Does anyone do Usborne books? Looking for some advice

[winnie76winnie]

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?

I have never realy paid out large sums of money for new stock

Once you start putting orders in, you can get free books and half price books

I found my stock built up very quickly

sorry, was refering to madamez post

I didnt either Anniebear - couldnt afford to after the last leg of Matenity pay lol! Now I have more stock than needed in truth but it was great at xmas because I could just sell from stock and didnt have to replace it all - just put it straight towards xmas costs.

Hi -
For those of you that asked me to send you the Feb info on joining.....
I've just received the details about the March offer price. £5 for the first week of Feb (see below). Anyone wanting the £38 kit which contains £140 of books etc rather than the £100 for March must fax (before 5pm) or sending in their forms today.

Don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
Take care
Nicki x
[email protected]

Hold on to your hats -

THE MAD MARCH STARTER KIT OFFER
Starting from 5pm on Friday 29th February, the March Starter Kit offer is ludicrously low at JUST £5, and will rise by £5 each week (£10 from 9am Monday 10th March, £15 from 9am Monday 17th March, £20 from Monday 24th March until the end of March).

Hi - found this discussion after googling usborne and phoenix, so have joined Mumsnet just to join in the discussion! I'm thinking of doing them both. Anyone else doing this? I'm also about to start a new job soon (4 hours a day). Probably taking on too much at once, but hey in for a penny...Thought that parties would be a good way to do both the cards and the books in one fell swoop. Maybe too much of a conflict of interest?!?

Any thoughts welcome!

Hi Travipop. Youre either very motivated or crazy lol! You're not supposed to do more than one direct selling thing at once (says usborne handbook) and I imagine pheonix and the others are much the same. The exception is Avon because I don't think anyone sees Avon as a threat to sales (I used to do Avon, never again!).

I do usborne as you'll have read and love it! Having said that the cards etc from pheonix are lovely! If it was me I'd worry that you would be no better off doing both as like you said there would be too much conflict - plus two sets of book-keeping. Personally I'd advise you get as much info about the two and choose the one initially you like the best. That one you might stick with or you might switch or whatever.
Im happy to answer any question about Usborne and can email you some info but you'll have to find someone who does pheonix. Actually I know someone who does so I'll ask her if she'll talk you through it if you like?

Good luck either way.

Nicki x

PS - Lol @ you joined mumsnet to join the discussion! Brilliant! Be warned - its very addictive but very informative!!!

Hi Travipop. Youre either very motivated or crazy lol! You're not supposed to do more than one direct selling thing at once (says usborne handbook) and I imagine pheonix and the others are much the same. The exception is Avon because I don't think anyone sees Avon as a threat to sales (I used to do Avon, never again!).

I do usborne as you'll have read and love it! Having said that the cards etc from pheonix are lovely! If it was me I'd worry that you would be no better off doing both as like you said there would be too much conflict - plus two sets of book-keeping. Personally I'd advise you get as much info about the two and choose the one initially you like the best. That one you might stick with or you might switch or whatever.
Im happy to answer any question about Usborne and can email you some info but you'll have to find someone who does pheonix. Actually I know someone who does so I'll ask her if she'll talk you through it if you like?

Good luck either way.

Nicki x

PS - Lol @ you joined mumsnet to join the discussion! Brilliant! Be warned - its very addictive but very informative!!!

Hi Nicki - thanks for the advice. I know you're probably right. I guess my thinking was that if I was holding a party for one why not just do both! Captured audience and all that! I think though I'll start with Usborne because they have such a good offer at the moment - £5! Can't beat that! And if I'm rubbish at it, no great loss. I considered Pampered Chef but figured it was too much hassle. I love Usborne books, I'm just hoping Mum's don't get annoyed that I'm trying to sell to them. I live in a village and people can be very guarded. Not convinced they'll embrace this! Hey ho - I do like a challenge.

I know of someone who does Phoenix and will call her. I think the company have sent me out a pack as well. So we'll see!

Any info on Usborne would be helpful. Not really sure where to start. I'm thinking of starting with a home party. On average what do people spend at your events? And whats the most successful type of event? I do school PTA and Parent Council (not sure if that's just a scottish thing?) so have loads of contacts. Am sure I can get a gaggle of people initially but am concerned about future sales? What's your experience?

Thanks! x

Lol Travipop "Hey Ho - I do like a challenge" - you sound like a right cracker lol! Good on you!

Mums don't tend to get annoyed with you for trying to sell to you either (always a good thing!). Luckily, unlike Avon etc you don't have set areas to work in so you can work anywhere and are not confined to one village etc (also good because you can leave longer between repeat booking so people don't get sick of seeing you)!

