online sales. What type of sales your pack or troop are participating (Show & Sale, Show & Deliver, AND/OR Take Order). As well as the exact dates the Scouts should be participating in these sales When money AND product needs to be returned to you the Unit Popcorn Kernel 4.) Monitor the Sale Send emails and talk about the sale at meetings with top seller updates and reminders of upcoming deadlines so families stay motivated and know what s going on. 5.) Pickup and Deliver Unit are responsible for picking up popcorn from the delivery locations. Often where the popcorn is distributed is a donated space so it is very helpful to pick up popcorn on time so as to not disrupt business at the location. Locations will be communicated to your
popcorn kernel through the e-mail he or she enters into the trails end system. Distribute popcorn to Scouts and have them deliver to all who placed an order 8.) Wrap Up Distribute prizes and awards to Scouts that participated in the popcorn sale. Put your feet up and congratulate yourself for a job well done as your unit s Popcorn Kernel!! Please mark down the following dates on your calendar: Friday, August 29 th Show & Sell Order due to Council Saturday, September 20th Show & Sell pick up at your District pick up location Monday, October 27th Take Order Order due Prize Orders: Place all prize, patch/pin orders online Friday, December 5th Popcorn Payment Due Available Popcorn Product and Individual Pricing Caramel Corn $10 White Cheedar Chz. $15 18 Pack Butter Light $20 18 Pack Butter $20 Dark and White Choc. Drizzle $20 Caramel Corn with Nuts $20 White Chocolate Pretzels $20 18 Pack Kettle Corn $25 Chocolate Carmel Crunch $25 Cheese Lovers Collection $30 Sweet & Savory Collection $40 Chocolate Lover s Tin $50 30 Military Donation $30 50 Military Donation $50
Trails End.Com Scouts or Leaders can send an email to friends and relatives in other states and still get a commission on the sale. Each Scout must register at trails end.com to sign in or create an account. Sample email templates are available for the Scout to email multiple friends and family members to ask their help to support Scouting by buying popcorn. Show & Sell Show & Sell is a display set up in a high foot traffic area. o Select a retail location and secure management approval to set up on the date(s) your scouts can be there. This is important so that there are no conflicts with other groups. o Organize a schedule of Scouts and leaders to man the location. o Take all the popcorn you think you will be able to sell that day. o Encourage the scouts to go to view the sales training online o Both Leaders and Scouts should ALWAYS wear full class A uniform. Look your best! Take Order Take Order is the distribution of an order form to neighbors, family and coworkers for deliver later. Most units ask for payment from their customers when ordering. o Review the new Take Order forms to familiarize yourself with the product line, pricing and the military donation option. o Encourage the Scouts to view the sales training online o Both Leaders and Scouts Should ALWAYS wear full Class A uniform. Look your best!
o Instruct Scouts to show how the popcorn sale supports the unit by allowing them to purchase camping equipment, pay for camp, and other supplies. Also, instruct the Scouts to use the form that shows prizes and mention which one(s) he is trying to earn to their customers. o Collect every Scout s order form(s), tabulate and submit the unit s entire order. Unit Commissions & Incentives 30% Base Commission on all sales. Free prize program offered by Crater Lake Council 3% Bonus Commission: Unit must do all of the following to qualify Sell more popcorn than in 2013 Turn in orders on time Show and Sell by 5pm August 29 th Take Order by 5pm October 27 th Prize order by 5pm October 27 th Pay for popcorn on time Pay by 5pm December 5 th
Prize Program 1.) Prizes earned are based on an individual Scout s sales. No combining of sales with other Scouts is permitted. 2.) Each Scout can select a patch or hat pin and prize at the prize level that does not exceed his gross sales. Scouts can select from multiple prize levels as long as the total of the categories does not exceed his gross sales. 3.) Prizes are ordered online. The Unit Kernel will order all patches/pins and prizes and have them sent to his/her home for distribution to the boys. Show & Sell Product Returns Each unit should develop a plan to sell all popcorn received and not turn popcorn back in. Popcorn ordered but not sold will affect future unit commission. Please do your best to keep cost down by selling the popcorn your unit receives. Use any leftover Show & Sell popcorn to fill Take Orders. Then just order what you need for Take Order Sale. Popcorn Pick Up Show & Sell Popcorn Pick Up Day: Saturday, September 20th Take Order Popcorn Pick Up Day: Saturday, November 15th
So here are 10 Tips for Making Popcorn Sales Pop. With each tip, we ve listed the helpful Scouter who submitted that suggestion. 1. It s just a numbers game. The more houses boys visit, the more they ll sell. (Blair P.) 2. Set up at a local university. College kids love popcorn! (@amsb) 3. Give the Scouts ownership of the sale. Instead of adults making all of the decisions about how the money earned will be spent, get the boys involved in the decision making. The more input the boy has, the more excited he will be about selling, and the more he will sell. (Tonya A.) 4. Sell Scouting, and the popcorn will sell itself. (Pat G.) 5. Make it fun, and give them an incentive to help the unit. We have a prize jar so the Scouts can earn a small prize for each sale. (Ken D.) 6. Sell the actual product. We call it Show and Deliver. The customer sees the product is available right then and there and will be more likely to buy. (Roberta H.) 7. Let the boys who sell the most throw a pie in a leader s face! It s amazing how much popcorn a Scout will sell with that chance in front of them! (Jason M.) 8. Tell the boys to be professional and use manners. Make sure they introduce themselves and explain what they re doing. (@JoshWilberger) 9. Work on the Salesmanship merit badge during popcorn sales. (Cindy P.) 10. When boys deliver the popcorn, have them include a thank you note. Their customers will remember the boys next year. (Kimmy P.)
Plan and Host a Unit Popcorn Sale Kickoff Motivate your Scouts and parents. Keep it fun! Keep it moving! Keep it short! Show parents and Scouts the benefits of selling popcorn. Lay out the exciting Scouting program you have planned for the year. Tell families how they can eliminate out of pocket expenses by reach their goal. Tell families about online selling. Explain that Scouts will have fun while learning to earn their own way. Kickoff Agenda (40 minutes) Grand Opening (5 minutes) Get ideas from the online video training at sell.trails ends.com. Play music, dim the lights and have fun! Explain the Scouting program and key dates (10 minutes) Make sure your families understand the benefit of selling popcorn to pay for their Scouting program. Highlight key dates important to the popcorn sale. Train your Scouts (10 minutes) Show Scout training videos on sell.trails end.com at your kickoff. You can download these videos to your computer ahead of time if your kickoff location does not have an internet connection. Explain the different ways Scouts can sell face to face and online at sell.trails end.com.
Showcase your Scout Rewards (10 minutes) Introduce your unit incentive program, starting with the pie in the face! Big Finish (5 minutes) Have the top sellers from last year throw pies in the faces of the leaders. Send everyone home motivated to sell!
Crater Lake Council 2014 Popcorn Sign-up Form Unit Information Unit # Type (Pack, Troop, Crew or Post) Popcorn Chairperson Name Address City, Zip Day Phone # Night Phone# E-Mail Address Yes! We will participate in the (Check one or more) Show-n-Sell Phase Take Order Phase Commission Option (Check the one that applies) YES on PRIZES NO on PRIZES Number of Scouts Selling