Considering selling Usborne Books - does anyone have any experience to share?

[ssd]

would appreciate anyone letting me know the ins and outs of this!

thanks
[snile]

!!!!

I signed up and it seemed very basic.

Problem is everyone now shops at book people, and they stock usbourne books. Much cheaper than usbourne prices. So it was a total struggle and not really worth it.

I'm just starting with barefoot books now, very similar but the books are amazing - really original, multicultural and totally unique to the company - people think they're worth the extra because of this, and they know they can't get them half the price themselves.

But if you think you can make a market for Usbourne, go for it. Promoting any childrens books is a fab idea.

ssd, I'm thinking of doing this too.
CAT Anniebear. She has an ad in the small business section.
She has goven me loads of info and even found out if theres other sellers in my area.

thanks, I'll look her out!

what puts me off is the fact although they are great books, I find them expensive, worry other people might too?

I'm an usborne TL! I love it, i only started in jun bute have managed to promote quickly and this month has been really busy!

I have 2 toddlers and it is great that i can do it with them both with me. Yesterday i was at a softplay center, my two girls had a free entry and a fab time and i made £88 profit! Obviously every day isn't like this but i'm hoping to build a business up so i don't have to get a 'proper' job when the girls start school.

Its hard making them first few calls but there really is money to be made if your prepared to put the effort in.

I've got an information pack i could send you with all the details in
[email protected]

they bring leaflets out every few weeks which have some great special offers on, i find these great to boost sales. And yes it is possible to check if there are any organisers already allocated to schools near you.

HTH Gemma

thanks gemma, do you know how I'd check this?

I used to be an Usborne agent but stopped because

1. I got back ache lifting my stock in and out of the car but mainly
2. I couldnt' compete with the prices that some of the stores sell that books for. When i first started, you couldn't get Usborne books in the shops and because of the quality of the books, they pretty much sold themselves. But then the Book People and similar schemes appeared offering albeit lesser quality books but at discounted prices and I found it hard to compete.

Sorry if that is all very negative, I'm just trying to give you an honest view.

I did Mini IQ for a few months last year - mainly to make a bit of extra cash for christmas. I really enjoyed doing it. The only thing is though, the same with anything in life, the more you put in the more you get out of it. You need to have very successful parties to be able to make a lot of money. There is also a lot of work to put in outside of the parties as well - ordering, delivering stock, keeping paperwork up to date. It can actually work out more time consuming than you expect.

Hi ssd.

I had my 1st Usborne party yesterday.

With a combination of pre-orders and orders at the party I sold over £100 of books, and still have a couple of friends who couldn't make it that want to order about £20+ worth of books each. From this party I also have bookings for a further 2 parties, and will be showing my books at toddler groups and a local soft play place over the next couple of weeks.

Obviously the time of year makes it a lot easier, but the quality is excellent, adn IMO the prices are very reasonable. They also have lots of 'collections', e.g. dot-to-dot books are £1.99 each, or a collection of all 7 titles is £4.99.

It takes only a few minutes to put an order through, and I have yet to receive the books and sort them for customers. I'm a born organiser, so all the paperwork, organising orders, monies etc realy doesn't bother me.

I'm able to take ds2 with me, which is a huge bonus, and it's getting me out of the house! It's actually giving me the kick I need to get out and meet people.

TBH I don't know if I'mm really going to make any money out of it - I'll probably spend it all on books for the boys - but just getting out and meeting new people will be worth it, and it gives me something to do besides household stuff!

Hi ssd,

I am an Usborne team leader and love it!
I am also a part time primary school teacher so I fit in Usborne when it suits me. I love books so it is perfect for me.
Perfect for ds's too who get first pick of the deliveries

Btw if you want any more info have a look at my website.

here

SSD, I love Usborne books and my DD's bookshelf is a testament to the quality and range...however the books can be found so much cheaper elsewhere - inlcuding Amazon etc - where you can often get your order quicker too.

Why not look at another party product that's less readily avilable - Phoenix cards...? And as pointed out by McKenize - less likely to do your back in.

Hi ssd.

If you can tell me which town you live on or some postcodes of local school's i can look them up.

If there was an 'active' organsier in your area i'm sure you would have seen them around. You could perhaps ask round friends and family, if they've not heard of one then thats a great start.

HTH
Gemma

thanks to everyone here, I've contacted an organiser so I might be on my way!!

sorry I have been away this weekend or I would have replied sooner

I have an advert in the Jobs section (selling childrens books)

Thanks SparklyfestiveYellowFeathers

with regards to the books being expensive. Being very honest with you, I agree!!!! Some of them are. But they are also really lovely books and for the people who you get wanting to go to cheap bookshops for their books you will always get people wanting to pay good money for good books (like anything in life)

And for the people who pick up the books, look at the price and put them back down, you will get people who rush up to your books and say "Brilliant, I love Usborne books"

what I tend to do is get lots of the £4.99 books in, maybe £5.99. I try not to get too many of the dearer ones. As I go to quite a few Toddler groups and find that people are happy to spend £4.99 on a book (although there are many people who will pick up an £8.99 and buy it)

I also agree about the Book People. There is nothing worse for me than Usborne bringing out a fab book then a month later you see it cheaper in The Book People, But................. I have a catalogue with way over 1000 titles in it and on so many different subjects, The Book People have maybe 5 Usborne Books in their leaflet

If people want a books on Ballet, learning to swim, childrens cooking, the Vikings, Jayne Eyre, First shapes and colours, Baby's potty etc etc, they are not guarenteed to find it in The Book People cheap when they need it

Hope I have helped and havn't waffled too much lol. Have been honest!!

If anyone else is interested in more info do take a look at my advert in The jobs section entitled "selling Childrens Books"

I can be contacted through that

Oooops!!!! sorry, was a bit too much waffle!!

If you do decided to go for it ssd I wish you all the best

thanks anniebear, thats really helpful!

will let you know if I "join up!"