Welcome to the North Cascades Popcorn Sale resource page.
Every Scout should learn the value of hard work and earning their own way. The popcorn sale is the perfect opportunity to teach this valuable life lesson and fund the most exciting year of Scouting ever. The council does all the pre-work to set up the sale, eliminating the need for units to research opportunities, calculate returns, create sales and promotional materials, manage a relationship with a vendor, etc. The popcorn sale is not just about selling popcorn…It’s also about promoting Scouting!
Table of Contents
Popcorn Sale Resources
Click Below
Sign Up to Sell
Popcorn Kick-Off Click Image to Register
Ways to Sell
There are three options to sell popcorn: traditional take order sales, sell online to friends and family out of town and show-and-sell (and wagon sales). All sales count towards prizes.
1. Take Order Sales
Scouts go door-to-door with the take order form. Sales run from after the unit kick-off. Customers can write their order on the form. Scouts should collect the money when the popcorn is ordered (checks should be made out to the unit). Customers can also place their order on the Trail’s End App (credit cards are accepted with no fees). Popcorn will be picked up by the unit representative during the November delivery.
2. Online Popcorn Sales
Selling online is the best way to sell to friends and family who live far away. Online sales count toward Scout rewards. Participants can send emails to friends and family asking them to purchase products online. The email includes a link allowing them to begin shopping right away. Customers can pay with a credit card, and the products are shipped directly to the customer, CONTACT FREE! The advantage of online sales is that Scouts don’t have to collect money or deliver products.
Online Direct Sales
Place orders for online products in the app. Pick the products, take payment (credit card only) and products ship directly to your customers. You can also share your page with customers via email, text and social media.
3. Show-n-Sell and Wagon Sales
Show-n-sell is similar to take order sales, except Scouts have the popcorn in hand to sell to customers. All units are eligible to participate if they agree to the terms stated in the commitment order form. Packs, troops and crews can request permission to sell in front of a retail store or chartered organization. Show-n-sell should not replace traditional take order sales.
Wagon sales is another great way of selling for Scouts. It’s a combination of the show-n-sell and take order methods. The Scout takes actual product door to door in their neighborhoods to sell and is like a show-n-sell table on wheels. There is little risk as any unsold popcorn should be rolled into traditional, take order sales.
Show-n-sell popcorn is picked up by the unit representative during the September delivery.
2020 Products
Hero Donation
The hero donation allows customers to support the military, first responders, veterans’ organizations and Scouting at the same time. Customers can choose to donate $50 or $30 worth of popcorn to men and women in the military, first responders, their families and veterans’ organizations. There are no shipping and handling charges associated with hero donations. Over 2,000 tons of popcorn treats have been shipped to hundreds of locations around the world! Hero donations count toward Scout rewards.
Scout Prizes – Trail’s End Scout Rewards
Scouts are motivated by prizes and the ability to work towards a goal. Scouts can now choose the prize they want on Amazon using an amazon.com gift card; rewards are managed and digitally redeemed by the Scout through Trail’s End. The prizes they choose on Amazon are delivered directly to the Scout’s door faster than ever before!
Scout Tools
Trail’s End Information 
- Scout Guide
- Trail’s End Scout Registration and Website Creation
- Trail’s End App Scout Instructions
- Trail’s End Online System
- How It Works – Online Sales
- Online Sales How To
- Trail’s End Rewards – How it Works
Script and Tips
- Sales script
- Sales Scripts and Tip Cards
- Sales Tips from Luke – learn how to significantly increase sales.
- 6 Simple Steps to Selling with Luke
- Top Seller Tips
- Scout Tips for Successful Popcorn Sales
Goals
Printable Materials
- Door Hanger
- Thank You Card
- Business Cards(.pdf)
- Business Cards (.doc)
- Thank You Business Cards (.pdf)
Videos
Leader Tools
- Mount Baker 2020 Popcorn Guidebook (coming soon)
- 2020 Trail’s End Reference Guide for Unit Leader
Trail’s End App
- About the Trail’s End App
- App Quick Start Guide
- Trail’s End App Unit Instructions
- How it Works
- How to Sell With The App
- Storefront Sales
- Wagon Sales
- Unit Credit Card Payments
- Video – Refund
- Video – Wagon Sales
- Video – Set Reward Goal
- Video – Signup for Storefront Shifts
- Video – Switch between Scouts
- Video – Withdraw from Shift
- Video – Default Delivery setting – Wagon Sales
Trail’s End Instructions
Ideal Year of Scouting
Unit Kickoff and Leader Training
- Kickoff Best Practices
- Unit Kickoff Checklist
- Host an Awesome Popcorn Kickoff
- Digital Take-Order Unit Checklist
Parent Handout
Goal Trackers
- Scout Goal Tracker
- Scout Sales Planning Worksheet
- Unit Earning Potential Calculator (.xls)
- Unit Goal Tracker
Tips and Scripts
- Online Sales – How to Hit Your Goal
- Show and Sell Success Tips
- Sales Scripts and Tip Cards (one per page)
- Sales Scripts and Tip Cards (10 per page, front to back)
Posters
Videos
2020 Dates for Unit Kernels
Wednesday, July 1
Saturday, August 1 Saturday, August 15 Thursday, August 22
Wednesday, September 11 Thu-Sat, September 12-14
Monday, September 14 Thursday, September 24 Sunday, October 13 Sunday, October 13
Thursday, October 17 Saturday, October 19 Sunday, October 20
Wednesday, November 6 Thu-Sat, November 7-9
Wednesday, Nov 13
Fri-Sun, November 15-17 Mon-Fri, November 25-29
Fall Popcorn sale begins with credit for sales on Online orders
Units can begin Take Orders
Council Kick-off ONLINE
Deadline to place Trail’s End Show & Sale order online (by the case)
Unit order is limited to 100% of your previous year’s total sale.
