BLOG 568 GIRL SCOUT COOKIES
For over 100 years, the season for Girl Scout cookies has
entered our communities’ bringing smiles and joy to many. The young girls
selling them practice entrepreneurship, communication, mathematics, and
teamwork. Most people buy boxes at a time. How did Girl Scout cookies become
such a staple of American culture?
The history of Girl Scout cookies dates back to 1917 which
is about 5 years after the troops were originally formed. Juliette Gordon
Low founded the Girl Scouts in Muskogee, Oklahoma. As a service project,
the baked cookies in the high school cafeteria. Then in 1922, The American
Girl magazine published an article about the Girl Scouts featuring a
cookie recipe. Soon, sales went nationwide and were sold for 35 cents per
dozen. In 1933, Girl Scouts of Greater Philadelphia Council baked cookies and
sold them in t gas and electric company windows. At that time a box with 44
cookies sold for 23 cents. That equals six
boxes for $1.24. A big milestone took place in 1936, when the national Girl
Scout completed the licensing process to commercially bake cookies. In 1937,
more than 125 troops were selling cookies.
When World War II struck in 1944, sugar, flour, and butter
were in shortage. The troops shifted their efforts to selling calendars. After
the war, sales returned and increased. In the 1950s there were 3 flavors
including Chocolate Mints (Thin Mints), Shortbread, and Peanut Butter Patties. At
that time, girls started setting up tables and selling them in shopping malls. The
1960s brought a big boom in membership with the Baby Boomers. There were now 14
licensed bakers. In 1978, being business smart, Girls Scouts consolidated to 4
bakers for packaging and distribution and to ensure uniformity. At this time,
the Girl Scouts logo was designed and put on the boxes. During the 1980s there remained
4 bakers who made 7 types of cookies (Thin Mint, Peanut Butter
Sandwich/Do-si-dos, and Shortbread/Trefoils).
The 1990s introduced awards for cookie sales among the Girl
Scout Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, and Seniors. During the early 2000s, troops
were given missions to sell the cookies, and the younger troops (Daises) were
now allowed to sell. Around 2010 the first gluten free cookie was introduced. In
2014, the Digital Cookie platform was started which teaches girls all about online
marketing, app usage, and ecommerce. An unforgettable moment in 2016 was when
the girls took the stage at the Academy Awards to pitch cookie sales to A-list
Hollywood stars. Today, sales remain strong and the cookie line up has evolved
based on sales/profits.
The purpose of Girl Scout cookie sales is to generate money
for the girls to have amazing experiences. The proceeds go to the local
councils to ensure this. Girl Scout cookies always bring cheer and energy to
the local grocery stores and even sometimes at our own front doors. Supporting
the future women leaders buying cookies isn’t a hard sell. The goodness of
those cookies is hard to deny or turn down. Besides, there’s no excuse…. you
can simply donate to the girls and not grab a box to go.
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