BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Chelle Brake is only 12 going on 13, but the Erlanger girl could teach adults a thing or two about salesmanship.
In five years, Chelle has sold more than 12,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.
Her persistence in promoting a product, proceeds of which benefit more than 4,000 Northern Kentucky girls, has made her the Licking Valley Girl Scout Council's top cookie-seller since 1994.
"That's very unusual," said Laura Clark, public relations manager of the Girl Scout council that serves 12 Northern Kentucky counties. "You have to be highly motivated to sell that many cookies."
Through March 6, Girl Scouts will be taking orders for six familiar favorites, including Thin Mints and Do-Si-Dos, as well as two new flavors -- Lemon Drops and reduced-fat Apple Cinnamon cookies. Sellers use the money from the $2.50-a-box cookie sales to finance such things as Girl Scout merchandise and trips to the Center for Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus.
Chelle, now a Cadet Girl Scout at Turkeyfoot Middle School, relies largely on repeat customers to help her reach her sales goals. "I sell at almost every booth we have, and I save my forms from the years before and just try real hard," the young salesgirl said. "I usually say, 'Hi, this is Chelle Brake, and I'm selling Girl Scout cookies. You bought some from me last year, and I was wondering if you'd like to buy some again.' "
Troop 629 at Blessed Sacrament School -- traditionally among the top-selling troops in Fort Mitchell, Ludlow and Villa Hills -- has saved its cookie money for four years so that its members can take a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., this June. Cookie sales account for about 70 percent of the troop's budget.
"We always encourage troops before they start selling cookies to sit down as a group and talk about what they want to accomplish this year," Ms. Clark said. "For example, they may want to plan a trip or make donations to a children's shelter. They need to decide how many boxes of cookies they need to sell to reach that goal." "We've been working toward the Washington trip since first grade," said Beth Spenlau, mother of 9-year-old Girl Scout Hilary and leader of Troop 629. "We discussed what we wanted to do with the money, and the girls said they wanted to take a trip."
Last year, the troop led by Ms. Spenlau and co-leaders Annette Restle and Traci Punch surpassed its goal of having each of the 22 members sell at least 50 boxes.
"They're only allowed to sell door-to-door with an adult, but we do booth sales at places like Kroger's or Kmart, and lots of times parents take them to work and sell them," Ms. Spenlau said. "My daughter also gets on the phone and calls all of her relatives and friends."
Eleven-year-old Jessica Stone of Independence, who's been the runner-up to Chelle for three years, hopes to be the top salesperson for her age level when her friendly rival moves to the older age group this year.
"Last year, I sold 550 (boxes)," Jessica said. "This year, I
plan to sell at least 750."
With the help of cookie money, Jessica and her troop have subsidized campouts and trips to places such as Conner Praire. This March she'll visit COSI, thanks to proceeds from cookie sales.
"For three or four weekends, she and I will put on our snowsuits and go door-to-door," said Jessica's mother, Kim Stone. "We carry the order forms with us everywhere."
For information on Girl Scouting in Northern Kentucky, or purchasing cookies, call the Licking Valley Girl Scout Council at 342-6263.
