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?

Lol - I could do with the exercise too! The guided reading pack in this month's kit is what got me excited, we sell them to schools at £30 each which is a nice chunk of commission. Having a set to show people really helps increase sales, and it couldnt come at a better time as the schools start getting their budgets now!

Hows everyone getting on with usborne at the mo? Starting to feel a bit lonely in here lol!

You were so right about the guided reading Nicki, I bought a set and lent it to my local school, and they've just ordered 12 sets from me! I can't believe its such a big order, I'm really pleased.

How is everyone else doing?

Hi
Im new-ish to Mumsnet but have been browsing for a while and am really enjoying this Usborne post. Am really considering taking up Usborne. I have one daughter, 3 and am pg with no2 and really don't want to go back to work when Ive had him (just found out its going to be a boy!).
Do you mind if I ask a few questions NikkiSue? (Or anybody)?

Why does it cost different amounts to join each month?
Is it like Avon where you can only work in set strrets / towns? (I live in a small town so don't think it would be worth me doing it if it was just here.
What is a Team Leader? And what is their job? Can anyone be one?

Thanks! I hope theyre not silly questions!

Amie

Not silly questions at all!

I know Nicki well, so will answer your questions on her behalf.....

But she will be able to answer in more depth and also send you an information pack if you like

I think Usborne just do different offers each month......

It is usually meant to be £38, but sometimes they add more books, or its a bit cheaper

whichever month you join, it is always a great offer as you are paying anything up to £38 for over £100 worth of books and stationary

you can sell wherever you want, you are not restricted and the list is endless, pre schools, toddler groups,, schools, offices, brownies, friends ,family, soft play etc

when you join Usborne you become an Organiser. If other people ask you about joining, they can join through you and you become their support (which is why it is important to ask an Organiser questions before joining to make sure you get some one helpful)

If you go on to get 3 joining through you and they all order certain amounts, you can be promoted to Team Leader

But you don't ever have to do this, there is no pressure, do as little or as much as you want

really fits in with the children also

Hope that Helps. Im sure Nicki sue will be along soon

Lol, that was a bit long

hi i've been told about this special one of price since november last year! I thought it was suppose to run out in january? ITS A LOAD OF RUBBISH - AVOID AT ALL COST! FOR A LEGIT HOME WORKING BUISNESS YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING UP FRONT - ITS A SCAM! AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!!

Lol, Usborne is widely recognised as legitimate and is registered by the DSA. Usborne has been going for 31 years this year and is not a scam! There are different joining offers every month usually, it was £19 in Jan this year, can't remember Feb, March was £5 for the first week, £10 for the second etc, this month is £140 of books for £38 (which is the usual price of the kit). You can check these out on the main Usborne website.

If you want to shout SCAM, then go ahead, but check things out properly first before you do

pinkyp

I have been an Usborne Organiser, IT IS NOT A SCAM

Of course it isnt and I think most reading this will know that also

Usborne Books are a huge company used by schools and Nurseries

the reason you pay a VERY SMALL cost at the beginning is because it gives you a starter kit with loads of stationary and books

Would you want to become an Organiser and not have any books or stationary??

I would much rather pay a small amount and get a starter kit and have books to be able to show people what I sell

Most work from home organisations have a joining fee, Body shop, Avon, Mini IQ ect

they are not scams either and are usually more expensive to join

I find your post very strange

Usborne cannot just let people join for free then give them books and stationary also for free

I never said it was a one off price, I said Usborne usually do offers some months were you can get extra books etc

Go and take a look On the Netmums site and see all the Organisers there who are making money from this

very very strange !!!!

you are paying them to enable you to have stock to start off with

Hi,

I'm also considering this - can anyone tell me how the comission works and how much money you can make a month? Don't have to be exact figures but an idea of time invested and profit would help me make the decision.

Thanks

Hi Connie,
As an organiser you get 24% commission, with an extra 3% in the month you put £1000 or more in. If you recruit you get 6% of what your recruits but in (orders they put through), paid by Usborne. When you have three recruits working you promote to Team Leader which gets you an extra 6% on your own sales......... and on it goes.

