Girl Scout cookie sales crumble

johnnymk · 02-23-2009, 06:45 AM

http://www.app.com/article/20090222/...e=nletter-news

USA TODAY

Sales are a little thin for mint and other Girl Scout cookies so far this year.

National numbers are not yet in, but regional Girl Scout councils nationwide are seeing the impact of the down economy, as well as bad winter weather, in declines as large as 19 percent in pre-order sales, which took place January through early February.

Pre-order sales -- mostly door-to-door and workplace -- make up around 70 percent of cookie sales, council leaders say. Councils are hopeful they will make up for the drop-off with sales at shopping center booths through early spring, says Michelle Tompkins, spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Among the councils reporting declines:
Eastern South Carolina Council, near Charleston, shows pre-sales down 19 percent from 868,386 boxes in 2008 to about 700,000 boxes so far this year, says product sales manager Keisha Frost.

Northeast Ohio Council, near Cleveland, reports pre-sales down about 16 percent, from 2.5 million to 2.1 million boxes, says Marianne Love, director of business services.

Nation's Capital Council, in Northern Virginia, Washington and parts of Maryland, sees 5 percent fewer pre-sales, down to 3.7 million boxes, says public relations and marketing director Nancy Wood.

Frontier Council in Las Vegas sales are down 1.3 percent from 612,792 to 604,524 boxes, says development director Emily Smith.

About two-thirds of the 133 Girl Scout councils nationwide sell cookies from January through March, Tompkins says. The rest sell in the fall. Most proceeds, she says, go to troops and councils to pay for trips, community projects and scholarships.

Love said some leaders are reporting longtime customers purchasing in smaller quantities.

"If a customer was purchasing six to eight boxes, now they're purchasing three to four," she says.

Sales aren't down everywhere. Natalie Martin, director for marketing and communication at the Northeast Texas Council, near Dallas, says that council has seen a 2 percent increase in pre-sales this year. For the first time in 10 years, headquarters reduced each box size by about one ounce this year because of increased ingredient and transportation costs, says Denise Pesich, vice president of communications for Girl Scouts of the USA.

The $3.50 average cost per box has been the same for the past five years, Tompkins says.

Tompkins adds the Girl Scouts haven't dealt with salmonella-contaminated peanut products because neither of their baking companies, Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Interbake, buys from the peanut plants involved.

Pesich is optimistic booth sales will be strong.

"We're hopeful right now. The country, when in situations like this, goes back to what's nostalgic and gives them pleasure," Pesich says.

Nija · 02-23-2009, 07:45 AM

GDI - I missed Girl Scout Cookie time?!?!

mcs328 · 02-23-2009, 07:55 AM

They do it throughout the year I think. I just got my cookies from my cousin's daughter a few weeks ago.

DarkFury · 02-23-2009, 09:15 AM

The crack dealin' cookie sellers are on the loose again!

Markel · 02-23-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnymk

The $3.50 average cost per box has been the same for the past five years, Tompkins says.

I guess I live in an "above average" area, because they were charging $4.00 per box here. Does that mean that some places still sell them for $3.00 per box?

renovation · 02-23-2009, 06:10 PM

they were $3.50 a box here . your girl scouts must be adding a premium to them.

thresher · 03-09-2009, 07:43 PM

Thin mints. Yummmers! I wish I could afford them. Maybe I will make an exception and buy a box. Just one.

Markel · 03-09-2009, 08:46 PM

I bought one box (from a guy at work), and it was thin mints.

Cubsfan · 03-09-2009, 09:26 PM

I just donated a few boxes. I think I got 6 for under $20, so they must have been $3/box or so

02-23-2009, 06:45 AM	#1
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Girl Scout cookie sales crumble http://www.app.com/article/20090222/...e=nletter-news USA TODAY Sales are a little thin for mint and other Girl Scout cookies so far this year. National numbers are not yet in, but regional Girl Scout councils nationwide are seeing the impact of the down economy, as well as bad winter weather, in declines as large as 19 percent in pre-order sales, which took place January through early February. Pre-order sales -- mostly door-to-door and workplace -- make up around 70 percent of cookie sales, council leaders say. Councils are hopeful they will make up for the drop-off with sales at shopping center booths through early spring, says Michelle Tompkins, spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of the USA. Among the councils reporting declines: Eastern South Carolina Council, near Charleston, shows pre-sales down 19 percent from 868,386 boxes in 2008 to about 700,000 boxes so far this year, says product sales manager Keisha Frost. Northeast Ohio Council, near Cleveland, reports pre-sales down about 16 percent, from 2.5 million to 2.1 million boxes, says Marianne Love, director of business services. Nation's Capital Council, in Northern Virginia, Washington and parts of Maryland, sees 5 percent fewer pre-sales, down to 3.7 million boxes, says public relations and marketing director Nancy Wood. Frontier Council in Las Vegas sales are down 1.3 percent from 612,792 to 604,524 boxes, says development director Emily Smith. About two-thirds of the 133 Girl Scout councils nationwide sell cookies from January through March, Tompkins says. The rest sell in the fall. Most proceeds, she says, go to troops and councils to pay for trips, community projects and scholarships. Love said some leaders are reporting longtime customers purchasing in smaller quantities. "If a customer was purchasing six to eight boxes, now they're purchasing three to four," she says. Sales aren't down everywhere. Natalie Martin, director for marketing and communication at the Northeast Texas Council, near Dallas, says that council has seen a 2 percent increase in pre-sales this year. For the first time in 10 years, headquarters reduced each box size by about one ounce this year because of increased ingredient and transportation costs, says Denise Pesich, vice president of communications for Girl Scouts of the USA. The $3.50 average cost per box has been the same for the past five years, Tompkins says. Tompkins adds the Girl Scouts haven't dealt with salmonella-contaminated peanut products because neither of their baking companies, Little Brownie Bakers and ABC Interbake, buys from the peanut plants involved. Pesich is optimistic booth sales will be strong. "We're hopeful right now. The country, when in situations like this, goes back to what's nostalgic and gives them pleasure," Pesich says.

02-23-2009, 07:45 AM	#2
Nija Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2001 Location: City of The Dead Posts: 13,552	GDI - I missed Girl Scout Cookie time?!?! __________________ "Nija is the dark soul of gotapex. We don't like to talk about him." - LPMiller

02-23-2009, 07:55 AM	#3
mcs328 Admiral Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,578	They do it throughout the year I think. I just got my cookies from my cousin's daughter a few weeks ago. __________________

02-23-2009, 09:15 AM	#4
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	The crack dealin' cookie sellers are on the loose again! __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

02-23-2009, 06:10 PM	#6
renovation Admiral Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: You could pick up Lindsay Lohan for less than a intel 990x, and still have money left over to bail her outta jail Posts: 5,029	they were $3.50 a box here . your girl scouts must be adding a premium to them. __________________ You could pick up Lindsay Lohan for less than a intel 990x, and still have money left over to bail her outta jail

03-09-2009, 07:43 PM	#7
thresher Commander Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: St.Augustine FL. Plymouth Rock is a newbie! Posts: 1,223	Thin mints. Yummmers! I wish I could afford them. Maybe I will make an exception and buy a box. Just one. __________________ Wait a second... you're telling me Sixpac Shakur is a CHICK?

03-09-2009, 08:46 PM	#8
Markel Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 11,733	I bought one box (from a guy at work), and it was thin mints.

03-09-2009, 09:26 PM	#9
Cubsfan Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,743	I just donated a few boxes. I think I got 6 for under $20, so they must have been $3/box or so

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