A home party is always a good start. The average sales for that is £120 I think and if you do it in your own home you can keep the 20% free books you get back when putting a £100+ order in, for yourself. So, commission and free books for your kit (or lo's!).
Its difficult to say what people spend - it depends entirely on the event. At a party people generally spend £20-£40 on average. I did one sale yesterday and took £195 in an hour (all orders paid for up front!) and then this morning took £30 at a very quiet toddler group.

I do really well at toy libraries and soft play centres as well as shopping evenings and charity sales. I have tables booked at outdoor county shows this summer which are always good (weather permitting) and am showcasing at a Mums evening which is focussed on self-employment and business opportunities so should sell at bit at that one!! Hit miss and maybe on that dear! You soon work out where the spenders are in your area.

Having contacts are a great start and you find they snowball - ie they tell each other about you, they contact you for other events later in the year etc. I find loads of my bookings and events online and in local newspapers and shop windows! They are out there!

The offer is brilliant - £5 this week rising to £10 on Monday for next weekm £15 the week after etc.

I can email you more info if you like, and you littlelapin, unless you're already in touch with an organiser?

My address is [email protected].

Think I covered everything lol! My keyboard is steaming now! He he! Any other questions I can help with?

Hi Nicki and Littlelapin

Thanks for all the feedback. I've sent my form off today, so hopefully will have the kit by next week.

I must say Nicki, you sound incredibly proactive! How many events do you do a week? You must really enjoy it! I would be restricted to what i can do during the day as I start a new job soon. So I'd be focussing on evenings and weekends. My goal is to make £200 a month (to top up a rather pathetic salary!). Does that sound doable?

And as for doing Phoenix as well Littlelapin, I've checked the T&C's and I see the bit you refer to. Need to look into this further. Think I'll get started with Usborne first - no brainer as far as I'm concerned!

Nicki, will email you for more info. Thanks!

Emailed you before I saw your post hun! I'm glad you decided to go for it. The kits are being sent very quickly so you should get it by the end of next week at the latest. Its like opening a magic box when it comes!

£200 is doable. Its like all things - you get out what you put in and may take a little while to get going (it doesn't for some) but theres no limit to what you can do it you put your mind to it.

Pro-active - def been called worse lol! I'm a bugger - when I set my mind to do something I just have to go for it. I currently do 3-4 bookings a week but spend most of my "Usborne" time on the net (can you tell?) researching bookings, emailing team members or people about events, or post on mumsnet pmsl!

I hope the info has been helpful. Your team leader will be able to help get you started too as thats their "job" to help and support you along the way. have you signed up with someone or just through Usborne itself? If you've gone through Usborne they will allocate you a Team Leader and they'll get in touch!

Let us know how you get on!!

Hi Nicki - oh you're right this is addictive! Never posted on forums before so I don't know all the acronyms yet (I know I can check them out above). I've sussed lol though! Lots of those. The only other wesite I use A LOT is the Martin Lewis money saving expert website. It's brilliant. In fact I'm sure there's some stuff on there about Usborne and Phoenix - must look at it.

Thanks for you email - very helpful. More questions - ho hum. Just when I thought I'd run out. Do you display books at your events? And do you sell more through the catalogues than from stock?

Really - I should wait until I get the kit before asking all these questions but my brain is going into overdrive working through all the possible scenarios! Couldn't sleep last night! Had books on the brain. How sad is that??

I used to do mini-iq and found toddler groups etc hard work to shift anything. Parties were more successful but are at an awful time.

I think leaving boxes of books at offices is more successful (i work in an office now and have bought several books in the last few months from boxes people have left- although they tend to be a mix of kids/adult books).

I guess once you've got a reasonable amount of stock, leaving boxes is an option, but to begin with I anticipate most of the purchases will be made from the catalogue. I would aim to build up stock from freebies. Also, not sure that I'd be keen to trail heavy boxes of books all over the place on the off chance they might sell!! Not being lazy - just have a dodgy back!

I display my books and take orders or sell from stock, or a mixture. You'll fast build up stock with the free books. Parties are good sellers too.
I'm sorry you had a hard time at toddler groups Yurt1, I find quite the opposite. I tend to go to each one every 6-8 weeks which isnt too often as to put people off. Distributing the catalogues is a good way to go. Not sure if I posted this before (and am too lazy to look) but instead of book boxes I drop a catalogue,printoffs of any offers, some leaflets, a load of order forms and blank envelopes in a big padded envelope. Om the envelope I write something like

"Please feel free to browse the enclosed catalogues. If you would like to place an order, please fill in an order form and seal it in one of the envelopes provided with your payment (Cash or cheque) and I will collect this on _.
Orders take approximately 5 working days and all orders will be delivered back here.

