Don’t
You’ll
W c e to Usb ne
Congratulations on starting your new venture in partnership with Usborne! You are now part of a community of supportive, book-loving business owners!
This Getting Started workbook will help you make the best possible start in your bookselling journey and how other Independent Usborne Partners built thriving businesses.
Let’s get started!
Why did you decide to become an Independent Usborne Partner?
Here’s just a few of the reasons other Independent Usborne Partners gave.
My first actions checklist
Decide on your bookshop name
Scan the QR code or go to qr.usborne.com/2ukvr to download the ‘Branding Your Business’ document.
Book a call with your Mentor
Your Mentor is there to help and support you - be sure to check in with them regularly!
Get set up on social media
Once you’re decided on your bookshop name and logo, get started on setting up your social channels.
Plan a date for your business launch
There are many ways you can do this, and it’s important you do it in a way that suits you. Turn to page 7 for guidance.
Identify where you will sell your books
Turn to pages 8-9 for ideas to get you started.
Set up your website
Get your website up and running so that you are ready to start taking orders on your launch date! You’ll find information on setting up your website in your welcome emails. NOTES
Scan the QR code or go to qr.usborne.com/2x5zr to access the Business Foundations Training Course. For further support and training turn to page 23.
Now you’ve received your Starter Kit* full of exciting goodies, take the time to get to know the books in it! Which are your five favourite books in the Starter Kit and who are you going to recommend them to?
How to launch your business
There are many ways you can launch your business, it’s not a ‘one size fits all’, and it’s important you do it in a way that works for you and your personal brand.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
• Social Media
You could do an online launch using your newly set up social channels. Film an unboxing video of your new Starter Kit, run a competition, join local community online groups – there’s lots you could do! Plus, we provide brand-new social media assets every month for you to showcase new titles.
• Look-for-a-Book
Speak to businesses in your local area and ask if they would like to sponsor a hunt for books in the local community. This is a great way to get your business out there and become known in your community as the go-to for all things book-related!
• Organise a home party
Invite your friends, family and neighbours round to showcase your favourite books – why not pick your top five from your Starter Kit? Print prize draw slips and Special Offer posters beforehand, and give everyone a leaflet and an order form to take home with them. Providing snacks or drinks for your guests always goes down well too!
Jot down some ideas on how you’d like to launch your business.
“Get out and about everywhere! Message friends and family and set up your book page and do a live when your Starter Kit comes.”
Lucy Meichsner
Selling your books
There are lots of different ways you can sell your books. Here are just a few ideas to get you started!
LEISURE CENTERS
BOOK CLUBS
Host a book club with friends, family and neighbours and talk all things books!
BOOK A STALL
This is a great way of making sales and meeting people. Christmas is a popular time of year!
BABY AND TODDLER GROUP
Baby and toddler groups are a helpful way to meet parents with young children and prove to be a popular place to have a regular pop-up!
Independent Usborne Partners often have success hosting regular pop ups at their local leisure centers!
Organise a Community Book Hunt! These are a brilliant way to engage the community and to connect with local businesses. LOOK-FOR-A-BOOK
Ideas
SCHOOLS
Schools are your biggest sales opportunity, and there are a number of ways you can work with them. Turn to page 12 to find out more.
HOME PARTIES
Invite friends, families and neighbours round to your house for a coffee morning or evening party to showcase your favourite books.
People have busy lives so why not make it easier for them and host a virtual party? ONLINE PARTIES
FUNDRAISING
Lead a Community Book Pledge - this is a great way to help schools increase reading resources and to make connections in your local community.
OFFICES
Do you have a partner or a friend that works in an office? Why not ask if you can run a pop-up one lunchtime?
Don’t forget to take…
• Books
• Special Offer posters
• Prize Draw slips
“Book as many pops-ups/stalls as you can. In my experience people like to see and get a feel of the books rather than order online.”
• Order forms
• Leaflets
• Card reader
Scan the QR code or go to qr.usborne.com/23hzb to access our ‘Getting Active’ videos from other Independent Usborne Partners.
For further support and training turn to page 23.
• Cash float
• Recruitment posters
• Catalogue
Stephanie Hughes
Who do you know?
There are many ways you can reach out to potential customers to start building your business. Start by thinking about who you already know. We call these F.R.O.G.S - friends, relatives, occupation (work colleagues), geographical (local schools and businesses), and social connections and organisations. Below are some examples to help get you started.
Fred: Member of the local school’s PTA
You could talk to Fred to find out when school fairs are and whether he could put you in touch with the appropriate contacts at his school.
Hannah: Swimming teacher at the local leisure centre
You could ask Hannah to put you in contact with the relevant person at the leisure centre regarding hosting a regular pop-up stall.
Sophie: Friend who attends a baby and toddler group
You could find out where Sophie goes to socialise with other parents to see if there’s an opportunity to host a home party or a book club where they could bring their children.
Louise Cook
“I have used my F.R.O.G.S to increase my social media reach!”
