The Circle

Younger boys will benefit by hearing the older, more experienced salesmen reflect on how they sold popcorn the prior year.  The experienced salesman, especially your past top sellers, will gain leadership skills by being the focus of the activity.  All of us learn best by listening to our peers, so this would be an excellent chance for the boys to train each other and to learn the value of teamwork at the same time.

Leader: You will need to decide who is going to be your experienced team {A suggestion would be your past top sellers, and boys that have sold for at least 2 sales}.  Before the activity begins talk to the experienced team.  Explain that the idea is to help the younger scouts by giving them popcorn tips on how to sell.  As one of the instructors they can choose to either answer the question, or role play it with either the questioner or one of the instruction team, which ever they feel would be a better way to help the entire group learn.

Have the experienced team sit in a circle facing outward; the rest of the group will sit in a circle surrounding the experienced group {similar to Duck, Duck, Goose}.  If you have a large group you should consider making a few circle groups.  Start by explaining to the entire group that each boy in the outer circle will get to ask at least one question; starting with the boy in front of you and continuing around the circle, from the left.  Everyone should be polite and not speak when someone else is speaking.  The person asking the question should identify the specific person in the circle that he wishes to question before asking the question.  When it comes to your turn if you do not have a question then someone from the inner circle will get to ask you a sales related question.  Start by identifying the boys in the inner circle, why they are in the inner circle, and ask each what he thinks is his best salesmanship subject.  Then the questions begin.

Popcorn Sale Role Playing

The purpose of this activity is to give boys a chance to learn a short speech to use when selling. Then to practice using it with each other and their parents before going door-to-door, or the Show and Sell table.

Discuss with the boys what the opening sales line should be, remember the no triggers.  Give each boy a speech, and suggest ways to make it their own.

Then, split the group into Scouts and customers {the role of customer would be best suited to your more experienced salesman}.  If you have an old wig or two for the customers to wear, the boys will enjoy the role playing all the more.

Next, ask each Scout to role play with the customers, trying to sell him some popcorn.  Customers should ask the Scouts what they are selling and why they are selling it.  The Customer should think up reasons not to buy it, and the salesman should do his best to overcome the objection.

Through the role playing, the boys should become more at ease with selling.  This can also be an excellent opportunity to involve your parents; the boys will actually be speaking with adults when selling.