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Original poster

Does anyone do Usborne books? Looking for some advice

96 replies

winnie76winnie · 03/01/2008 15:41

I am considering signing up to do Usborne books. Can anyone who already does it give me a bit of advice. Does it fit in well with your children? Can you make a reasonable amount of money doing it?

OP posts:
NickiSue · 03/01/2008 15:48

Hi Winnie - I do Usborne books from home and it has enabled me to stay at home with my son full-time. That means no child-care cost, no running around to drop kids off, and being able to look after your kids yourself.
Kieran comes to 99% of all my salesan has more friends at different toy libraries, todler groups and soft play play centres than Ive had hot dinners!!! Lol! I'd be hard pressed to find an opportunity to make money from home more convenient that this.

How much money you can make depends entirely how much you put into it (remember, as an Usborne Organiser you are self-employed so can work as little or as much as you want and decide it on a day-to-day basis).
I can email you an info pack if you want, theres a good joining offer at the mo until the end of Jan but dont want to post anymore info in case its construed as advertising!

Email me if you want an email / postal pack.
[email protected]

I hope you find it interesting and if not - good luck with whatever work you chose to do.

HTH

Nicki xx

Original poster
winnie76winnie · 03/01/2008 16:28

Thanks Nicki. I'd really like the postal pack to have a read through.

Can I just ask though, are there any fees up front, and what do you get for your money?

OP posts:
NickiSue · 03/01/2008 16:42

No probs - if you email your address I'll pop it in the post first thing tomorrow.

All the info is there but basically it usually costs £36.00 to join and for that you get over £100 of books and business stationary to get you going. The offer at the moment is that the starting kit is £19.00 until Jan 31st for the same £100+ books etc. Thats the one-off joining fee.

You don't need to invest money in stock (good really as I couldnt have done when I started as I'd just been on Mat leave!)as you get free books with every order over £100 you put in (which your customer/s pay for).
I hope this has answered your questions!

Original poster
winnie76winnie · 03/01/2008 18:05

Thanks Nicki, that answers my question. Sounds like a good venture. I've sent you an email.

Thanks again for all your help.

OP posts:
evelynrose · 03/01/2008 22:02

winnie, I saw this advertised in the Center Parcs mag and phoned and got straight through to a very nice lady about it. She's sending me a pack and also talked about the current offer. I'm interested because we got a lovely Usborne book about London for our dc's christmas present and I recall having been impressed with them before. I think it's easier to sell things if you have genuine enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to reading the literature and it doesn't sound as if there is too much to lose as no initial large investment and no sales target except a requirement to place one £300 order within the first 3 months apparently.

madamez · 03/01/2008 22:06

Well I ahve done a bit of it, only had to place a minimum of £100 over the first 3 months, which I managed. Depends if you are happy to do party plan and can persuade lots of people to come along. I dabble with it (because I do Avon as well) and I have found that mainly the people I meet at M&T groups are either broke or have a deep resistance to being sold to.
It does depend on you, your local facilities (libraries, groups, schools etc) and a certain amount of luck, but it's legit enough and unlike some work-from-home schemes they don't rip you off or harass you.

evelynrose · 03/01/2008 22:09

sorry, have just read madamez post and yes, it was to place an order for £100 (not £300).

NickiSue · 03/01/2008 22:43

Hey
Its nice to hear such positive things about usborne as I really enjoy it.
Ive been doing it since Feb and made real money and havent done ONE party. Personally they just don't appeal to me, although they are very good earners. Just wanted to point out you don't have to do parties to succeed!!

I hope the Avon is going well - I did it for a while before Usborne and it just wasnt worth it for me although I had a large area.

evelynrose · 04/01/2008 20:10

Nicki, I got the info pack today and they have a long list of possible places to sell. I just wondered which has been the best type of venue for you? One suggestion they have put is companies that buy Christmas presents for staff children- have you ever tried this?
Thanks

slotnicki · 04/01/2008 21:49

I have been thinking about doing this as well. However it seems to me that you would need to know how many other people were selling Usborne in the local area before making a decision, as this would affect the chances of finding good selling opportunities - is there a way of finding out this info?

NickiSue · 05/01/2008 00:22

Hi Slotnicki - No, there isn't anyway to find out through Usborne who / how many organisers there are locally, if any.
However, organisers aren't limited to their own towns and can work anywhere and Ive never heard of there beingtoo many organisers in one place. Even small towns (like mine!) have scope for more than one organiser.
You could ask around, at toddler groups or with other local mums who would have spotted an organiser if they go to toddler groups, softplays, toy libraries etc but I really wouldnt worry about an area being over subscribed.

Sorry if this isnt exactly the info you wanted! If I can help with any other questions you have or you'd like some info emailing / posting please let me know.

Nicki x

NickiSue · 05/01/2008 08:54

Sorry Evelynrose! I didnt see your post before Slots!

