It’s Girl Scout cookie time! As Cookie Manager for our daughter’s troop, I’m having a hard time keeping certain varieties in stock. Truly, these little boxes of sinful goodness sell out as soon as I get a new supply.

“If only seed were as to easy to sell as Girl Scout cookies!” I’ve said to myself on more than one occasion. “These little cookies practically sell themselves.”

It made me wonder what we could learn from the Girl Scouts’ cookie sales program. Here are the top five reasons I believe the Girl Scout Cookies NOW! program is so successful:

1. Limited time offer
2. Unique products
3. Instant gratification
4. Return/repeat customers
5. A great sales pitch with practice overcoming objections

Girl Scout cookies are only available for a limited amount of time (January 13 – March 4, 2012) and only from troop members, who either call customers on the phone or make door-to-door sales. Each of the eight varieties is unique, and you certainly can’t whip up a batch at home. (There’s a good reason the recipe is called “Mock Thin Mints”.)

Speaking of Thin Mints… The only cookie that outsells Thin Mints is Oreo®, which are available 365 days a year from nearly every grocer and big box store nationwide.

New to our area this year, cookies are delivered at the time of sale. There’s instant gratification because you can treat yourself to a cookie as soon as the Scout walks out your front door. Plus, customers can order early and reorder often! You no longer need to ration your intake or freeze surplus quantities until March since there is nearly a two-month sales period this year.

If you dare say “no” to the friendly Scout who rings your door bell and asks you to buy cookies, be prepared. (Remember, that’s the Girl Scout motto, after all!) These girls have been trained to overcome objections, and they’ve had plenty of practice – about 80 years’ worth.

The first recorded Girl Scouts cookie sale was 1917, and the organization itself is celebrating its 100^th anniversary in 2012. Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts of the United States of America’s membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Georgia, to nearly 4 million members throughout the United States in more than 90 countries.

In honor of the Girl Scouts’ birthplace in Savannah, today I’m featuring a recipe from another Savannah resident. A meal at Paula Deen’s restaurant was a highlight when several members of the West Fork Girl Scouts traveled to Savannah last summer.

Treat your family to a home-cooked chicken dinner this weekend, and open a box of Girl Scout cookies for dessert. You can eat the whole box and still have time to reorder yet this sales season.

What’s your favorite Girl Scout cookie? Cast your vote on our Facebook poll today.

Lady and Sons’ Chicken in Wine Sauce, courtesy Paula Deen

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 45 min
Level: Easy
Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 4 large skinless boneless chicken breasts
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more for casserole
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 ounces (about 8 slices) Swiss cheese
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 cup herb-flavored stuffing mix, crushed

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350° F.
• Add the chicken to a shallow buttered casserole and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Layer the cheese slices on top.
• In a medium bowl, add the soup and the wine, season with salt and pepper and pour over the cheese. Sprinkle stuffing mix on top and drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

Cook’s Note: If desired, use more butter.

I’d like to add my own note, as well. I’d recommend putting at least 6, if not 8, chicken breasts in your casserole dish because there is plenty of stuffing to go around. Experiment and see how you like it best. I’d appreciate it if you’d share your opinion on what works best with me. I’m still experimenting myself!