Raspberry Rally:
Q: Why were we told these were going online at 12:01PST March 8 and instead they went at 10CT?
A: That was a mistake. We apologize for incorrectly informing our members about the time digital cookie would open, it went live at 10 Central Time.
Q: Why was Raspberry Rally available online only?
A: GSUSA along with bakers and the council steering committees determined this new cookie would be available online only. They also determined the allocation for each council. Due to production issues, our council's allocation was further reduced.
Q: Why did Raspberry Rally cookies sell out so quickly?
A: GSNorCal, like all councils, was given an allotment of Raspberry Rally and across the Movement this new cookie exceeded all expectations and sold out quickly due to consumer interest. Additionally, LBB’s production issues limited the quantity of Raspberry Rally cookies that were allocated to our council.
Q: How many customers purchased Raspberry Rally?
A: In total, GSNorCal was allocated 21,252 packages of Raspberry Rally cookies. Of that, 1,640 customers purchased the 21,252 packages. 149 customers purchased 7,140 packages of Raspberry Rally cookies.
General Cookie:
Q: Why did you push the start of cookie season to March?
A: Our baker, Little Brownie Bakers, informed us that they are facing production issues that would impact the availability of cookies during our cookie season. Our goal with pushing the cookie program was to operationalize the feedback we heard about the importance of having ample inventory of all varieties in hand at the start of the cookie season. We are starting our season with 3.4 million cookies in hand, which will cover troop initial orders and cookies for cupboards. We have another 500K en route and expect to receive our full council order of every variety for the season.
Q: Wasn’t delaying the cookie program supposed to ensure we had access to cookies?
A: Our baker partner is prioritizing our initial council order, which is the largest GSNorCal initial troop order on record, and those cookies will be available for Girl Scouts to sell in-person, at booths, through DoorDash and online girl delivery at the start of the cookie program. We are starting our season with 3.4 million cookies in hand, which will cover troop initial orders and cookies for cupboards. We have another 500,000 packages en route and expect to receive our full council order of every variety for the season.
Q: Will we run out of cookies for girl delivery?
A: We are starting our cookie entrepreneur program with 3.4 million cookies in hand, which will cover troop initial orders and cookies for cupboards. We have another 500,000 packages en route and expect to receive our full council order of every variety for the season.
Q: Are we considering changing bakers?
A: There are currently two bakers for Girl Scout cookies, ABC and Little Brownie Bakers. They supply the totality of Girl Scout cookies for our entire Movement, in addition to providing councils, volunteers, and entrepreneurs with materials, logistics, inventory management platform, and more, at varying degrees. GSNorCal reviews each bakery’s assets during every contract planning cycle. When there are significant changes on the table, GSNorCal includes key cookie volunteers to the discussions for feedback.
Q: Will Thin Mints, Smores and Adventurfuls be shut off at a later date?
A: Currently, there are three varieties available, but this could change should LBB continue to have issues or surpluses.
Q: Will more cookie varieties be available for direct ship later in the season?
A: Our baker has not committed to bringing additional varieties to Digital Cookie Direct Shipped back during the 2023 season.
Q: Will the rewards be lowered to offset Digital Cookie issues?
A: We will monitor percent of entrepreneurs reaching reward tier levels and communicate towards the end of the program in mid-April if there will be a change. We realize this doesn’t mean every Girl Scout will have reached their goal level. We know Digital Cookie Shipped is a small portion of our overall total packages and we have a healthy supply of cookies on the way thanks to troops placing significantly higher initial orders and council forecasting high during the planning stage last August for the cookies needed.
Q: Will Digital Cookie direct ship inventory issues impact how Girl Scouts process credit card
payments, delivery or care to share on the platform?
A: Digital Cookie direct shipped does not impact in-person customer order options and Girl Scouts can still use the Digital Cookie app to process in-hand customer credit card payment processing, such as at booths or door-to-door. Customers will be able to view direct ship available varieties as they place their order.
Q: Can we adjust shipping costs since there are limited varieties?
A: The shipping costs are determined by our shipping partners and have not changed since 2022.
Q: Can we lower the minimum for Digital Cookie – 4 boxes?
A: The minimum box count are determined by GSUSA based on agreements with distribution and shipping vendors.
Q: Can we offer flat rate shipping for longer than one day?
A: We are going to evaluate if we can extend the $5 flat rate promotion beyond March 12 based on sales data for direct ship.
Q: Will we be moving our cookie season earlier next year? Or, will we keep it starting later in March?
A: We have not yet made a decision on when the 2024 cookie season will start. We want to see how this season pans out and will include service unit volunteer, troop volunteer, and youth advisory input on timing.
Q: Given the unavailability of direct ship cookie inventory and start date of booths on March 20, will the 4/4/23 ACH be adjusted?
A: Digital Cookie direct shipped orders do not impact troops’ physical cookie inventory. Only troops who did not order an average of 175+ packages on their initial order will be included in calculations for the 4/4/2023 ACH. The 4/4/2023 ACH payment for $2 per package is based on troop cookie inventory received as of 3/29; customer payments through Digital Cookie are credited towards the troop balance due.Troops who qualify for the 4/4/2023 ACH and who use Digital Cookie to process majority of their customer payments will likely not have an ACH payment required for the 4/4/2023 ACH.
