The Girl Scouts of Central & Southern New Jersey (GSCSNJ) knew it would be challenging when the 2021 Girl Scout cookie season began in January, in the midst of a global pandemic. Due to social distancing restrictions, they were not able to knock on doors and use their traditional cookie selling methods. In true Girl Scout fashion, the put their innovation and leadership skills to the test by implementing creative ways to keep themselves and customers safe while striving to have a successful cookie season.
With the help of local businesses, the community, and innovative thinking of the girls, GSCSNJ succeeded in having a strong cookie season. One Girl Scout, Brynn Boyle of Berlin, was among the Council’s top 10 elite cookie entrepreneurs this year. Boyle sold nearly 3,000 packages of cookies.
This year, the Girl Scouts offered virtual, hybrid, and socially responsible in-person options to sell cookies including unique partnerships with Walmart and Grubhub. Walmart allowed local troops to set up cookie booths at stores and Grubhub offered contact-free cookie deliveries. The girls gained hands-on e-commerce experience as they fulfilled orders.
The Girl Scouts also started the Cookie Angel program this year, which provided an opportunity for businesses and donors to connect with local troops and support their cookie sales. Businesses purchased cookies virtually and gifted the cookies to their customers, employees, or local organizations. This year’s Cookie Angels included Advantage Outfitters, Bordentown Home for Funerals, Brown & Brown Insurance, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, and the Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company. Local organizations received the cookie donations from the program.
To recognize the top cookie sellers this year, the Juliette’s Pearls Club was created to honor Elite Entrepreneurs. The club is named after Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts who sold a beloved string of pearls to fund the operating expenses of the first Girl Scout Council. The top sellers received a necklace with a single pearl or their membership in the club. Each year they are among the Elite Entrepreneurs, they will receive an additional pearl to recognize their accomplishments. Boyle received a necklace and her first pearl.
“We are so very proud of our Girl Scouts and all they accomplished for their cookie sales in spite of the pandemic,” said Ginny Hill, GSCSNJ CEO. “The girls used essential skills they learn in our program such as innovation, goal setting, and money management, and pivoted their approach to help them achieve their goals. Girl Scout cookies are known and loved by so many. We were glad to have provided something familiar during this time of uncertainty, while supporting programs to benefit girls for years to come.”
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest female-led entrepreneurship and financial literacy program in the country. Proceeds from sales are critical because they benefit local troops and GSCSNJ and assist in developing innovative programs that build girls of confidence, courage, and character who make a difference in their communities.
For more information about the Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ, visit gscsnj.org.
