POPCORN F.A.Q.
Why do you ask Scouts to sell popcorn?
It costs roughly $300 per Scout to work through the Achievements and Electives of the Scouts
current rank, as well as provide experiences with science, camping, service projects, fishing,
rockets, Christmas parade & the Pinewood Derby. We want each family to save money by
asking the community to support those experiences rather than charge each Scout.
Why popcorn?
This is a Council choice that is passed down to the Pack.
Will we be fundraising again this year?
No popcorn is our one & only fundraiser.
We are new & overwhelmed!
Fundraising in your first year of Scouting is optional in our Pack.
How can my Scout run an Online Sale?
Go to www.trails-end.com.
Create an account in your Scouts name.
There you can work together to create his own personal popcorn page, set goals, upload photos
& share with friends & family. This is a terrific technology project for Scouts. It also opens the
door for discussion about using proper “netiquette” while online & can go right into earning
your Scouts Cyber Chip badge.
What’s a Show & Sell?
It is a store front sale. The Popcorn Committee schedules, sets up & stocks store front sales. A
Pack wide email goes out with the sign up link. Please only sign up for 1-2 hours at a time to
give everybody a chance and to keep your Scout from getting bored at the table. Scouts are
required to be in their dress uniforms (Class A), bring an adult to supervise and assist only as
needed, and a bottle of water. Scouts will ask store patrons if they’d like to support Scouting,
thank all patrons, answer questions about products, prices, what they money is used for. This is
a great time to talk to Scouts about being courteous, use eye contact and a fun time to meet
new friends & learn from each other. An hourly credit is earned by each Scout depending on
the number of hours they work, NOT by each item they sold individually. This is to create a
sense of team work, not competition for this kind of selling.
What are Take Orders?
This is an order form given to each Scout-please contact your Den Leader if you have not
received yours. Each Scout uses that order form to “take orders” from Oct 1 through 28 that
will be filled November 12. Scout should collect payment as each customer places an order. This
type of selling works best with familiar people. They know they will see you again while they
wait for their paid order to be filled.
What are the half-sheet Order forms I saw at the Pack meeting? (Attached here)
Some Scouts prefer to have product on hand to sell when they go around with their Take Order
forms. This is up to each family to choose. As there are no refunds of product, the Scouts family
will be responsible for being sure that pre-ordered product is sold. This order will be placed
THIS week and delivered Oct 1 to the Pack. NO money is collected for this upfront order-Scout
families are not required to put up their own money before selling!
Can Scouts solicit donations?
Our purpose is to sell popcorn to fund both the Pack & Council. Some people will prefer just to
give you money. You may accept it and thank them for their support. Scouts may also show
customers what products they have and then mention that we are also accepting donations.
Does my Scout have to participate in ALL types of selling?
No, pick and choose what works for your family.
How much money does the Pack earn?
We earn 40% of each Individual Sale (Take Order form or product in hand) as well as Show &
Sells (storefront group sales). We earn 50% of each Online Sale. We earn 100% of Pack
donations.
When do we sell popcorn?
Online Sales & donations are open now.
Take Orders, product orders & Show N Sells (store front) will start Oct 1.
Popcorn Sales of all types close Oct 28. ALL money and order forms are turned in to Erin Heiden
on or before Oct 28. The orders are filled Nov 12 to the Pack for distribution to each Scout.
How are the Scouts rewarded?
A Scout is eligible to earn both Council and Pack prizes.
At the Pack level: ALL types of sales are recognized
Every participant receives a patch.
The reward levels are:
Cub Master’s Choice: Top 3 Sellers
Platinum: $1200+ Gold $900+ Silver $600+ Bronze: $300+
Patriot Award: highest dollar amount raised for “Military Donations”. This is an actual product
that can be sold online or as an individual order. We encourage every Scout to sell at least one.
This is a great time to talk to your Scout about patriotism, & the sacrifice of our Troops
Popcorn Reward Dollars are calculated based upon the percent earned by the Pack.
At the Council level: Council only recognizes online sales & take orders, not donations or Show
n Sells. This is the Popcorn Reward sheet found inside your Take Order form.
As soon as your Scout sells at any of these levels below using online or on the Take Order form,
Erin Heiden wants to get him listed into the proper Club!
$650 Club: Choose between a Radio Flyer Shockwave Shooter, a $20 Scout Shop Gift Card or
another prize from the $650 level.
$1000 Club: A fun-filled day at Camp Borein on Feb 11
$1500 Club: Receive a bonus $50 Scout Shop Gift Card
Trails End Scholarship: Sell $2500 just one time and 6% of your sales go into an account. Visit
sell.trails-end.com for more information.
How can I help?
There are lots of ways to help Scouts “earn their way”.
Help your own Scout plan his work then work his plan. Buddy up if you want. Be creative &
confident!
Volunteer to help sort on a Popcorn Distribution day…Oct 1, Nov 12
Work a Show & Sell to fill all hours. The booth can’t be left unattended.
Work the beginning or ending hours & help set up or break down the booth & get it back to Erin
Heiden.
Ask about anything! Help keep the momentum going. It’s a month long marathon but the fun is
just beginning for these boys.
Help with Rewards when it comes time to counting, double checking, shopping.
Help run the Popcorn Pizza Party when we celebrate our achievements.
Run the Volunteer Spot Show & Sell sign up.