The Girls Scouts of America began taking mobile payments two years ago for cookie sales and now the organization is enabling individual Scouts to have their own cookie sales website and mobile app.
The selling of cookies by Girl Scouts aims to teach girls essential leadership skills - goal setting, money management, decision making, people skills and business ethics. Now, digital skills will be added to the mix as approval has been given for individual Scouts to sell their wares on their own websites and mobile apps.
According to the organization's official website, "Digital Cookie will expand girls' knowledge of and hands-on experience with online marketing, app use, website customization, and e-commerce" - all essential skills needed in this digital age.
The organization has been keen to stress that Digital Cookie is safe for participants of both the web-based and mobile platform. Both the Scouts and their parents or guardians will take an "Internet safety pledge" and all updates and changes the girls make to their websites or apps must first be approved by their peers.
Scouts can market their online cookie business by inviting customers to visit their personalized cookie websites through a link sent via email. Others can take in-person orders using the new mobile app, COCOmobile, specifically designed for Girl Scouts by ABC Bakers.
During this initial phase of the Digital Cookie program only certain regions may offer the services. However, purchasers need not be restricted to region. According to the FAQs, buyers are "free to purchase cookies from any Girl Scout who markets her cookie business to you. We understand that sometimes loved ones live across the country or in a different state but they still enjoy your support".