Girl Scouts is all about
unleashing the potential of girls and preparing them for the upcoming
challenges in their chapters of lives. Through various activities such as
taking a hike overnight under the starry sky and running a business of cookies
all on their own. Different activities help in building the confidence of
girls, a powerful sense of self, seeking different challenges, displaying
positive points and values, forming and maintaining healthy bonds, identifying
and solving issues in various groups and communities. Despite all the positive
and strong points, the members of Girls Scouts have been falling each and every
year. Compared to 2013, the numbers have again fallen which has developed a
critical issue for the organization that is 102 years old.
Gradually, the number of
volunteers are falling which is making it tough for the organization to perform
with the same vigor. It is important to redesign how Girl Scouts is approaching
targets so that the diversity of experience is not being limited at all.
Decrement in the number of volunteers and members of Girl Scouts Marketing Strategy
During 2013-2014, the total
number of adult members and youth members dropped to approximately 6 percent.
In 2013, the figures were 2,994,844 to and in 2014, the figures decreased to
2,813,997 which means that a sharp fall was actually observed. Overall, the
fall reached to almost 11.6 percent. One of the biggest reasons for such a
decrement is actually the financial status of families. Most of the parents
don’t have the time to pay heed to such activities and that contributes a lot
to the shortfall in numbers.
Losing interest in the
traditional activities has also been a reason for a decrement that occurred in
the number of members and donors supporting the Girl Scouts. It is, after all,
not rare to lost interest in the same process that has been going on for every
new scout for a long time [1].
Marketing strategy of Girl Scouts Marketing Strategy
Although the Girl Scouts has been
redefining the purposes and systems to reach a broader audience and get the
lost attention back but it doesn’t seem to work considering the lack of
communication through social media. Various platforms of social media have
become very important for any organization to survive in the market regardless
of the aims and purposes. Sure, there has been a drop in the figures of members
and volunteers but it can be improved through advertising which can attract a
new audience. Another issue is the lack of attention on the end of parents as
which can be addressed through making the activities affordable for parents in
such a way that even the double-working families can afford them.
In order to raise the interest
among the target audience, advertising and uploading unique interacting
activities on the platforms of social media can help in reaching a broad amount
of users. Considering its global status, it can be utilized to reach a
diversity of eyes and attract the attention which Girl Scouts lack at the
moment. Although advertising using the means of television can also be
beneficial but it will be costlier and will reach a limited amount of young
girls. A platform like Facebook is very common so utilizing it for reaching
more girls will be convenient. Overall, advertisement through social media and
television both can be effective in storing the lost volunteers. During the
process, new donation criteria through the web-platform can prove to be
efficient in attracting new donors.
Target Markets of Girl Scouts Marketing Strategy
Girl Scouts has been approaching
the same audience of young girls and adults for a long time and the same should
be kept in even the new marketing strategy with just a little modification. Older
girls by only two-three years should also be included in programs because it
will open a new doorway for the organization to attract participants. Furthermore,
it will be like opening a new trend in the market and raising the interest.
Attracting the new part of the audience, however, should be efficient through
the proposed means. Otherwise, it might not be as efficient.
Communication of Girl Scouts Marketing Strategy
For attracting new participants
and strengthening the existing ones, it is very important to keep interest as
the strong component in activities. Girl Scouts should induce new and unique
activities in such a way that while communicating with new participants,
curiosity and fun can be built. All the while, it should not be forsaken that
parents seek affordable programs which doesn’t take a lot of toll on their
family budget. The message should be relayed that Girl Scouts play a major role
in building confidence while adhering to educational activities in an
affordable way. Although digital platforms can help in communicating, direct
interaction with nearby parents will be efficient as well [2].
Recommendations of Girl Scouts Marketing Strategy
Girl Scouts must adhere to the
new marketing strategy and ensure that programs are not becoming expensive for
normal families to afford. Every new activity should have a new thing to teach
while developing the confidence of young girls. Using the same activity again
and again can reduce the interest which can cast a negative effect of
participants. Through collaboration with adults, new activities can be designed.
References of Girl Scouts Marketing Strategy
Cbsnews. (2014, Oct 10). Why are fewer girls joining the
Girl Scouts? Retrieved from Cbsnews:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/girl-scouts-membership-drops-sharply/
Solomon, M. R., Dahl, D. W., White, K., Zaichkowsky, J. L.,
& Polegato, R. (2014). Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being.
Pearson.