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The other day, I approached my favorite local grocer and spotted a table placed strategically between the entrance and exit doors. I could see four young girls with two mothers, and a dozen cardboard cartons.
That’s right. It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time.
Now, who can resist the coconutty yumminess of Samoas, or the refreshing, chocolately goodness of Thin Mints, not to mention the rest of the flavorful bunch?
As it turns out, more and more people are trying to, because of dietary concerns or health issues.
But the Girl Scouts have come up with an absolutely beautiful methodology for overcoming objections to purchase.
This is what I overheard:
“Would you like to buy a box or two of Girl Scout cookies?”
“No. My husband and I are on a diet.”
“Okay. Well, guess what? You can still buy a box and donate it to our troops overseas. How would you like to buy a box for our soldiers?”
These Girl Scouts are smooooooooooth.
This is a terrific example of thinking beyond your organization in order to overcome objections and make the sale.
I bought two boxes of Thin Mints. One box is headed overseas as I write. The other? I can’t tell you, because if my husband finds out where I hid them, they’ll be gone in five minutes.
By the way, these Girl Scouts are increasingly tech savvy. Check out this website for the NorCal Girl Scouts – they’ve created the “Free Cookie Mobile Locator App” for your Android or iPhone. Cookies on demand, no pre-ordering necessary.
You, my friend, are doomed.
Michele Miller is a writer, speaker, and consultant on ways to capture the heart of the female customer. The co-author of The Soccer Mom Myth, she consults with businesses of all sizes across North America
I hope that these experiences are making girls feel empowered to succeed at sales and marketing. Did you see the video on girl scouts sales training from the Wall Street Journal?
http://online.wsj.com/video/would-you-buy-cookies-from-this-girl-scout/D0F651C7-542B-4AD5-B4F0-5D96C6415160.html
You don’t need an app to find the cookies. The cookies will find you…
I find it annoying to be assaulted continuously at the front door of the grocery. If it ain’t the little ones in green, it’s every other darn cause. And that troops overseas crap is lame when one thinks a little critically about statements of the religion of nationalism.
Gotta love ‘em both, the Girl Scouts and the cookies.
When I was a girl scout (20 yrs ago), they had us also at the entrance and exit of the store, selling these cookies. Honestly these cookies sell themselves. As a girl scout you did whatever it took to sell these cookies, so your Troup could win the grand prize. The carrot and sticks approach still works even at a young age.
Tonight as I arrived at the supermarket I noticed the Girls Scout girls park outside both the entrances. I actually bought two boxes because they were tell people it was the last day to sell the cookies. I knew the amount I wanted to buy but the girls kept insisting I buy twelve boxes. They said some people freeze them and take out one everyone month for their families. Our girls are definitely getting a good foundation in Sales!
What a great article! My wife and I had a good belly laugh at the picture and caption off to the right! The world is a better place for having Girl Scouts and Girl Scout cookies in it. Bah Humbug to you scrooges!
Michele, you’ve always had an exceptional wit but this Girl Scout short is hilarious.
When I was a girl scout we would be at the entrance of every store you could think of and even though it upset me that people didn’t stop to buy cookies, I could see how much of a hurry they were in