Show & Sell product arrives at district locations
Show & Sell product distribution day—pick up your units show & sell order from your district distribution site. Times will be set up by your District Distribution Kernel or District Kernel
Deadline to place Mid-Sale Popcorn order Mid-Sale Popcorn Delivery
Last day for Show & Sales
Popcorn Sale ends
Last day for Online sales to count toward prize program Turn-in Form due to District Kernel (for returns)
Turn-in for returns [no gift boxes or chocolate]
Last day to order take-order product on the Trail’s End web site.
All Scout sales must be entered into the popcorn system to receive prizes.
Take-order popcorn arrives at district distribution sites to be sorted by unit.
Final Delivery: Distribution of take-order popcorn by district Times will be set up by your District Distribution Kernel or District Kernel
Last day for Swaps, and/or Additional Product to be reflected in commissions
Bonus Commissions will be assigned
Close-out week with District Kernels: Popcorn money is due.
2020 Popcorn Contacts
District Chair: Derrick Bovenkamp – derrick@bovenkamp.us
District Director: Sven Gilkey – sven.gilkey@scouting.org
Council Popcorn Kernel: Anna Foster – annapopcornqueen@gmail.com
Council Popcorn Staff Adviser: Brian Lechner – Brian.Lechner@scouting.org
Our Facebook Group
Be sure to join our North Cascades Popcorn group on Facebook. Great place to ask questions, connect with other unit kernels about product swaps or coordinate store front sales.
What Does the Scout Learn through Selling?
Decision Making
Business Ethics
Goal Setting
Take off for Entrepreneurship
Money Management
People Skills
What Does the Unit get through Selling?
Timely Plan
The Council Popcorn Sale is laid out from day one with our Council Popcorn Sale with upfront and defined dates of when it will start and finish. This makes the sale a reliable market the unit and community can plan on each year.
Funds for Program
The purpose of the sale is to raise the needed dollars to make Scouting happen. Units can budget and plan on history on how much to raise. The resources in the sale are driven to meet a Scout unit’s program budget.
Professional Support
The unit can relay on support from the Council professional staff that can help open doors or address issues through out the sale vs non Council sales where the unit is largely on the own.
Security
Depending on how the unit orders product and organizes their sale the entire financial risk in the popcorn sale rests with the Council and the popcorn company. The unit shouldn’t have large amounts of a product that are a burden on their bank account until sold.
How to sell Online
Setting up your scout’s popcorn sale page is super easy and straight forward.
Step 1: Create Your Online Fundraising Page
It takes less than 10 minutes to register, personalize your Scout page, and start selling.
Step 2: Share with Family and Friends
Our built-in sharing capabilities via email, social, and text message make sharing easier than pitching a tent.
Step 3: Receive Support
Family and friends visit your fundraising page, where the average order value is $65, and place orders on your behalf.
Step 3: Track Your Online Fundraising Orders
See who’s supported your fundraiser, send them thank you emails, and request additional support.
Trail's End App for Scouts
Online Direct Option Ships Products Directly to the Customer! No Return Trip Required.
Record Storefront, Wagon, and Take Order Sales!
Accept Debit & Credit Cards for FREE! No Reader Required.
Share Online Fundraising Pages via Email, Text Message, and Social Media.
Easily Claim Amazon.com Gift Cards Earned from Trail’s End Rewards.
--- Why do Scouts love the Trail's End App? ---
Key Benefits
- Free Credit Card Processing – Paid by Trail’s End
- Real-time tracking and reporting of sales, inventory and storefront registrations
- Families can turn in cash payments via credit card
- System-calculated Scout sales for easy Trail’s End Rewards ordering
Proven Results
- Used by over 14,500 units & 160,000 Scouts
- Over 10% growth for units that recorded more than 75% of sales in the app in 2019
- Credit Card transactions averaged 27% higher than cash.
Common FAQs
- The Trail’s End App is for Scouts only
- Each Scout needs a Trail’s End Scout account
- The same email address can be used if you have multiple Trail’s End accounts
- Unit leaders manage their unit’s sale through the leader portal.
NEW in 2020: Online Direct
More product options & discounted bundles
Scout doesn’t have to deliver
Safe for Scouts and Customers
All transactions are credit
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