“My F.R.O.G.S have enabled me to have stalls
at
Toddler Groups
and
church fairs which have brought new, regular customers.”
Leanne Allman
Use the table below to start identifying your key F.R.O.G.S, which books they’d love, and where you’d be able to sell books.
Who
What Where
Remember: not every contact will result in a direct sale but could help build relationships that lead to a sale.
Working with schools and nurseries
• Book Fairs
Offer to host a book fair, fully customisable to the schools’ needs.
• Fundraising
Community Book Pledges help increase vital reading resources in schools where budgets are over-stretched.
Schools are your biggest selling opportunity and offer you a chance to help the community and earn big commission. There are a number of ways you can work with schools and nurseries, so you can find something that works for you and your business.
• Themed events and assemblies
Host a themed event or assembly to spark pupils’ curiosity and make reading fun, even for the most reluctant of readers!
• World Book Day
• Author events
Bring the world of books to life with an awe-inspiring author event that will inspire pupils for years to come.
• Pop-Up bookshop
Parents evenings offer a great opportunity to host a pop-up!
Help schools earn FREE books!
For every school book fair or reading event you host, Usborne will boost the value of book sales with up to 60% of that total value in extra FREE books!*
*Dependent on sales volume
Scan the QR code or go to qr.usborne.com/27vst for guidance on working with schools.
For further support and training turn to page 23.
Ready Steady Read and Ready Steady Listen events are a fantastic way to encourage pupils to celebrate reading.
This is a huge annual event that takes place in March, and you can help schools save time and money and celebrate a love of reading by hosting a World Book Day event for them.
10 local schools and nurseries contacts
Programme
The Usborne QuickStart Programme is designed to support you get started on your new and exciting bookselling journey and will set you up for long-lasting success.
The QuickStart Programme is made up of 6 milestones, which if achieved, unlock a host of rewards and prizes!
Sales Starter
Place an order for £150 Personal Sales within two weeks of your start date and receive a congratulations pack with your order!
Please note you may not exceed a total value of orders over £200 (including your Starter Kit) in your first 7 days of being an Independent Usborne Partner as per DSA regulations. * Contents may vary slightly.
Sales Builder
Achieve £500 cumulative Personal Sales within six weeks of your start date and you will receive a selection of Usborne books worth £60!* *Book selection subject to change.
CHAMPION SALES
Sales Champion
Achieve £1000 cumulative Personal Sales within ten weeks of your start date and you will receive a refund* for the cost of your Starter Kit!
*Refund is credited to your Independent Usborne Partner account as store credit.
Team Builder
Recruit your second team member within four weeks of achieving Team Starter and you’ll receive an exclusive Usborne-branded business pack full of marketing materials.
CHAMPION TEAM
Team Starter
Recruit your first team member within six months of your start date and receive a congratulations pack with your next £150+ order!
Team Champion
Promote to Team Leader* within 12 weeks of achieving Team Starter to receive a £300 bonus and Gold Level membership to the Business Development Programme.**
*To promote to Team Leader you must meet all the requirements as defined in the Partner Guide.
**Find out more about the Business Development Programme on page 20.
Commission and benefits
Achieving your first order is a huge milestone, and you’ll receive a whole host of benefits depending on your sales volume of the order!
Achieve a £150 sales volume order and you will:
• Receive £15 in free books*
• Earn £36 commission on a party order and £30 on a school order
• Get to pick a free host book from a selection
£150 order
• Get to pick a half price sample book from a selection
• Get up to 3 half price books for future bookings
• Get a reduced delivery fee
You need to place a minimum order of £150 within a rolling six-month period to remain an Independent Usborne Partner and to continue receiving benefits.
*Please note for school orders the free book benefits are for the school.
Achieve a £250 sales volume order and you will:
• Receive £25 in free books*
• Earn £60 commission on a party order and £50 on a school order
• Become a member of the 250 Club. (Turn to page 19 to find out more).
• Get to pick a free host book from a selection
• Get to pick a half price sample book from a selection
• Get up to 3 half price books for future bookings
£250 order
• Get a reduced delivery fee
*Please note for school orders the free book benefits are for the school.
Vikki Burgoyne
“When I first started my goal was to be Active every month. There were so many benefits to it, and I knew it would keep me working consistently on my business. I have been Active every month for the last 4 years!”
Achieve a £500 sales volume order and you will:
• Receive £50 in free books*
• Earn £120 commission on a party order and £100 on a school order
• Become a member of the 250 Club. (Turn to page 19 to find out more.).
• Get to pick a free host book from a selection
• Get to pick a half price sample book from a selection
• Get up to 3 half price books for future bookings
• Get a reduced delivery fee
*Please note for school orders there is an additional free book benefit for the school.
*Please note for school orders there is an additional free book benefit for the school. £1200 order £500 order
Achieve a £1200 sales volume order and you will:
• Receive £120 in free books*
• Receive a personal sales bonus of 2%, bringing your commission up to £312 (26%) on a party order and £264 (22%) on a school order
• Become a member of the 250 Club. (Turn to page 19 to find out more.)
