Pack 3079 has one, and only one, fundraiser each year. We, along with 500 other Scout units, sell popcorn for 5.5 weeks each fall. These sales support both the Pack and Chicago-area Scouting equally. This note provides the key information you need. Please review as we will not use valuable meeting time to cover every detail.
Summary for Returning Scouts
"Show & Sell" Popcorn can be ordered now.The Pack pre-ordered $16K of popcorn that is available now. You are encouraged to order early. The order site is here: https://squareup.com/store/cub-scout-pack-3079 Your order will be confirmed via email with specific pickup instructions.
The popcorn product mix is similar to last year. Online sales may offer same and/or different options such as chocolate and coffee. Set up your scout’s online account here: Online Trails-End Account Set Up Here. Detailed instructions on how to set up are included below.
Key Dates
September 1 – Show & Sell Popcorn available for distribution. PUT IN YOUR ORDER TODAY! Link to show and sell order form is above.
October 11 - Any opt-out checks are due. If not received by this day, a popcorn order is expected
October 15 - Final day for Show & Sell Orders
October 26 - All Take Orders are due. No exceptions! Form completed with 1 check and prize selected.
November 9 - Take Orders Distribution
Sellers Club Celebrations - if you sell $750 or more in popcorn, you can participate in a party in 1 of 4 locations in Chicago area: Skyzone, Chicago Wolves Game, or Dave & Busters
December 21(Saturday morning) - Scouts selling $1,000 or more in sales, called Top Sellers, will receive 2 tickets and concessions to the new Star Wars movie.
Helpful Links:
Show & Sell Order Form:
Take Order Form: Pick up an order form at the pack meeting
Popcorn Prize Form:
Incentives
At various selling levels, scouts are awarded Amazon gift cards. Additionally, Scouts have the option to have 10% of their sales be applied to PTAC council camps, such as Day Camp.
Detailed Information Below
Why Sell Popcorn?
For our Pack, the money raised from selling popcorn covers the difference between the registration fee ($65) and the actual cost to deliver an excellent program for our boys. Specifically, the funds cover awards, camping equipment, program expenses and subsidizing the winter campout. The awards include a custom frame of Cub Scouting mementos to present to each graduating Webelos scout when they become Boy Scouts.
For the Scout council, the money raised contributes to maintain campsites, programs and staff that enable Scouting to be offered.
How Much Do I Need to Sell? What is the Goal?
We ask that each scout target selling at least $360 worth of popcorn.
While we can multiply out a total number, our success is based on each Scout participating. Many boys will sell more and receive additional incentives, up to college scholarship funds (which boys in the Pack have earned). More on the incentives later. For reference, our Pack sold over $40K last year (Show & Sell + Take Orders + Online) and was the largest seller in the Chicago area. We believe that with everyone's participation, we can meet or exceed last year's sales.
What Popcorn is Available to Sell? What is the Cost?
Popcorn is sold in individual bags. This year's 8 different popcorn options include:
Caramel Corn ($10 per 11 oz. bag) - a traditional top-selling favorite
Popping Corn ($10 per 30 oz. bag) - for those who like to make it from scratch
White Cheddar Cheese ($20 per 9 oz. bag) - a perfect combo of cheese and corn
Unbelievable Butter Microwave ($20 for 18 pack) - classic favorite with buttery flavor
Premium Caramel Corn with Almonds, Cashews & Pecans ($20 per 18 oz. bag) - a gourmet caramel with almonds, cashews, and pecans
Cheese Lover’s Collection ($30 per box) – individual 5 oz. bags of White Cheddar Cheese, Yellow Cheddar Cheese, and Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese
Chocolatey Caramel Crunch ($20 per 18 oz. bag) - crunchy caramel corn in a creamy dark chocolate coating.
Chicago Skyline Tin ($50 per gift tin) - Two 11 oz. bags of Caramel Corn and one 5 oz bag Yellow Cheddar Cheese
Additionally, some people may donate cash. This is collected and Scouting buys and delivers popcorn for the military with this money. Please note these "military donations."
Does Selling Popcorn Help My Scout Advancement? Absolutely
Tiger Adventure: Team Tiger, Requirement 2 and 4 - With your den, make a den popcorn job chart that shows everyone doing something to help. (i.e. sales person, product handler or cashier). Make a popcorn chart to show 3 ways members of your Tiger team are different from each other? What is the role of the sales person?
Wolf Adventure: Howling at the Moon, Requirements 1 & 2 - Show you can communicate in at least 2 different ways during your popcorn sale. Work with your den to create an original popcorn sale skit.
Bear Elective Adventure: Roaring Laughter, Requirement 1 - Create your own short story that you can use when selling popcorn. (Example: you could write about why you want to go to camp and how popcorn can help you get there.) Remove some nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs from the story, leaving blanks. Without telling the story, have a friend insert his or her own nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in the story you created.
Webelos / AOL Adventure: Moviemaking, Requirements 2 & 3 - Create either an animated or live action movie about yourself during the popcorn sale. Your movie should depict how you live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Share your movie with your family or den.
Is the popcorn good?
Absolutely. This is gourmet popcorn.
Is the popcorn expensive?
The cost is higher than what you would find in a store. For perspective, customers are making a donation to Scouting for which they receive outstanding popcorn. We are really selling Scouting.
How Do I Sell Popcorn? 3 Ways to Sell
1. "Show & Sell"
a. Select which popcorn you wish to sell
b. Order desired popcorn on the Pack Store https://squareup.com/store/cub-scout-pack-3079 The Pack has pre-ordered a limited amount of popcorn for this purpose. There is a $5.00 per order surcharge.You will receive email instructions on when and where to pick up your order.
d. Show, sell and deliver popcorn with sale. You keep proceeds since you have already paid for the popcorn. No return trip required for product delivery.