Glad you got the info ok. I havent personally approached companies to buy xmas pressies for staff children but have hear this done with good success. As well as the usual places (toddler groups, places like tumbletots, softplay centres) and the like I sell independantly ie I hire a room for £20 for the day locally (its actually a MASSIVE foyer with great facilities and is in prime position so I pop some balloons on the door and get passer-bys in and schedule the sales for when other kid-related activites are going on in the building - I do them at www.ruralarts.org. Before xmas I put catalogues, order forms and an explanation letter to local businesses (4 at a time) and a date when Id collect the orders and payment and did quite well at that, my best sales were estate agent offices, hair dressers and salon. If you can get to leave a catalogue or "business box" with books in for poeple to look at and buy/order anywhere I would - call centres are supposed to be great. I could hammer on for ages about places to sell lol!
I'm always happy to answer questions or you can contact the lad who sent the info too.

Hope this helps x

Original poster
winnie76winnie · 05/01/2008 12:18

My info pack arrived this morning as well. Thanks Nicki. It all looks really interesting, and its the most flexible thing I've found so far. I think for £19.00 its really worth giving it a go, so I'm posting off my form today.

Are you going to join as well Evelyn?

Thanks for all the help and support Nicki. I'm really looking forward to getting my books now!

OP posts:
NickiSue · 05/01/2008 15:34

Youre welcome!
Give me an email/ring when your kit arrives hun and I'll help get you started etc. The kits aren't taking long to come out so hopefully you should have yours Friday at the latest.
Look forward to speaking to you then x

evelynrose · 05/01/2008 21:14

Yes winnie, I am planning to send off the form tomorrow as, like you, I don't really see much to lose at the moment. One idea I had was to target the HR departments of city law forms in the run up to Christmas, but a long way off I guess. There are quite a few mums round here that sell different things eg Pheonix cards, so perhaps a joint venture hiring a hall for a few hours with cakes or some form of entertainment for the children might work as well. All early days, but good to mull over.
Thanks again Nicki, I might be back asking for advice when my pack comes through x

NickiSue · 05/01/2008 21:25

Please do! I hope it works out for as well as it has for me! x

madamez · 05/01/2008 21:54

Hmm, I shall keep an eye on this thread as TBH I haven;t had that much luck with Usborne. Have taken catalogues and books to a couple of toddler groups and had about 2 people order a book each time, tried giving out special order forms (the ones you get 50 of for £3) at DS nursery, got absolutely no orders at all. And at toddler groups some people seemed quite resentful at anyone attempting to sell to them (OK I take their point, but I am the world's most unpushy salesperson - I just say, look, there's abrochure if you want one).

NickiSue · 05/01/2008 22:33

Hi Madamez. The brochures that parents take home have differnt levels of success. I've used them at several different nurseries with little luck but some people have done well with them.

Have you tried ringing softplay centres? I do really well at them. I have a list of suggested places to sell if you want it, you may have got similar from your upline.
NCT sales are fantastic for sales too.
Have a look in your local freebie papers for rspca coffe mornings, church events, and other community events to expand the amount of bookings you get. Have you tried home parties? Putting a postcard up in shop windows and posters up on community noticeboard, village halls (especially ones that host kids groups) are great places to advertise for home parties.

I hope this helps - let me know if you want me to email that list on:
[email protected]

madamez · 05/01/2008 23:11

Thanks NickiSue. I think perhaps part of my problem is that I have neither the money nor the storage space to buy in lots of stock that may or may not sell so I tend to just take brochures to places we are going anyway. Perhaps I ought to pool resources with a couple of local mums who do Phoenix Trading and similar, and hire a local community hall for a morning or something similar...

NickiSue · 05/01/2008 23:32

That sounds like a good idea. I hope it turns around for you hun, if I can help etc let me know.

Nicki x

anniebear · 06/01/2008 10:47

I Kind of do Usborne books!........

I know Nicki-Sue well, if some of you join, defo join through her

she is lovely and will be able to give you loads of support

(yes, shes going to pay me later lol )

NickiSue · 06/01/2008 15:58

PSML! Ang you nutter lol!!!! I didn't know you were on here too - mind you, all the best people frequent mumsnet! Lol!
(Cheque is in the post)

anniebear · 06/01/2008 18:38

Hope its a good cheque

NickiSue · 08/01/2008 08:50

Lol!

HappyMummyOfOne · 14/01/2008 07:04

Think it depends on how much you want to do and what sort of area you live in. If there are a lot of places to sell like playgroups etc then have a go. As with all these things, as long as you can stand to lose the initial outlay (in case it doesnt work out or you simply dont like it) then its worth trying.

Remember some schools already use bookclubs and may not be open to another book seller.

Not been to an Usbourne party but do like their products. TBH i'd probably take a brouchure and compare prices to Amazon but if not much different would probably order.

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