Welcome to Popcorn University! The annual popcorn sale remains an excellent opportunity for Scouts and units to fund their entire Scouting programs. With the rising cost of membership fees, a successful popcorn sale is critical to the stability of our units. The Buckeye Council is developing a number of new resources and recommendations to help ensure that units are able to successfully conduct this fundraiser - starting with Popcorn University!

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Grab a bucket of popcorn and tune in from home to learn how to best prepare to fund your unit's upcoming program year. Scroll down to get started!

IMPORTANT DATES

August 2: Online Store Opens!

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September 18 - October 5: All Out Blitz Period!

PRINTABLE FORMS

PRIZES & INCENTIVES

In addition to prizes in the prize brochure, the Buckeye Council has a number of challenges and prizes to help you win this fall!

ALL OUT BLITZ

All Scouts are encouraged to participate in the “All Out Blitz!” This year’s All

Out Blitz has been revamped to give Scouts more prizes than ever before!

Sell $400 by 10/4 = $20 Amazon E-Gift Card

Sell $700 by 10/4 = $40 Amazon E-Gift Card

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To Qualify: Every youth who submits a qualifying copy of their order form will receive a $20 Amazon EGift Card for $400 sold or a $40 Amazon E-Gift Card for $700 sold. To enter, visit buckeyecouncil.org/alloutblitz. You will need to enter the Scouts’ name, parent email address, and attach a copy of the sales form.

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SECRET SHOPPER CONTEST

New to this year’s sale is the Secret Shopper Contest! This contest offers a couple of unique takes on the traditional methods of selling and the chance for you to win some cool prizes!

Situation: A shadow organization calling themselves the "Secret Shoppers" have scattered themselves throughout our territory. In their possession are key pieces of high tech, handheld equipment in the war on boredom as well as keycards that unlock the cardholders' deepest desires.

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Mission: Locate Secret Shoppers and communicate with headquarters where they were found.

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Reward: All handheld devices and keycards you discover in pursuit of the Secret Shoppers is yours to keep. Only their locations must be reported so that headquarters can track their whereabouts.

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Leads: As we uncover clues and information from our clandestine network, you will receive weekly updates to help you locate the Secret Shoppers. They are believed to have taken refuge in local neighborhoods posing as regular individuals. You can force them to reveal themselves at their home or as they visit local stores.

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Known Weakness: While the Secret Shopper organization is very skilled, they do have a known weakness that you can exploit. They are unable to resist a Scout in uniform who asks them to purchase popcorn. The first Scout to directly ask them to make a purchase will force them to reveal themselves and give up their assets.

GET IN THE GAME CONTEST

It’s simple… sell the most of one of these flavors, win 2 tickets to a game for the team on the tin. It’s time to gear up and get in the game!

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IMPORTANT DATES

JULY

• 7/22 - Popcorn University on LEADScouting.org

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AUGUST

• 8/5 – Popcorn/Join Scout Night Kickoff East, 7:00pm at Stark State College in North Canton (Here you will pick up your tasting kits, order forms, yard signs, and more!)

• 8/12 – Popcorn/Join Scout Night Kickoff West, 7:00pm at Gorman Rupp in Mansfield (Here you will pick up your tasting kits, order forms, yard signs, and more!)

• 8/15 – Online Store Opens

• Late August / Early September – Hold Unit Kickoff

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Other August Tips:

• Receive Popcorn Sales materials

• Finalize your unit program plan, budget, & goals

• Confirm sites for Show & Sell and Drive Thru Sales

• Read the weekly “What’s Poppin’” Buckeye Council Newsletter for tools, tips, and news of the sale

• Determine Show & Sell order and enter into Pecatonica website

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SEPTEMBER

• 9/6 by 11:59pm – Show & Sell popcorn orders due by 11:59pm

• 9/17 and/or 18 – Show & Sell Pick Up (date and location depends on district) 

• 9/18 – All Out Blitz begins

• Hold unit kickoff if haven’t already

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Other September Tips:

• Finalize a unit incentive plan

• Make sure each family is equipped with sales materials and is familiar with deadlines

• Promote “All Out Blitz” to all families

• Provide weekly promotion to Scouts and families to create ongoing excitement

• Sign Scouts up to attend Drive Thru/Show & Sells

• Conduct Show & Sell and/or Drive Thru sales events

• Ensure each family has enough popcorn to be successful with Show & Deliver and/or Pop-Up Shops

• Confirm additional volunteers to help pick up product at distribution site and to sort for each Scout

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OCTOBER

• 10/4 – All Out Blitz ends, forms due 10/4 by 5pm

• 10/28 – Unopened cases return in Mansfield (Gorman Rupp, 100 Rupp Rd., Mansfield)

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Other October Tips:

• Make sure each family is equipped with sales materials and is familiar with deadlines

• Provide weekly promotion to Scouts and their families to create ongoing excitement

• Conduct Show & Sell and/or Drive Thru sales events

• Ensure each family has enough popcorn to be successful with Show & Deliver and/or Pop-Up shops

• Collect copies of all order forms and prize details from each Scout with enough time to enter orders

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NOVEMBER

• 11/1 – Unopened cases return in Canton (People’s Services, 1250 Main St., Navarre)

• 11/1 – Final popcorn orders due by 11:59pm

• 11/1 – Final prize orders due by 11:59pm

• 11/12 and/or 13 – Popcorn Order Pick Up (date and location depends on district)

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Other November Tips:

• Confirm additional volunteers to help pick up product at distribution site and to sort for each Scout

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DECEMBER

• 12/9 – Popcorn Money Due

POPCORN PICKUP DETAILS

TRAINING VIDEOS

Take to Work Tent Demo

Tasting Kit Explanation

Kernel Tracker App Demo

Bullet Board Demo

Door Hanger Demo

Sales Banner Demo

Scout Boss Demo

Paddle the Popcorn River

Conducting a Drive Thru Sale

Show & Deliver - Kid Tested, Parent Approved!

My PRPopcorn Explained

How to Use the Order Form Sales Sheet

Seller ID Information

Placing Your Order - As Easy as 1, 2, 3

Sell Popcorn, Rank Up!

Troop Sales - Funding High Adventure

What to Expect at Popcorn Distribution

Online Sales - It's That Easy!

Preparing for Door to Door Sales

Door to Door Sales

Get the Kids Excited! Unit Kickoffs 101

PRINTABLE FORMS

OTHER RESOURCES

Subscribe to the What's Poppin' Newsletter

Join the Buckeye Council Popcorn Kernel Facebook Group