2. "Take & Deliver"
a. Obtain order form. Copies will be available at the Pack meeting.
b. Sell Popcorn. Enter person's name and which popcorn they ordered on the form.
c. Submit Order Form no later than 10/18. Order forms need to submitted no later than Oct. 18 to your den leader or designate at the Pack meeting. One check will need to be submitted with the order form, made payable to Pack 3079. It is vital that this date be met.
d. Pickup popcorn on 11/12 between 9-11 a.m. The one and only popcorn pickup will be on Sunday, November 12 between 9-11 a.m. in the Drucker Center alley. Please mark this date on your calendars now. If you cannot attend, you need to make arrangements to have someone pickup your order during this time. Popcorn orders are picked up in the alley, heading North, entering from Blackhawk St.
e. Deliver popcorn. Your son will deliver popcorn to his customers.
3. Online
Online selling is an option, which is great for distant family and friends.
More items are available online, including chocolate and coffee (regular and K-cups).
Military donations can also be made online and credited to your son's account.
You need to first register your Scout online here: Online Trails-End Account Set Up Here
Select "Parent” if registering on behalf of your scout who is under the age of 13
Complete your information
Complete your Scout’s information (recommend using your email and phone for the scout)
Select user name and password
Council Selection – Pathway to Adventure
District Selection – Founders
Unit Selection – Pack 3079
(Note - There is a Pack 3079 in the Voyageur Trace district. Don't select this).
Click Save
Log In with your username and password
You will then be given the option to create a personalized web landing page for your son to share. Use the links on the left hand side: About Me, My Campaigns & Goals, My Photos & Videos
Send the following link to friends and family to support you in your scouting efforts: https://www.trails-end.com/support-scout
TEST THE SYSTEM BEFORE SENDING YOUR LINK. USE A SEPARATE COMPUTER TO TRY AND FIND YOUR SCOUT AND MAKE SURE SUPPORT FEATURE WORKS
Note: When sending the link, make sure include the scout’s first and last name used for the site registration and zip code. If registering your scout as William and relatives search for Will, it could make a difference.
What Do I Get From Selling? Overview of Incentives
Scout Incentives:
Scouts may elect Amazon Gift cards or 'Camp Cash'. Amazon cards rewards require $350 minimum sales.
Optionally, instead of prize, the Scout may elect for 10% of their sales to go to an account to pay for Scout summer camps. This provides much better value for the prize and allows your son to contribute to his cost of attending camp and learning the value of money.
Special Incentives:
(1) Patches – A Superhero Patch Collection Segments are available for:
Participation Segment (Body) – Sell one of any item
Military Segment (Leg) - for a donation to the military
Online Segment (Leg) - for receiving an order online
1 of Each Segment (Arm) - for selling 1 of each product
$750+ Sellers Club Segment (Arm) - for selling over $750
Top Seller Sword – Available to Top Seller
(2) Sell $750 - "Sellers Club" - End of Sale Achievement Experiences
If a Scout sells at least $750, then can attend a special "sellers club celebration.
The Scout can select one of three options:
1) Skyzone
2) Chicago Wolves Game
3) Dave & Buster’s
(3) Sell $1,250 - Star Wars Rise of Skywalker Movie Experience - Master Level
Scouts who reach the "Top Seller Level" - selling $1,250 in popcorn, will earn two VIP tickets to a viewing of the Star Wars – Rise of Skywalker movie when it opens! In addition to the tickets, the master experience will include popcorn, pop and a special gift for each Top Seller!
(4) Scholarship Account for Sales of $2,500+
6% of total sales will be invested in their own college scholarship account. Once enrolled, 6% of future sales will be added to this account. Future sales of $2,500 not required. Scouts in our Pack have qualified for and receive this benefit.
Opt-Out
If for whatever reason, you are not able, nor willing to participate, we allow participants to "opt out". We request a check of $175, made payable, to Pack 3079, be given to your den leader or designate by Oct. 12th. This helps the Pack cover the full program costs though it does fully fund Scouting. We ask that you consider trying to sell. The Cub Scout motto is "Do Your Best." We repeatedly have seen boys gain valuable skills presenting and problem solving, while instilling confidence in themselves through this selling process.
You can pay your opt-out fee online here
Where To Sell Ideas
Door-to-Door - Practice sales pitch first (many excellent examples posted on YouTube. You can even have your son create a video of his sales pitch and share with friends and family.)
Businesses - Jewel, Home Depot, House of Worship, Local park. Farmer's Markets, EL stations, Favorite places.
Family, Friends, Neighbors
Outdoor or Sporting Events
"Book of Business" - who did you sell to last year? Ask these people again. Ask them to try an additional product as well.
Sales Pitch Ideas
"Hello. My name is _____(first name only). I am a Cub Scout in Pack 3079 at the Menomonee Club. I am selling popcorn as a fundraiser to support my Pack and local Scouting? Would you like to buy some popcorn to help support Cub Scouts and me? We have many different products that are all excellent. If you don't want any popcorn, you can make a donation to send popcorn to our U.S. military troops serving overseas. Thank you."
Selling Tips
Always wear your uniform
Always smile, introduce yourself and be polite
Always tell your customers why you are selling popcorn
Know the different kinds of popcorn you are selling
Always say "Thank you!"
Always make a copy of your order form
Always have a clean order form with a pen
If you have any remaining questions, please send those to PopcornPack3079@gmail.com