An official Usborne Books thread....

Lesley_Kenton

I would assume that would be ok - but just give the office a call to check.

Fallen8905

heya

Just wondering how everyone is? Also some books i need are out of stock! Been trying for a month!

Lesley_Kenton

Which books are you after? If I have them in stock you can have them x

delgal

Hello!

I’m hoping for advice on whether it would be worth me working for Usborne as a book seller. Any help gratefully received!:)

I’m unhappy in my career and think it is time for a change! I'm currently working part time as a primary school teacher. I have a one year old child, and would like a second child before too long. Although I'm contracted for a two days a week job share, I work a minimum of 27 hours a week, more like 30+ hours / week when parent evenings / reports / Christmas plays etc are coming up. I don’t have any family that live locally, so have to pay for childcare on the two days a week I work. By the time I’ve paid childcare costs NI and tax my take home monthly pay is £700.

Is it possible to earn this sort of money from selling Usborne books? How many parties / events per week would I have to do to earn this sort of money?

I’d like a job where I can work from home in the evenings and occasional weekends and be a full time mum during the day. This would mean I could earn less gross pay as I’d be saving on childcare costs. I could squeeze in some work during the day when my child has a long sleep. I like the idea of being able to have parties at baby and toddler groups during the day and take my child with me.

My second question is: If I did start selling for Usborne, would it be possible / legal to continue selling books if I became pregnant and received maternity pay from my teaching job? I probably won’t leave teaching until the end of the academic year.

I’m in the lucky position to have lots of other ‘mummy’ friends and several teacher friends. So I think I’m in a good position to start selling the books within my immediate social circle and the to grow my contacts from there. I love Usborne books anyway and obviously being a primary school teacher am in a good position to be able to recommend suitable books for children of this age group, and give general advice on child development / literacy / encouraging reluctant readers etc

Would you advise me to start now whilst I’m still teaching and slowly build up contacts, or to wait until I’ve left teaching and can dedicate more time to it?

Sorry to have written an essay! I’ve got so many questions going through my mind.
Mostly I just want to know whether people who have done the job think I’m realistically going to be able to earn enough money from the job and juggle it with raising my child?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!:)

Looneylee

Yes it's definitely possible to earn this sort of money - lots of people do earn this and a lot more - obviously the more effort you are willing to put in, the more successful you will be. With your links to schools, this would benefit you hugely. There are big sales to be had in schools - both selling direct to the school (offering great discounts), and running book fairs, sponsored reads etc. where we can give schools lots of free books.

Whilst you are on maternity pay, you can also be self employed. So you would be able to sell books, or anything else you choose. The only time it's not allowed is if you're already on maternity allowance (being self employed in another job).

I would say it would put you in a good position if you started now and built up your contacts and business gradually. That way when you come to finish teaching, you should have a good business to continue with.

Hope this helps! Let us know if you have any more questions.
Lisa

Lesley_Kenton

The quickest and easiest way to increase your earnings is to build a team, I wish I had done it sooner!


I started uborning while on Mat leave, and I loved it and found it a great way to meet new mums etc.

Good Luck x

OllyJaLissa

Im about to receive my starter pack from Usborne Books and have just been told today by someone who was unsucessful at selling Usborne that the commission isnt paid in cash but in more books. Is this true? If so, how do you ever make any money? I would ask my upliner however it's the weekend and I also want an unbiased answer!!
Many thanks.

jhp

OllyJaLissa wrote: »

Im about to receive my starter pack from Usborne Books and have just been told today by someone who was unsucessful at selling Usborne that the commission isnt paid in cash but in more books. Is this true? If so, how do you ever make any money? I would ask my upliner however it's the weekend and I also want an unbiased answer!!
Many thanks.

" And in return we’ll pay you generous rates of commission AND you will have access to FREE and discounted books for yourself."


http://www.usborne.com/sell-usborne-books/usborne-books-at-home.aspx

Looneylee

You keep your commission upfront from the sales you make in cash. So if you sell £100 for example, when you order the books, you pay Usborne 76% of the total and keep your 24% commission in your pocket. You will also get free books on every order over £100 either for your party host or yourself (if there isn't a party host).

Good luck!!!
Lisa

delgal

Looneylee,

Sorry to ask a silly question, but what do you mean by 'sales made in cash'? Do you literally mean when someone pays with cash? Or do you mean that if you hold a book party, for example, and get £100 in sales paids for by debit card / cash / personal cheque, you would pay Usborne 76% of the total and keep your 24% commission?