As with everything what you put in is what you get out so please don't take my figures as granted. This week I have done Mon, toddler gp (2hrs), Tues Soft Play (2.5hrs), Wednesday - Toddler group (1.5hrs), Wed pm, Charity Shopping evening (3hrs), Thursday -No events, Today, Event at York (5hrs) and after I put orders in etc (orders for customers and replacing some of the stock sold) I will walk away with approx £205. Some of that is selling from stock (which you quickly build up) and some is direct orders paid for in advance. Not every week is like that - next week I have three bookings, two toddler groups and a day sale on Sunday in conjunction with Rural Arts, last week I had 2 bookings.

As with all things you need to build up your customer base and contacts but it is a viable income if you stick at it - especially if after you are established you recruit your own team members.

I hope thats useful. Let me know if I can help with anything other questions x

I hope that helps

Fantastic!! Have you seen the May joining offer? £160 of books etc for £38! Im chuffed to bits with that! I've emailed the Mind and Body books offer around my contact list for schools and customers already!

Hello everyone

I also joined Usborne Books 18 months ago but gave up after six months as it was a hard slog. To make any money you have to sell loads of books and also have enough money to keep buying stock to take to events etc. which you might not end up selling. People are just not interested in looking at catalogues they want to see the goods.

Anyway, I ended up at a loss with lots of books under my bed and have ended up giving them away as presents etc. and keeping them for my own kids.

Also, lots of shops sell Usborne Books anyway. Have a look in WH Smith and Sainsburys where they sell for a much lower price.

Sorry to be so negative but people need to know!

I agree with you that some other places sell them cheaper, but they dont have all 1300+ titles so as an Organiser you can offer a customer so much choice

when I did Usborne the only stock I bought were ones that were on offer to Organisers ( nowadays you are given fantastic offers) or I bought a half price one when I did my order

otherwise I just got lots of free books when I did my orders and built up my stock this way

Obviously for some people it wont work but for many it does

When I did events I found people did want the catalogue and sat looking through it

it wont agree with everyone, but if you put the work into it you can make good money without having to sell loads of books

you can do an Usborne sponsored reads for which you dont have to have any stock! and do minimum work but for a good £ at the end of it

Oops, waffled a bit then !!!!!!!!!!!

Helloooo! Sorry I've not been on much! Hows everyone doing?
I'm having a fab month with it and my June isnt looking bad either! So its all happy for me!
I'm sorry you've had a hard time of it Scarfmaker - Usborne, like everything else isnt for everyone but I hope you find something that does suit you.
x

Hi all

This has been a really great thread for me, as I'm considering Usborne too.

Question though. In Canada, this month's kit special is $50 for the basic (8 assorted titles) There is also an additional deal where you can get $200 worth of books for another $50.(another 16 titles)

I'm unsure whether I ought to invest the extra cash in the 2 deals, or stick with the basic kit ?

How many books did you all receive when you began ?

I have had a positive response from gals I've talked to about this, one has already offered to have a home party for me.

Also, I think my own home show would be a good way to begin...any thoughts on this ?

Any input much appreciated as I make my decision.

Cheers,

Pam.

Hi Pam!
And welcome to the thread!
I'll be honest, I havent seen the Canadian kit yet (running off to look now), but how much you invest in at the start is entirely up to you. The UK kit at the moment is £38 for £150 books etc and is a good size to get going with. You can make a start with the basic kit as to start with your customers will order from the catalogues and you only need a few books to show them as examples, however if it was me, knowing what know now, I'd go for the xtra books, but only if its not a pain financially!

Well done on getting a home party booked! Doing one of your own too is a fab idea, its a great way to kick start your sales and get your business going. You'll also feel more at home (obviously!) doing it at your own place which is nice to start with, and you should be able to convince at least one of the attendees to book one of their own. As well as a general get together, ask any friends who are pregnant etc as they make great baby showers!!

I hope this has helped a bit! Let me know if I can help anymore! And good luck!

Nicki x

[email protected]

Thanks Nicki

I'm lucky too in my area that there is nobody else doing Usborne for miles

However, the downside is I am in a pretty rural area...

Could I chat with you off the board ? Do I just click on you to send you an email ? Not sure how to do this

Thanks for your support. I take it the whole experience has been positive for you ?

Hugs,
Pam.

No probs to talk off-board, just email me on the address below hun.

Positive?! A fantastic experience! Its very different to what I was doing before but I have to say I'm throughly enjoying it and have done really well too. I had a lovely team of 17 now and more joining every week and that side of it is lovely too.

It'll be lovely "chatting" with you x
[email protected]

Can I ask
What a sponsored usborne read is and how you'd make money of it
How you'd run it please
Sorry I know this is a very old thread x