National Girl Scout Cookie Day Celebrates World's Largest Girl-Led Business

The famous Thin Mints remain, but Girl Scouts are giving their cookie boxes an overhaul to highlight the real purpose of the $790-million cookie program, which is to teach girls five essential skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, business ethics, and people skills.

To celebrate such a monumental program, this year Girl Scouts has named February 8 National Girl Scout Cookie Day. Girls will be asking 50 million cookie fans across the nation to buy or order more boxes in honor of their success in running the largest girl-led business enterprise in the world.

"Everyone knows how tasty Girl Scout cookies are, but many customers don't realize that they're also helping girls build money management and people skills," said Girl Scouts of the USA Chief Executive Officer Anna Maria Chavez . "The girl who sells you Thin Mints today may be running a business, reversing the deficit, and improving your community within a matter of years. Just ask our 59 million Girl Scout alumnae, including 70 percent of the women now serving as U.S. senators."

When it comes to skill building, statistics show the Girl Scout Cookie Program works. According to a survey from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 85 percent of Girl Scout "cookie entrepreneurs" learn money management by developing budgets, taking cookie orders, and handling customers' money. Eighty-three percent build business ethics; 80 percent learn goal setting; 77 percent improve decision making; and 75 percent develop people skills.

All the revenue earned from cookie activities—every penny after paying the baker—stays with the local Girl Scout council that sponsors the sale. Councils use cookie revenue to supply essential services to troops, groups, and individual girls, such as providing program resources and communication support, training adult volunteers, and conducting events. As part of their experience in any Girl Scout product activity, girls can earn official Girl Scout awards at every level of Girl Scouting, including cookie and financial literacy badges and the annual Cookie Activity Pin.

Girl Scouts' social media team is making the most of National Girl Scout Cookie Day on February 8. Highlights will include a onemorebox contest with winners announced the day of, and live coverage of the day's events. @GirlScouts will even be tweeting the location of The National Girl Scout Cookie Day Truck as it makes its way through New York City, staffed with Girl Scouts selling cookies.

"When you go to your local grocery store or mall and see our troops, remember you can help a girl develop a skill that will serve her the rest of her life," said Chavez. "I cannot think of a more delicious way to support our next generation of leaders than by buying Girl Scout Cookies."

In the first package design update since 1999, the 200 million Girl Scout cookie boxes sold annually now feature a new look that highlights the five skills girls learn through the program. A new GSUSA marketing campaign reinforces this more contemporary message with the theme, "This Is What a Girl Can Do." And, for ease of purchase, customers can now find their Girl Scout Cookies using a free app available for iPhone or Android, or by visiting the newly refreshed official Girl Scout Cookie Finder.

Source: Girl Scouts of the USA