Girl Scout entrepreneurs in west-central Florida are expanding their sales methods during the 2021 Girl Scout Cookie Program to share the joy of Girl Scout Cookies during challenging times. In addition to traditional in-person cookie booths at local Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Winn-Dixie stores beginning Feb. 12, Girl Scouts are demonstrating their innovation by utilizing socially distant selling methods, including taking contact-free pickup and delivery orders through a new national collaboration with Grubhub in select locations. Nationwide online Girl Scout Cookie ordering started February 1 through the free Girl Scout Cookie Finder app so customers can purchase cookies from a local troop for direct shipment to their homes.
Innovative Girl-led Sales Methods
The Girl Scout Cookie Program has long taught girls how to run a business via in-person booths, door-to-door activity, and the Digital Cookie® (digital storefronts) online platform, which Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) launched in 2014. Girls as young as five years old are continuing to embrace their entrepreneurial spirits, stay connected to their communities, and have fun by choosing how they participate in the cookie program. Virtual Cookie House Parties and Drive-thru Cookie Booths are just two examples of the girls’ creativity. The proceeds from each and every purchase stay local with the troop and its council to power Girl Scouts’ essential leadership programming.
Ordering Now Available Through Delivery Platform Grubhub
This season, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) is participating in a national collaboration with food ordering and delivery platform Grubhub so girls have an additional way to facilitate contact-free cookie orders. These limited opportunities will give girls a chance to further their entrepreneurial skills by learning another facet of e-commerce. In this hands-on experience, Girl Scouts will track and fulfill orders, manage inventory, and more, all using Grubhub’s back-end technology.
This method will be available in the Tampa, Riverview, Palm Harbor, and Wildwood areas starting Feb. 13. Our pilot launch at the Tampa Leadership Center (4610 Eisenhower Blvd. Tampa, FL 33634) will be Saturday, February 6 (10 am – 2 pm) and Sunday, February 7 (12 pm – 4 pm) to capitalize on the increased number of visitors in that area over Super Bowl weekend. Because Girl Scouts will be the ones accepting, packing, and handing off orders to Grubhub delivery drivers, our Grubhub opportunities in west central Florida will only be available certain dates and times. We encourage Girl Scout Cookie customers to check our Grubhub blog for the latest details. As always, the proceeds benefit the troop and council while providing another innovative way to safely run the cookie program virtually. GSUSA is grateful to Grubhub for waiving all fees for the organization to make this new delivery option feasible for sales without reducing troops’ and councils’ proceeds.
Online Ordering Available Nationwide February 1
GSUSA is making it possible for all consumers nationwide who don’t already know a Girl Scout to purchase Girl Scout Cookies online for shipment to their door. Beginning February 1, customers can enter their zip code into the free Girl Scout Cookie Finder app to find a local troop to purchase from through the Digital Cookie platform for direct shipment or donation to local organizations. This additional contact-free method supports local girls while keeping their safety and skill building top of mind.
How to Safely Purchase Girl Scout Cookies This Season
Girl Scout Cookie season is recognized in west central Florida from January 2 through March 14. Consumers can support Girl Scouts by purchasing cookies in a few different ways:
- If you know a registered Girl Scout, reach out to her to find out how she’s selling cookies in ways that meet local and state safety protocols.
- Visit www.grubhub.com/food/girl_scouts to order via contact-free delivery from Grubhub in west central Florida.
- GSWCF is grateful to Publix, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Winn-Dixie for opening space outside their retail locations for Girl Scouts to sell cookies in a safe and socially distant manner, when allowed by local COVID-19 guidelines. In-person cookie booths begin Feb. 12 and run through March 14.
- Beginning February 1, enter your zip code into the Girl Scout Cookie Finder at www.girlscoutcookies.org or on the free Girl Scout Cookie Finder app to purchase from a local Girl Scout troop online for shipment to your door or to donate cookies to first responders and local causes.