Popcorn Fundraiser
Troop 3469 and 5469 2023 Popcorn Fundraising Key dates:
Sat 14Sep: Road Rally Popcorn Training
Mon 16Sep: Troop Popcorn Kickoff (Storefront Signups at 8pm)
Wed 28Sep: Pickup Wagon Sales popcorn 6-9pm
Home of Lisa Dawson: 1201 W 86th Street, Bloomington, MN
Fri 20Sep 5:00pm: Popcorn sales start (personal webstore sales are year round)
Sun 03Nov: Midnight - Popcorn sales end
Mon 04Nov: Unsold Popcorn Return, Final Take Order Turn-In, Money Turn-In.
Sat 23Nov: Remaining Take Order Popcorn available for pickup/delivery
Popcorn Sales
Popcorn To Do list
o Setup Trails-End App (ASAP)
o Download Trails-End (T-E) App OR use web address to register/log-in.
§ Trails-End app OR Website: https://www.trails-end.com/login
§ Norther Star Council
§ District N
§ Troop 3469 (register as the boys troop 3469)
o Setup and Manage your T-E scout page with scout info and goals. Scouts automatically registered for a Free Raising Cane’s Kids Meal when a fundraising goal is entered on your T-E app account.
o Share your Scout T-E page with prospective customers. Scouts can start Online Sales at any time.
o Register for and attend 09Sep Council Popcorn Training: Registration TBD
o Attend Troop Popcorn Kickoff. 6-9 PM Mon 16Sep NHUMC
o Sign up for Storefronts (T-E App starting at the Kickoff, 8pm).
o Pickup Wagon Sales popcorn. 6:30-9:00 PM Wed 18Sep
o Start Selling Wagon, Storefronts and Blitz on 20Sep at 5:00.
o Sale Ends Sunday November 3rd at Midnight.
o Unsold Popcorn Return, Final Take Order Turn-In, Money Turn-In. Monday Nov 4th
o Go here for more info: https://sites.google.com/view/bloomingtontroop469/fundraising/popcorn-fundraiser?authuser=0
Trails-End App
Our pack is now using the Trails-End App for all Popcorn Sales including: Wagon, Storefront and On-online sales.
1) Download the Trails-End App
2) Download Trails-End (T-E) App OR use web address to register/log-in.
§ Trails-End app OR Website: https://www.trails-end.com/login
§ Norther Star Council
§ District N
§ Troop 3469 (register as the boys troop 3469)
3) Use the App for:
1. Wagon Sales (sales where the popcorn is delivered at the time of sale)
2. Take Order (sales where the an order is taken then delivered later)
3. On-line Direct sales (sales where the order is taken for products available on line and shipped from Trails-End to customer)
Note: Only scouts accounts can be accessed through the Trails-End App.
Wagon Sales (formerly known as Show-and-Deliver)
Majority of popcorn sales is sold using a Show-and-Deliver method. This means your scout will have product in their possession while selling, can show the customer the inventory, and the customer can choose their product and pay for it on-the-spot.
Your scout can receive a starter pack of popcorn products. If your scout has sold popcorn in previous years, the popcorn committee will try to provide a starter pack that is similar to what has been sold in previous years. If your scout sold well last year, the committee may suggest a few additional products, some of higher cost, to try to sell. All scouts can continue checking out additional product as they sell what is in their possession.
Additional product can be picked up by arranging a time and date with the Popcorn Kernels.
Take Order Sales
"Take" Order refers to taking an order for Popcorn or Wreaths at the point of sale then returning at another time to deliver the order. Use the Trails End app for popcorn Take Orders and the provided Wreath brochure for Wreath Take Orders for your scout to deliver later. For popcorn, be sure to select the Customer Info button in the Checkout/Cart so your scout can fill out the customer's information for later delivery. Money should be collected at the time the customer orders.
For popcorn sales, you may connect with the Popcorn Kernel to determine if there is product available that you may pick up at the Kernel’s house and deliver to your customers prior to the close of the sale. If it is not yet available, the Popcorn Kernel will work to order the needed popcorn for you scout to deliver.
Blitz Sales - Popcorn & Wreaths
A blitz sale is a group approach to canvasing a neighborhood to sell product. Scouts go door-to-door together doing popcorn wagon sales for about 2 hours. Prior to a blitz, parents/guardians should reach out to other scouts to form a small group, then arrange to pick up extra product at the popcorn Kernel’s house prior to a scheduled blitz night.
