UNIT SUCCESS

Four Key Steps to a Successful Popcorn Sale

1. Establish an annual Budget.
2. Set a Sales Goal to fund the budget.  Break the goal down by District, Unit, Den, and Scout.
3. Have Prizes and Incentives.
4. Communicate effectively.

Steps For A Sucessful Unit Kick-Off

1. Provide plenty of popcorn and snacks and make it exciting for your sales team-The Scouts.
2. Review the year’s Scouting Program calendar and explain to the families how the entire program can be funded with one fundraiser, the Pecatonica River Popcorn Sale.

Determine how much popcorn you will need to sell to reach your goal:
Budget goal / commission rate = Sales goal
Post the Unit’s Sales goal somewhere it will be visible thourghout the entire sale.                                                                                                                                            
Communicate the Unit’s sales goal and each Scout’s Popcorn sales goal. Have the boys write their goals on the Take Order Forms.

Show the Scouts the prizes they can earn by hitting their sales goal.

1. Explain the Super Saturday unit promotion with remote control car.
2. Have a prize for the top seller in the Unit and/or each Den: Ticket to local amusement park, video game, gift cards, bicycle, etc.

Role-play with the Scouts on how to sell.
Review safety and selling tips.
Review sales materials and key dates.
Do a skit or fun activity to get the boys trained and excited about the sale, and to teach them about Safety when selling.

KEEP IT FUN 

Units > Scouts Communication

1. How can Units motivate Scouts to reach their potential in the popcorn sale?
   
    Methodology:

1. Scout feedback on what activities they want to do
2. Printed material
3. Actual Prize display
4. Set PER BOY sales goals (Container vs. Dollar Goal)
5. EXCITING Unit Kickoff
6. Constantly communicating prizes and incentives

Parental Involvement  
When Scout parents understand why sell popcorn, percentages of greater revenue allowing stronger scouting programs are greatly increased.
                                                   
Parents want to know:
What’s in it for me and my Scout?
How will the money benefit our Unit? 
What do I need to do?

What’s In It For Me?

1. Scouting Values
1. Scouts learn to earn their own way
2. Scouts learn responsibility
3. Scouts learn perseverance
2. Scouting Achievement
1. Salesmanship
2. Communication
3. Self Confidence
3. Win / Win for all in the unit, provided funding
1. Enhance Scouting Programs
2. Provide needed equipment
3. Reduce program costs

What Do I Need To Do?  

1. Parental Support
1.  Attend Unit Kickoff
2.  Donate time during the sale
3.  Encourage other parents to support the sale
2. The Most Important Thing For A Parent To Do:

 ENSURE YOUR SCOUT REACHES HIS SALES GOAL!!!
Communication

1. How can we make parents aware of all the opportunities popcorn provides for their sons’ scouting programs?

1.  Methodology:
1. Kickoff
2. Email
3. Direct Mail (including Family Sales Guides)
4. Council Website
5. Newsletter
6. Scouting Event
7. Public Relations/Publicity
8. Advertising Media

Kickoff

1. Opportunity to communicate all of the specifics regarding the popcorn sale
2. A great way to communicate directly and easily to parents

Communicate the following:

1. What popcorn pays for
2. Key dates
1. Sale dates
2. $ Turn-in date
3. Popcorn pickup date
3. Key contacts
4. Delivery location

Email

1. Simple way to communicate directly and easily to parents throughout the sale
2. Capture email addresses during unit / scout signups

Communicate the following:

1. Scout success stories
2. Unit commission and Scout Incentive Program
3. Winners of weekly drawing
4. Unit and Scout benefits

Newsletter

1. Excellent tool to reference the sale early and often to parents 

1. Gradually increase message quantity and detail