2021 Cookie Booth Guidelines

2021 Cookie Booth Guidelines
 COOKIE BOOTH ETIQUETTE & PLANNING
 COOKIE BOOTH ETIQUETTE
 Booth sales give girls the opportunity to learn new skills, to promote Girl Scouting, live the Girl Scout Promise
 and Law, and to sell more cookies to reach higher goals. With this opportunity comes the responsibility to
 follow safety, public relations, and business guidelines.
 Please keep in mind that selling Girl Scout Cookies at a booth is a privilege granted to us by local businesses.
 This privilege, if abused (even unintentionally) could cause all Girl Scouts to lose the opportunity for
 additional sales at these businesses. Please be considerate of the business, its customers, and its property.
 If complaints arise you may be asked to leave, and future booth opportunities may be revoked.

 WHILE AT A COOKIE BOOTH:
 I WILL:
    • Be polite and friendly.
    • Remember that my behavior reflects on all Girl Scouts.
    • Arrive and leave on time. (If a shift is split up between girls or troops, be courteous and exchange places
      in a quick and quiet manner.)
    • Wear my uniform, vest, sash or troop shirt to identify me as a Girl Scout and ensure that my booth
      signage utilizes the Girl Scout brand.
    • Keep the area neat, removing empty boxes, breaking them down, and taking them with me.
    • Say thank you/have a good day to everyone even if they choose not to buy cookies.
    • Take everything with me and leave nothing behind.
    • Adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines (masks, social distancing, hand sanitizer, gloves, limited contact and
      touchless options).
 I WILL NOT:
    • Get in the way of customers.
    • Block the entrance/exit to the business.
    • Continue to ask a customer to support my troop if they decline.
    • Go into the store, run around in the parking lot, and/or play while selling at a cookie booth.
    • Eat or drink while at the cookie booth. (Masks should be on at all times.)
 COOKIE BOOTH CHECKLIST
___ Count cookies & money before the booth begins             ___ Goal chart
___ Bring Annual Permission Forms for all girls present       ___ Donation signage, if applicable
___ Table & chairs                                            ___ Troop number displayed
___ Tablecloth                                                ___ Girl Scout attire
___ Booth record sheet, pens & clipboard                      ___ Weather-ready attire
___ Cash box or waist pouch for adult to wear                 ___ First aid kit
___ Cash for change                                           ___ Wireless phone & device charger
___ Booth confirmation email                                  ___ Sanitation supplies & hand sanitizer

*Pro tip: Note transactions on Booth Record Sheet & count cookies before and after each transaction
                                                          1

TRADITIONAL COOKIE BOOTH GUIDELINES
COVID-19 GUIDELINES
Safety is the number one priority. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, safety measures must be increased and
simple variations of the process will be needed. Please abide by the rules outlined here and add additional
safety measures relevant to various locations if needed.
• Follow COVID-19 guidelines including the use of facial coverings, social distancing, and proper hygiene
  standards. Whenever possible, utilize a touchless process.
• Limit the number of individuals present to 2 girls and 2 adults at each booth. Do NOT bring siblings and/
  or pets.
• Only place a single package of each variety on your table.
• Always keep girls behind the table – maintain social distancing between girls and between girls and
  customers.
• Each booth table should have hand sanitizer accessible to troop and customers and have sanitation
  supplies to wipe down any touch points between customers.
• Hand sanitizer should be used frequently and each time after handling cash. Disposable gloves are
  recommended.
• To fill customer orders, pull cookies directly from the cases behind/under the display. Have one person
  get the order together instead of multiple people getting the order together.
• If utilizing the credit card option through Smart Cookies, ask the customer to hold their card and enter the
  numbers (or scan if using an iPhone) without handling the card or handing your device to the customer.
  **Note: To utilize the Smart Cookies credit card platform and prevent double booking of booths, ALL
  troop-secured booths MUST be listed in Smart Cookies and approved by the council. **
Additional Tips and Tricks:
 • Bring masking tape, cones, or some sort of line marker to show where customers should stand.
 • If you have a rectangular table, consider using it lengthwise rather than horizontally to create more space
   between girls and customers.
 • Use cookie menu board instead of putting cookie packages on display.
 • Have bins or trays available for safe money transactions. Consider creative options – plastic shoe boxes,
   cookie sheet, plastic food storage containers.
 • Post appropriate signage at each booth to alert customers about social distancing instructions.
 • Post mask sign to alert customers that they must wear face coverings while at a booth.

WHAT GOES ON THE TABLE?
•   Tablecloth
•   Each variety of cookie or cookie menu board
•   Goal chart
•   Troop number
•   Donation signage, if accepting donations
•   Pens and clipboard with tally sheet and extra blank paper
•   Hand sanitizer

                                                     2

VIRTUAL COOKIE BOOTH GUIDELINES
TROOP SECURED VIRTUAL BOOTH EVENT
A virtual booth allows customers to order and pay for cookies via credit card in advance of a pickup event
to be held at a designated location on a pre-determined date and time.

HOW IT WORKS
 • Troops will secure and set up a location, date, and time where customers can pick up their cookie orders
   drive-thru style.
 • The troop volunteer sets up the event information in Smart Cookies and shares the virtual troop booth
   link via email, text message, or social media.
 • Consumers will access the troop link to make their cookie selections and pay for their order via credit
   card.
 • Troop volunteers must approve all virtual booth event orders received in Smart Cookies.
 • The customer is notified that their order has been approved for pick up and that their credit card has
   been charged.
 • The troop volunteer works with girls to review the approved orders to be packed and labeled for pick up.
 • The troop sets up their booth at the designated location on the planned date and time.
 • Customers drive up to the booth, show proof of ID, and the order is given to the customer. (See Drive-Thru
   Booth Guidelines on next page for more information on holding a drive-thru event.)
 • Once order is picked up, the troop volunteer must mark orders as picked up in Smart Cookies. To do this,
   access Smart Cookies and under Booth Menu hit “View Booth Credit Card Payments.” Locate the order,
   click the ellipsis under the “Action” heading and click on “Set as Delivered.”
 • The troop should credit the girls for the sales using the Smart Cookies Virtual Booth Divider.