Scouts may also take orders for wreaths during this time. A new order sheet for wreaths should be picked up at the Kernel’s house when picking up popcorn and used for each scout to use specifically for the blitz.
Scouts should wear their uniform and put on a big smile. Blitz nights can be very successful because scouts can cover a great deal of territory in a small amount of time.
The parent(s)/guardian(s) follow scouts down the street and their vehicle serves as the wagon and is stocked with available inventory to deliver on-the-spot after making the sale. Other parents should walk along with the scouts assisting as needed. It is recommended that the scout to adult ratio be no greater than 2:1. Please observe two-deep leadership with any scout activity.
Individual sales totals are figured by adding up the total in sales from the blitz and then dividing by the number of scouts who were present. The individual sales total from a blitz night will be credited towards their total sales and count toward their prize earnings.
Storefront Show & Sell
Scouts can sign up for a two-hour shift to sell popcorn. Scouts are limited to one shift only. If there are spots that do not fill, the pack will be notified and the spot will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Sign ups this year will be available in the Trails End app.
A designated member of the fundraising committee will be on site to set up the table and get the first shift going. There will be supplies to offer samples, a cash box, and traditional and Bluetooth square readers. Instructions on how to use the Square readers are kept in the cash box. A designated member of the fundraising committee will help break down at the end of the sale and retrieve the unsold inventory and wreaths sales brochure.
At each shift two scouts in their Class A uniform. Each scout must be with their parent/guardian/designated adult. Non-scout siblings should not attend the sale as we want to minimize distractions and keep both scouts and adults focused on selling while providing a positive experience to the customers and the host location.
Individual sales totals are figured by adding up the total in sales from all storefront sales and then dividing by the number of scouts who were selling. The individual sales total from a storefront sale will be credited towards their total sales and count toward their prize earnings.
Trails-End Online Direct Sales
The Trails End app and website allows you to set up an account for your child and send a link to friends and family who do not live locally but would like to support your scout through popcorn sales. Your scout can also use the app when going door-to-door to sell from the additional product selection available through Online Direct. Products available online are shipped directly to the customer - there are shipping costs, but often there are free shipping promos. Keep an eye out for the free shipping promos! Some products that we do not offer in our wagon sales and take order inventory are available online.
Prize Incentives/troop Goals
Popcorn and wreath sales have separate prize lists. This means that wreath sales can only be applied to the wreath prizes and popcorn sales can only apply to the popcorn prizes. Prizes are great motivators and they help your scout set a goal.
This year we have a troop sales goal of $18,000 for popcorn.
Prizes are not the only incentive to participate. Each scout will receive a troop Dues discount based on their total wreath and popcorn sales. The table below illustrates the discount commensurate with an individual scout’s combined popcorn and wreath sales.
Collecting Product Payment
Payment for product can be made with cash, checks payable to Troop 469, or credit card.Credit cards in the Trails End app are the preferred payment method as the troop is not charged credit card fees this way.
Need More Popcorn Product & Early Return
You may contact the popcorn kernels if your scout is running low on product for wagon sales. If product is available, you can arrange a time to pick it up.
If you have product left over and your scout is done selling before the end of the sales period, contact the popcorn kernels to arrange an early return.
Popcorn Sales Turn In
The following must be with you during popcorn sales turn in:
Any unsold popcorn checked out (see pink receipt)
Your scout’s pink receipt for popcorn check out
Money collected for product sales (cash and checks)
Popcorn Contacts
Popcorn Chair
Jim Altstatt
cragcreature@outlook.com
651-260-6625
Popcorn Kernel (distributes popcorn)
Lisa Dawson
1201 W 86th St, Bloomoington, MN
952-486-3397
Popcorn Fundraising Resources
https://www.buyscoutpopcorn.com/
Fundraising Email Example
Hello from scout name
I am a BSA Scout from Troop 469. We are selling popcorn and wreaths and my goal is to raise 1,500 dollars this year. By buying popcorn you support us in our scouting adventures like going to Many Point Scout Camp, camping and backpacking the on the Superior Hiking Trail. We also take donations that we use to gift popcorn to local heroes and helpers for their service.
Attached are the wreath guide and popcorn graphic including sales items and prices. If you are interested in purchasing popcorn, wreaths, or making a donation, reply to this email.
Sincerely,
scout name
scout rank
Please contact Jim Altstatt with any questions.