Huntley Girl Scout Uses New App to Sell Cookies

Third grader Noelle DeRennaux said she reached top seller status this year, selling 417 boxes, because she practices five skill sets Girl Scouts has taught her. In addition, she’s encouraging customers – and potential customers – to use a new mobile phone application that provides locations of Girl Scout cookie booth sales.

“It helps us reach our goals because if people don’t know where to buy cookies, they can use it,” said Noelle, who attends Martin Elementary in Lake in the Hills. “In training I learned about it, and the cookie types and the five skills.”

The council training, held in December, included goal setting, decision making, managing money, practicing business ethics and employing good people skills, according to Noelle’s mother, Michelle DeRennaux.

According to Ann Marie Soderstrom, public relations manager for Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois, the Cookie Locator application is available for iPhone and Android devices. It uses either GPS or manually entered zip codes, cities or states to provide cookie booth locations, and sale information for the device’s calendar too.

The application, which enables links to Facebook, Twitter and e-mail, also provides customers with nutritional information on the cookies.

Technology aside, Michelle DeRennaux said the cookie sales process still entails some door-to-door marketing, as scouts call upon friends and relatives and sell the cookies at $4 per box, from descriptions and photos on their order card. The girls learn a lot about group dynamics with the booth sales, which are held February 25 and ending March 20, she said.

“Group interaction really comes out at booth sales, when they can learn to use each girl’s unique skills in the best way,” she said. “For example, one girl might be really good at sales and talking with people.”

Noelle’s sales represented what tends to be the national trend, with Thin Mints as the most popular, and Samoyas coming in second, her mother said. Now in her fourth year as a Girl Scout, Noelle said the cookie season gives her a chance to practice being a professional.

“It’s about things like wearing your uniform when you’re selling cookies, and telling people about the cookies and what type you like the best, and making sure to deliver on time,” she said.

More information about Girl Scouts, and the cookie sale, is available at www.girlscoutsni.org.