It's Popcorn Time in the
Old Hickory Council!

     With the addition of online sales to supplement our traditional door-to-door sales method the 2011 popcorn sale is already upon us. This year Trail's End allows credit toward prize packages to begin on August 1st for online sales only, so for Scouts who are going to try their luck with this method they can begin sending out emails to out-of-town friends and relatives two whole months before the traditional door-to-door sales begin on September 30th!

     This may catch some folks by surprise, so let's make sure our Scouts and Scouting families understand the difference between the two sales methods, and understand that we can only be successful when we employ both methods, not just one or the other.

     Door-to-door selling will always constitute the lion's share of our popcorn sales, and is the method that has brought us the success that we enjoy today.  Door-to-door sales keep new customers coming in on an annual basis, help the public see and interact with our Scouts, teach our Scouts valuable lessons and skills, and create an emotional connection with the customer that you just can't get through an email or over the phone.

    Online sales, on the other hand, work primarily when the Scout already has a strong emotional connection with the customer - you know, grandma and grandpa, or special long-time friends of the family. Online sales also work because they allow Scouts to sell to customers out-of-town, or out-of-state. But a word to the wise. We must guard against our Scouts trying to employ online sales with their local customers. Don't forget that a Scouts' customers enjoy seeing him at the door each year. Our customers are not just buying popcorn! They are buying Scouting, and what Scouting can do for young people!

    Door-to-door and online sales both have their purposes and time frames, and together can help all of us reach our financial goals for 2011. Online sales dates are August 1st through October 30th, and door-to-door take-order sales are September 30th through October 30th.

2011 Popcorn Sale Forms and Documents

There are two guidebooks this year that work hand-in-hand to help you have the most successful popcorn sale ever. They are the Popcorn Sale Guidebook by Trail's End, and the Council Supplement to the Popcorn Sale Guidebook by the Old Hickory Council. If these don't have all the answers they will at least tell you where you can find them.

• Trail's End Popcorn Sale Guidebook
• Council Supplement to the Popcorn Sale Guidebook
• Popcorn Sale Sneak Peek Flyer 2011
  
• Trail's End Virtual Sale Planner 
• Trail's End Email Library
• Trail's End Training Videos (Including Online Sales!)
  
• Trail's End $2,500 in Sales Scholarship Application
• Trail's End Scholarship Terms & Conditions
• Trail's End Scholarship Payout Request Form
  
• 2011 Old Hickory Council Prize Program Information Flyer
• Zyclone $600 and Wake Sports Spectacular $750 Clubs
• Online Sales Prize Application (patch & gift card)
  
• Unit & Youth Goal Worksheet (Due to council by Sep 29) 
• Kernel's Choice Unit Bonus Commission Requirements
• Parent Information Handout (customize for your unit)
• Scout Handout (customize for your unit prizes)
• Popcorn Products and Pricing for 2011
• 2011 Popcorn Take Order Form
• How Leaders Combine Online & Take Order Sales for Scouts
• How to Use One Email Address for Multiple Units
• Sample Troop Scout Account/Prize Package
• District Popcorn Kickoff PowerPoint Presentation Link (350 MB pptx file)
• Great Popcorn Recipes for the Holidays
• Military Sales Receipt
  

• For Scholarship Information Click Here

• For Online Sales Assistance Click Here
  

• For Prize Information Click Here

• For Popcorn System or traditional sale information Click Here