The demand for girl scout cookies is pretty high year-round but obviously spikes during cookie season, which starts in February. But they're only available during this time, which forces consumers to find worse alternatives if they want one during, say, the summer. So what's the harm in buying knockoff generic cookies?
It may decrease the demand for cookies in February, which means less money for girls. The whole point of this program is to earn money for the troops so they can go on things like service and field trips, as well as fund things like their bronze awards (a community service project requiring 20 hours of at-home work). However, the act of selling also teaches young girls leadership, marketing, customer service, and other invaluable experiences that they may not be taught at school.
And if you need another reason to support local troops, name-brand cookies honestly taste better. And, if you need them year-round, they last a really long time in the freezer and are pretty good cold. Support your local girl scouts!
This is a really interesting post, I didn't really think about how cheaper knock-offs could hurt the girls selling. Do you think if scouts sold cookies year round it would make a difference? Would there be lower demand because the supply is now year round and not only in one time period? Would that then hurt the sales of the knockoffs?
ReplyDeleteI think girl scout cookies and generic cookies fill two different segments of the market. One satisfies the demand for charity, and they upcharge their product because of it. The other satisfies the demand for cookies in general.
ReplyDeleteThats really funny and a tough situation. Maybe girl scouts could attempt to have year round sales is there a limiting factor holding them back?
ReplyDeleteYea, that an interesting idea, but would potentially doubling the supply have a strong affect on the demand, or would it still skyrocket for both sales
DeleteI have never really put much consideration on this topic, I appreciate the insight. I do think its ironic that Girl Scout cookies are beginning to be sold corporately, taking away their intent. The one benefit I could think of for these knockoff cookies would be accessibility and year round supply, which makes sense you saying that would lower the demand.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder how making Girl Scout cookies year round would impact both sales and demand. Girl Scout cookies are always highly anticipated and many always look forward to February just for a box of thin mints. So by making it more available for consumers, will Girl Scout cookies eventually die off?
ReplyDeleteI think there's always going to be a sense of novelty with girl scout cookies that will prevent them from dying off. It's a lot easier for people to buy a box of cookies and put money towards a good cause than to simply buy a box of cookies to fund a capitalist company. Because of this, even if knock-offs are constantly going to be competing with legitimate girl scout cookies, the novelty cookies of lesser demand will be here to stay.
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