Girl Scouts Across the U.S. Sell More Cookies Using Sage Mobile Payments

MCLEAN, VA--(Marketwire - Jun 21, 2012) - Sage North America today announced that Girl Scout troops across the U.S. using Sage Mobile Payments sold more during the 2012 Cookie Program. Earlier this year, Sage announced its partnership with more than 30 Girl Scout councils, representing more than 40,000 troops, to add mobile payment via credit or debit card as an option for sales of Samoas, Tagalongs, Thin Mints and eight other cookie varieties.

Sage Mobile Payments is a Payment Card Industry (PCI)-compliant mobile payments product that comes bundled with a Sage merchant account and allows organizations like the Girl Scouts to cost effectively and securely process credit and debit card transactions on mobile phones and tablets.

Experiencing Sweet Results
Girl Scout councils are primarily funded through the cookie program and fundraising activities. The $760 million Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led business in the country. Seventy percent of the proceeds from cookie sales are used to fund Girl Scout programming.

"Our troops using Sage Mobile Payments saw their average cookie sale transaction increase almost four-fold, from about $20 in 2011 to nearly $80 this year," said Hezron Gurley, chief financial officer of Fresno, Calif.-based Girl Scouts of Central California South. "As the girls learn about the world of business, they experience first-hand the advantages of evolving technologies like these. They enable more spontaneous purchases, and provide a more secure -- virtually cash-free -- sales environment."

"Cookie sales for the troops in our council using Sage Mobile Payments increased by 27 percent and the per-girl-average in those troops increased from 154 boxes to 176 boxes, a 14 percent increase," said John Graves, chief financial officer for Macedonia, Ohio-based Girl Scouts of North East Ohio.

"Our troops using Sage Mobile Payments increased their sales by 13 percent, while overall cookie sales for our council grew by about three percent," said Lisa Rower, controller for Raleigh, N.C.-based Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines. "A post-cookie-season survey about Sage Mobile Payments returned comments like 'fabulous and very easy' and 'very convenient.' Troop leaders especially love that the product sends an email receipt to each customer and daily detailed batch reports to them, and that money goes straight into troops' bank accounts."

"Many people don't carry cash or checks anymore," added Cathy Ferguson, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Central California South. "Girls today are tech-savvy. They need to see we're moving along their same wavelength. Overall, the girls using Sage Mobile Payments can gain a better sales experience for both their customers and themselves."

Providing a Taste of the Future
"We see mobile payments as a great way for girls to get exposed to technology that will be a part of their lives," said Rower. "Sage Mobile Payments allows Girl Scouts to learn there are different ways to accept payments, what a merchant account is, and how to swipe a credit card. For 2013, we'll make tweaks to our process and do more targeting of the troops who can benefit most from implementing a mobile payments option."

Graves said, "We look forward to expanding our Sage Mobile Payments program to more troops during next year's Cookie Program and are expanding our use of the technology at fundraising events and at our mobile shops."

"We hope to expand our use of Sage Mobile Payments beyond the annual cookie program sales drive," said Gurley. "We'll likely also use the product for event ticketing, fundraising, and retail operations."

The Girl Scout troops are using Sage Mobile Payments Version 2.0, which features an updated user interface, signature capture capabilities, a tax and tip calculator, and a free Sage Mobile "app store" download. To watch a video about the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio's use of Sage Mobile Payments, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewVnNBx5DdU

The Girl Scouts is a 100-year-old organization, started by Juliette Low in Savannah, Ga. in 1912. Low wanted to show girls they could be whatever they wanted. Belonging to the Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Today, there are 3.2 million Girl Scouts -- 2.3 million girl members and 880,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers. For more information about Girl Scouts and to find a Council near you, visit: http://www.girlscouts.org/

Sage has been providing businesses and organizations with electronic payment systems for more than 20 years. The company allows more than 155,000 merchants to accept multiple forms of payment, including credit and debit cards, electronic checks, Check21, gift and loyalty cards, and automatic recurring payment. Sage Payment Solutions provides a wide range of secure standalone and integrated payment processing solutions, including Sage Exchange, Sage Virtual Terminal, Sage Mobile Payments, and Sage Patient Payments. Visit Sage Payment Solutions online at NA.Sage.com/sage-payment-solutions, or follow it on Twitter at twitter.com/sagepayments and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SagePaymentSolutions.

About Sage
Sage is a leading global supplier of business management software and services for small and midsized businesses. The Sage Group plc, formed in 1981, was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and now employs more than 12,600 people and supports more than 6 million customers worldwide. For more information about Sage in North America, please visit the company website at NA.sage.com.