It is time once again for the 2008 Annual Spring Popcorn Sale. Again this year we will have a Blitz Day Prize for every unit conducting a Blitz Day. This year the prize is a Remote Control Car for the top selling Scout in your unit on Blitz Day.

Consignment is now Show and Sell, what does that mean?

Units will order just like they always have. Units will need to sell all the popcorn they order for the Show and Sell. We are unable to accept returns for unsold popcorn. The most effective method is the Take Order door to door sales ordering only what you have orders for.

Your unit’s commission from the Popcorn Sale will be used by your Pack, Troop, Team, or Crew to pay for the exciting program your unit has planned. Additionally you can earn valuable prizes for selling popcorn. The prizes are listed on the Popcornsale.org website.  Encourage your Scouts to visit the site and pick the prize(s) he wants to earn.  Your unit will order prizes directly from the Prize Company and they will be delivered to the person you specify when ordering. By participating in the Popcorn Sale, your son/daughter will have the opportunity to earn badges and other achievements. He/she will have the opportunity to earn prizes, all while having fun, gaining self-confidence, salesmanship techniques and lessons in financial management.

Besides the Scout Prizes and the commission that your Scouting Unit earns, the council will continue to use their proceeds from the popcorn sale to improve Canyon Camp, Camp Lowden, Day Camps, Training and much more. The sale is important and directly impacts the quantity and quality of programs available.


Each Scout should set a sales goal and “do their best” to achieve it. Don’t be shy, last year 4 out of 5 people who were asked, purchased popcorn and they are sure to want even more this year. Make sure to sell with a friend, wear your uniform, smile, and be polite, say “Thank You” and do not sell after dark unless supervised by an adult. The take order form from past sales with the names of people who bought from you will help you get started this year. Take out a piece of paper and make a list of your friends, neighbors, relatives and the coworkers of your mom and/or dad.

Be sure to talk with your unit leaders about when and where your unit kickoff will be held.

Good Luck and have a great sale.

Joe Geraghty Council Popcorn Kernel



THE BIG SECRET!!!

After extensive research and conversations with Scouts and Scouters from all over the Blackhawk Area Council, we're prepared to unveil THE absolute, proven SECRET to selling popcorn. Share this secret with your Scouts and your sales will go through the roof!

If you want to pause and try to guess, that's fine. Then, read on for "The Secret."

The Secret to selling Our Gourmet Popcorn is...


ASK someone to buy it!

It seems childishly simple but it's the one major limiting factor in our popcorn sales. Consider these facts:

On average, 4 out of 5 customers who are asked to buy popcorn WILL buy popcorn.
The average customer spends $14.00 on our product

Customer satisfaction is HIGH. 90% of the people who bought popcorn in the past will buy again

Many customers will make multiple purchases in the same year when approached by different Scouts.

So, there you have it. The secret to growing your unit popcorn sale is to have somebody ask somebody to buy popcorn. You will see by your Blitz Day results that the Scouts who spent an hour or so on the streets in late February or early March will do very well. Then, when you add in the impact of parents taking the forms to work, Scouts approaching folks at church or other events, Scouts calling grandma or grandpa, aunts and uncles, units making business contacts, etc., the efforts are really magnified!

Imagine what would happen if EACH and EVERY Scout in your unit truly committed at least ONE hour of knocking on doors to sell popcorn. Each one will probably knock on 20 or 30 doors, find about half of the people home and make sales to 60% or 70% of them.


30 doors

15 at home

10 sales ($14.00 average)

$140.00 in an hour! (Which is very close to what we averaged on Blitz Day).

Now, what if they went out for 2 hours? What if the parents took forms to work, etc.?

Keep the popcorn sale in front of your Scouts. Encourage them to hit the streets in their neighborhood, make calls to relatives, take the forms to church, etc. and you'll be AMAZED at the results!