If you have a questions about your order or the books contact me on................". Then leave it there and collect in 2 weeks.
Works great for me and no lugging.

Sympathy for your back Travipop - I've had back problems on and off for years after having worked in H&Social care. x

NikiSue..thats a really good idea ..do you contact the companies first or just pop in ..what kind of places do you do ?...am determined to get going with Usborne this year (my 'proper' job keeps getting in the way!) got a do on Wednesday and a couple of toddler groups but want to move into different areas

Hey TwoFishes - don't you hate those "proper" jobs lol! I do a combination of both, some places I just pop in, like the local estate agencies but for places like Boots or Tescos I ring because some bigger stores aren't allowed to have catalogues etc - its their policy, and ringing in advance saves shoe leather and being told "no" face-to-face lol!
What the do on Wednesday? Good luck! If you want to try something different have a look on this page and see if there is anything near to you.
x

Def going to try the drop in catalogue thing on some of the big companies on the industrial estate near her and also in town..and thanks for the link ...going to ring about a craft fair in April thats near me
Tomorrows Do is a Coffee Morning never done one before and am now loooow on stock and got a group in the morning too.got a gut feeling they are expecting 'big things' at this coffee morning but will see (they might be disappointed!! !)

If you're low on stock print off some signs saying "Orders welcome, ask for details" to books your sales as well as a sign saying "I accept cash, cheques, debit and credit cards" (if you haven't already) - as that helps too.
Good luck!

OK Nicki, brace yourself - whole bunch of questions.

(Figured it was better to do this in forum rather than PM then others can benefit from you infinite wisdom, lol!)

OK, so I've got the kit, still no contact from my TL, and thinking about my first couple of events (deep breath - you'll need it!Lol!):

• should I buy more catalogues? Two (as in kit)seems a bit 'lean' if there's say 12-16 people.
• how many catalogues would you recommend having? Do you always use the big £2 catalogue or are there others (sure I saw early years one in a list for 50p)
• how do you display your books?
• I assume being at or holding an event generates more sales than leaving a catalogue with instructions?

- you said in a earlier post "I do really well at toy libraries and soft play centres as well as shopping evenings and charity sales". Is that generally being in attendance and displaying stock, or just leaving a catalogue? Incidentally, what's a shopping evening?

• lastly, do you print off leaflets etc from Tools and Download to distribute?

ENOUGH FOR NOW! Bet you wish I had my own TL, then she would be bombarded with all these questions!! There are plenty more questions - I'm pacing myself!

Thanks!

Cant belive she (or he!) hasnt contacted you!

Maybe give Usborne a call and ask them if they can give you any details

she should be giving you loads of advice and answering all your questions

Ha! Knew you'd be trouble! If you don't hear from your TL in a day or so hun ring the office.

Right (cracks knuckles) -

1. CATALOGUES - I bought 20 at the beginning of the year and thats done me ok so far. Having said that - I'm pretty well established and have regular customers who ask for a catalogues. If you have two, and get a couple more in your flying start 1, you could pick up a few when you do your first order. No point going for a huge outlay if you don't know you'll need them! The segmented catalogues ie early years, special needs, primaryand secondary are cheaper and great for more targeted sales/contacts. You could give a secondary one to a high school librarian but its doubtful they'd want bath books.

I display my books on different levels. Depending on the space I have, I have some on a stand (which I got from Ebay), some stood up, some lying down, a half price box and A4 activity and sticker books I put in a box (with them stood up) for people to leaf through
Yes, holding events and sales do generally generate better sales as you are on hand to answer questions about the books etc but leaving catalogues etc are great for boosting sales too (I have 3-5 catalogues out at a time, then collect the catalogue in with the orders so I can reuse it and it doesnt get lost etc)

Yes again - I do well at soft plays etc by being there and actually selling (though do leave my card and recruiting postcards for when I'm not going to be there!), and shopping evenings are usually organised by people raising money for charity or suchlike - more nearer xmas around here I find although Im doing on in May. Basically loads of stall, public charged small entrance, table fee and entrance and raffle money goes to the chosen charity!

Think that was it all!?

A great tip - if you're going to a toddler group etc make sure they know youre going to be there - leave a poster so people know to bring money/cards etc.

Oh and yes, I do use the posters etc from Tool and Downloads - I also download them and email the special offers out.

Hope that helps!!!

Hey Annie! Didn't see you there . Hows you hun?

Nicki - you're a godsend! Got to take DS to bed now, but thanks so much. BTW are you umbilically (sp?) attached to your computer?

Hi Anniebear - I know I was surprised too! I did call the office yesterday and they said they'd get in touch with my TL, but nothing so far...I did ask for her details but seems that's not how it's done!