Reading Girl Scouts Earn Business Badge

READING, Mass. - Nov. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Local Girl Scout Troops 73290 and 71305 recently tapped Reading  business owners Erin Calvo-Bacci and Lisa Serrano for their expertise in order to earn their Business Owner, Junior Level merit badges.

The business owners addressed the girls at a recent Scout meeting, answering their questions about how they started their own businesses. Calvo-Bacci is the owner of Bacci Chocolate Design of Swampscott, parent company of The Chocolate Truffle of Reading.  Serrano, a registered dietician, is the former owner of The Growing Gourmet, which taught cooking and nutrition to preschool and elementary school age children.

Troop Leader Harriett Lyons said the program supported the goal of the Girl Scouts of America, to teach girls to be assertive and to prepare them for their future.

“Erin and Lisa were perfect guest speakers because they exhibit the skills we try to teach our Girl Scouts,” she said.

To earn their badges, the girls were required to come up with a business idea, and then learn the steps they would need to take to bring it to fruition, Lyons said. The girls had many ideas, including designing clothing, renting space in a barn for horses, and designing jewelry.

“We talked with Erin and Lisa about how they came up with their ideas for their businesses, and they gave them the idea that they could make money doing something they love,” Lyons said.

The girls learned how to develop a rudimentary business plan, determine who their customers would be, and how much to charge for their products.

“It was really encouraging to see and to listen to girls at age 10 who don’t know anything about business, have great ideas and a great entrepreneurial spirit,” said Calvo-Bacci.

The girls will complete their experience with a walk around Reading’s downtown, visiting with businesses owned by other women, Lyons said.