TIPS & TRICKS
 • Consider how you will share your Virtual Cookie Booth link. Homeowners’ association websites, churches,
   businesses, social groups, or locally planned event websites offer great opportunities to advertise a
   virtual booth event.
 • Consider scheduling curbside, “trunk” pickups at a central location and scheduling customer pick-up
   times to minimize the number of people there at once.
 • Your virtual booth link can be associated with a traditional booth sale allowing for pre-sales that you can
   have ready for pick-up.

                                                     3

DRIVE-THRU COOKIE BOOTH GUIDELINES
DRIVE-THRU BOOTH OVERVIEW
Drive-thru booths are great for limited contact transactions and to assist troops with Virtual Cookie Booth
pickups. Girls can have these pre-orders sorted prior to the drive-thru booth.
Drive-thru booths must be entered as a “troop-secured location” and approved in Smart Cookies to appear
in the Booth Locator and have access to the Smart Cookies credit card system. Make sure you list it as a
“Drive Thru Booth” in the booth name.

DRIVE-THRU SAFETY & COVID-19 GUIDELINES
Safety is the number one priority. During drive-thru booths, safety measures must be increased. Please
abide by the rules outlined here and add additional safety measures relevant to various locations if needed.
• Girls and adults must adhere to the required COVID-19 guidance at all times, including the use of facial
  coverings, social distancing, and proper hygiene standards.
• Booth, volunteers, girls, and signage should be identifiable with the Girl Scouts brand.
• Booth location must be approved by property owner prior to promotions and entry into Smart Cookies.
• The parking lot should be large enough to not impede traffic in the event a line forms.
• When setting up the drive thru, ensure that girls will be able to stay out of the driving area while present.
• Utilize arrow markers to show which way to enter/exit.
• Safety cones or a roped-off drive area is recommended.
• Traffic configuration must be a “drive-thru” with no need for backing up or turning around.
• Have an adult at the front of the cookie drive-thru to help direct traffic.
• Girls should never approach a car without an adult present as a buffer between car and girl.
• Whenever possible, utilize a touchless process and encourage cashless transactions.
• If utilizing the credit card option through Smart Cookies, ask the customer to hold their card and enter the
  numbers (or scan if using an iPhone) without handling the card or handing your device to the customer.
  **Note to utilize the Smart Cookies credit card platform, the cookie booth MUST be listed in Smart Cookies
  and approved by the council. **
• Each booth table should have hand sanitizer accessible to troop and customers and have sanitation
  supplies to wipe down any touch points between customers.
• Hand sanitizer should be used frequently and each time after handling cash. Disposable gloves are
  recommended.

ADDITIONAL TIPS & TRICKS
• Use yard signs to alert drivers/customers that the drive-thru booth is just ahead (balloons also catch
  attention).
• Use cookie menu board instead of putting cookie packages on display, as printing and laminating images
  of cookies and prices will allow limited handling and interaction.
• Have bins or trays available for safe money transactions. Consider creative options – plastic shoe boxes,
  cookie sheet, Tupperware.
• Encourage customers to wear face masks while interacting with girls/volunteers.
• Tables should be wiped down frequently with sanitizing spray.
• Roles for Girls: Create booth signage, relay information between stations, ask customers for their order,
  make change/handle credit card transactions, bag orders, and thank customers.
• Roles for Adults: Monitor safety of girls, direct traffic, retrieve payment from customer and ensure correct
  change is given, oversee order filling, and transfer cookies to car.
                                                     4

SUGGESTED DRIVE-THRU BOOTH LAYOUTS

DRIVE-THRU BOOTH LAYOUT #1

        START HERE                                                                END HERE

STATION 1
1. Adult volunteer stands 6 feet away from vehicle & takes cookie order
2. Order is communicated to Station 2 for gathering
3. Volunteer collects payment
    • For cash, customer uses payment bin to deposit money and is instructed to pick up change (if
      needed) at Station 3
    • For credit card, ask the customer to hold their card and enter the numbers (or scan if using an
      iPhone) without handling the card or handing the device to the customer.
4. Customer is directed to Station 2 to pick up order
5. Cash payment is processed, placed into the bin, and handed to Station 3

STATION 2
1. Girl Scout places prepared order on the table
2. Volunteer either hands the customer their order or places it into the backseat or trunk
3. Customer is directed to Station 3 if they need to retrieve change.

STATION 3
1. Customers change is returned
2. The empty basket is returned to Table 1 and sanitized

                                                    5

SUGGESTED DRIVE-THRU BOOTH LAYOUTS

DRIVE-THRU BOOTH LAYOUT #2

STATION 1
1. Adult volunteer stands 6ft. away from vehicle & takes cookie order
2. Order is communicated to Station 2 for preparation
3. Volunteer collects payment.
    • For cash, customer uses payment bin to deposit money. If needed, the volunteer makes
       change and places it back into the bin for the customer to collect.
    • For credit card, ask the customer to hold their card and enter the numbers (or scan if using an
       iPhone) without handling the card or handing the device to the customer.
4. After payment bin is empty and customer drives away, sanitize bin.

STATION 2
1. Girl Scout prepares the order and places is on the table
2. Adult volunteer hands the customer their order or places it in the backseat or trunk

                                                    6