This Popcorn Fundraiser is our only major Pack fundraiser, and it pays for most of the expenses we incur over the course of the year.
We sell popcorn to help the Scout, the Pack, and the Council. It helps us pay for awards for the boys, camping food expenses, den projects, picnics, parties, special events, re-chartering (our annual expense to stay an official Boy Scouts of America organization) and insurance. We have also used it in the past for tours of historic places, Pack camping equipment, coolers, and other items. In short, it pays for just about everything we do as a group.
What are the Sales Goals for this year?
Our goal this year, for the entire Pack, is $17,000. To help us meet that goal, the Pack Committee set our individual Scout goal at $300. In fact, if all of our Scouts meet their goals, we'll sell almost $20,000 for the pack.
How about prizes and other cool stuff?
The boys are eligible to receive some really fantastic awards this year. First off, Trails End provides to fun and exciting things for the boys to aim for. For a complete list of those prizes, as well as the sales levels needed to earn them, refer to the Scout Order Form Packet you received from your Leader. Also, you can see the prizes online at http://www.trails-end.com/trailsend/dynamic_content.jsp?id=200008
There are also special prizes available from Trails End for scouts who sell $1500 in popcorn. See your Leader for more details.
Besides the Trails End prizes, Pack 112 and the Suwannee River Area Council have some special prize opportunities for the scouts.
If you sell $400 in popcorn, you get to "pie a leader". That's right, at the November pack meeting, you will get to throw a pie in the face of the leader of your choice! It's a lot of fun, and the leaders don't even mind much. :) And that's one pie for every $400. If you sell $800, you can pie two leaders, etc. Woo hoo! Parents, be sure to bring a camera, this is always a photo worthy event.
Every Spring, Pack 112 take a 'big family trip'. This year, we are headed to the Jacksonville Zoo for an overnight campout and tour. It promises to be a lot of fun, but there are some minimal costs involved. If you sell your goal in popcorn ($300) the scout gets to go for free. Of course, a parent will still have to attend, but this is an excellent opportunity to defray some costs.
If a scout sells $1000 or more in popcorn, Council will award them a one day pass to Wild Adventures.
If a scout 'Fills it Up', that mean they fill an entire order form, they can receive a Bow and Mallow marshmallow shooter. All you have to do is take the completed form to the Scout Shop to receive this prize.
Every week, Council will be giving away and iPod Touch! That's right, every week of the sale! To be eligible, you have to bring in a completely filled order form to the Scout Shop, and the prize drawing from the eligible scouts will be held each Monday. Deadlines are noon on 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, and 10/17. So fill up those forms and get them into the Scout Shop. There will be four random winners.
How about a Gift Card? If you sell $1500, you will receive a $50 Wal Mart gift card. That's a lot of camping gear!
Finally, the top selling Scout in the Council will receive a Sharp 32inch LCD Flat Screen TV! Wow!
How do we sell this popcorn?
We sell in three ways - "Show and Deliver", "Take Order" and "Show and Sell". All of these ways are fun, safe, and teach the boys the value of hard work.
In "Show and Sell", the Pack (as a group) sets up in front of a retail location and sells product to passing customers. The customers pay immediately, and walk away with the product. Proceeds from all the Show and Sell events are divided among the boys depending on the amount of hours each boy works. This is a major component to our sale strategy, and an excellent way to boost a scout’s sales numbers. This year, we are running Show and Sell events at three separate weekends. All credit received for participation counts directly toward the Scout's sale total (for prizes, awards, etc.)
"Show and Deliver" and "Take Order" are both typically individual efforts, and work very much the same. In these types of sales, the Scout approaches customers, tells them about Trails End popcorn and why he is selling, and takes their order. The customer pays the Scout immediately. In a 'Take Order' sale, the scout will return at a later time and delivery the product. In a 'Show and Deliver', the Scout has the product with him, and delivers it immediately.
You are asking, "but I don't have any product to sell!" Starting on Monday, 28 September, you can checkout popcorn, and sell it immediately. Some Scouts and families prefer to have the product to hand customers, but it's not necessary. Some top sellers in the Council sold thousands of dollars worth of popcorn with nothing except the order form.
More checkout dates will be made available as the sale progresses. If you check out popcorn, please remember that you are financially responsible for it, and you must either turn in the money or the product at the end of the sale.
These sale types are also detailed on the Trails End site at: http://www.trails-end.com/trailsend/category_page.jsp?id=200014
If you would like to watch training videos, check out http://http.earthcache.net/htc-01.media.qualitytech.com/COMP010177MOD1/2009/
How do we keep track of it all?
Tracking all of this information can be a challenge. This year, we are once again using MyScoutPopcorn.com, which was designed especially for our Pack to help us with tracking sales, orders, checkouts, and events. You should enter all sales into the system at MyScoutPopcorn.com as soon as possible. This order system allows you to track with orders have been paid for, which orders have been delivered, and to see real time progress toward your $300 goal.
Remember... the paper order forms are great for taking to work and around the neighborhood, but it is the Scout Family's responsibility to enter that information into MyScoutPopcorn.com. This is the only official system that Pack 112 will use to track sales and performance. If the sale isn't entered into MyScoutPopcorn.com, it doesn't exist.
What about online sales?
Trails End provides a way for you to sell and ship popcorn to out of town relatives and friend. If you wish to use this system, please get your Order Key from Mr. Merrick. He will provide the necessary links and information.
When is everything due?
Our sale ends on Monday, October 26th. At that meeting, all money is due to Mr. Merrick for the final tally. All product that has been checked out but not sold is also due to Mr. Merrick at that time. All orders should be in the MyScoutPopcorn.com system by that date as well.
