Girl Scout Cookies Go Digital and Become Even More Irresistible

For the first time in the organization's 100-year history, the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. will make its cookies available online through individualized, invitation-only websites.

Next year, it’s going to be harder than ever to resist boxes of Thin Mints and Tagalongs, because for the first time, Girl Scout cookies will be available to purchase online.

According to The New York Times, the “Digital Cookie” online sales platform will allow individual Scouts to have their own cookie sales websites, which will only be accessible through email invitations. In order to further protect the girls’ identities, scouts under 13 must use an anonymous designation to protect their names and contact information. Furthermore, parents or guardians must approve all content on the Web pages.

Since 1917, Girl Scouts have sold cookies from booths set up in busy parking lots, door to door, and through order forms passed around parents’ workplaces. Last year, 80 percent of the 2 million active Girl Scouts participated in cookie sales intended to teach valuable entrepreneurial skills, such as salesmanship and marketing. Bryan Eisenberg, best-selling author and co-founder of the Web Analytics Association, believes that moving cookie sales online will teach the girls still more valuable skills.

“I see a lot of young kids wanting to be entrepreneurs today,” Eisenberg says. “It’s not easy for them if they don’t have all the coding skills to start selling online. Online Girl Scout cookie sales are a huge opportunity to open up new markets and new skills to young people.”

Moving into the digital sphere could also be a way for the Girl Scouts to remain relevant. Recent years have seen a steep decline in Scout membership. Enrollment in the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. has dropped 27 percent since 2003, according to The Detroit News. Eisenberg says that moving into online sales could be the first step toward a rebirth for the Scouts across both e-commerce and social media.

“The Girl Scouts have to be where their audience is,” Eisenberg says. “The Scouts are competing with Instagram and other social media, and they’re losing out. How do you stay relevant after 100-plus years? You evolve. And they’re evolving cautiously and hopefully intelligently. From what I’m seeing of the first effort, it looks great. I’d love to see all the tools they’re putting together.”

The Digital Cookie platform has also moved into the mobile sphere, offering a mobile app that allows for credit card payments and direct shipping. Eisenberg hopes that the change marks a revolution in the way the Girl Scouts sell cookies, adding that soon, he hopes the organization will also allow for Square payments at physical sales locations, so that “I don’t have any cash” will no longer be an excuse for passing up a box of Samoas.

“It also sounds like the Girl Scouts are trying to do their own Square and payments through mobile apps. I think that’s great,” Eisenberg says. “And the fact that they’re taking advantage of Cyber Monday to announce Digital Cookie is a move for them to try to show some new relevancy in the digital age. This is going to be fun to watch.”

Digital Cookie has already received a limited launch for Scouts who have already begun cookie sales and will roll out nationwide in January.

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Whitepapers

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

Whitepaper | Mobile US Mobile Streaming Behavior

5y

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

Streaming has become a staple of US media-viewing habits. Streaming video, however, still comes with a variety of pesky frustrations that viewers are ...

View resource
Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups

Whitepaper | Analyzing Customer Data Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups

5y

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics f...

Data is the lifeblood of so many companies today. You need more of it, all of which at higher quality, and all the meanwhile being compliant with data...

View resource
Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people

Whitepaper | Digital Marketing Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people

2y

Learning to win the talent war: how digital market...

This report documents the findings of a Fireside chat held by ClickZ in the first quarter of 2022. It provides expert insight on how companies can ret...

View resource
Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

Report | Digital Transformation Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

4w

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Exp...

Customers decide fast, influenced by only 2.5 touchpoints – globally! Make sure your brand shines in those critical moments. Read More...

View resource