• Get to pick a free host book from a selection
• Get to pick a half price sample book from a selection
• Get up to 3 half price books for future bookings
• Get a reduced delivery fee
“To get my first order, I set up an Instagram and Facebook page for my book business and invited all my friends. I offered a discount to everyone who ordered in my first week. I had an order filled in 2 days! I hadn’t even received my Starter Kit yet!”
Chantelle Michael
Write down three ideas for how you’re going to achieve your first order.
Building a bigger business
Building a team needn’t be scary - just start with one person and see where it takes you. The opportunities for you to grow are endless, and so is the opportunity for you to help others to build their confidence and their earnings.
We’ve got loads of resources to help you on your teambuilding journey, from how to recruit your first teammate, to guidance on coaching a big team - and even helping your recruits to branch out and build teams of their own.
Turn to page 23 for details on how to access the support available to you.
“I
Vikki MacDonald
What you can achieve
There are many benefits to being an Independent Usborne Partner, which include being recognised for your efforts with free books, bonuses, awards and opportunities for travel. Here’s an overview of just some of the incentives and awards.
250 Club
Travel
Who’s it for? All Independent Usborne Partners who place a £250+ sales volume in a calendar month.
What can you achieve?
• A 250 Club member pack full of exclusive Usborne goodies.
• A luxury, celebratory day out.
Who’s it for? All Independent Usborne Partners looking to build and grow their business. What can you achieve?
• An all-expenses paid trip to a luxury destination with Usborne, where you can unwind and take time to reflect and celebrate your successes.
The Achievement Awards
Who’s it for? All Independent Usborne Partners wanting to increase their sales or grow their team. Half of the categories are for new Independent Usborne Partners only, so perfect for YOU! What can you achieve?
• An incredible two-day celebration, including a money-can’t-buy day at Usborne Towers in London, meeting senior editorial staff and company leaders.
Scan the QR code or go to qr.usborne.com/2rwku to find out more about each incentive and to read the full criteria.
The Business Development Programme
Who’s it for? All Independent Usborne Partners wanting to grow their businesses.
What can you achieve?
• Professional development, training and support.
• Key business information ahead of non-BDP members.
• Exclusive special offers and sales leads.
• Invitations to BDP-only events.
• Be a part of a thriving community of business owners to share your journey with.
Scan the QR code or go to qr.usborne.com/2fut5 to find out more about the Business Development Programme and how you can become a member.
Laura Wardell
Who’s it for?
Hall of Fame
“It’s given me a wonderful community of like-minded people who love what I love. I couldn’t imagine my life without it.”
To celebrate Independent Usborne Partners who have been working in partnership with Usborne for over 20 years.
“I’ve been with Usborne for 21 years now. I joined because I had 4 sons, I wanted something to do and I wanted all my kids to have access to the books and 21 years later I’m still enjoying it.”
Which of these incentives will you aim for?
Julie White
My personal goals
Now it’s time to think about why you decided to become an Independent Usborne Partner and what you’d like to achieve personally and professionally.
• To set your own goals without any fixed targets or deadlines?
• For the flexibility, so that you can fit your working life around your family and other commitments?
• To receive training, support and opportunities for personal development?
• To be a part of an active, vibrant, positive community?
• To be recognised for your efforts with free books, bonuses, awards and opportunities for travel?
“I originally joined with the goal to pay for Christmas. I needed an income while being a stay-at-home mum to 4 small children. I more than paid for Christmas last year. This year I have paid for Christmas plus new windows and doors in the house!”
“Joining Usborne allowed me to get myself off benefits and be completely self reliant. I’ve now got a very different lifestyle to what I did then and my little girl is obsessed with books as a result and it’s allowed me to be the parent I want to be rather than the one I was being forced to be.”
Kerry Williams
Chantelle Michael
Once you’ve had time to reflect on why you wanted to become an Independent Usborne Partner and what you want to achieve, write down three personal goals that you want to set for yourself.
Go 1: Go 3:
How will you achieve it?
How will you achieve it?
How will you achieve it?
Go 2:
Once you’ve filled out this page, take a picture of your personal goals and send them to your Mentor.
As an Independent Usborne Partner you have access to a multitude of free training sessions and workshops. These include:
• All-Partner Training sessions (Business Development and Product Knowledge)
• Team-Leader-To-Be sessions
• New Partner workshops
• New Team Leader workshops
• Business Success Surgeries
Scan the QR code or go to qr.usborne.com/28hm8 to view the training and events calendar.
We’re here to support you every step of your bookselling journey, and will provide you with templates, social media assets, videos and more to help you run your business as effectively as possible!
Scan the QR code or go to qr.usborne.com/2nmbs to access all support available to you in Tools & Downloads.
Keep in touch on Facebook!
We love to see the amazing work you are doing so don’t forget to tag us on Facebook @UsborneCommunityPartnerships and use the hashtag #MyUsborneStory !
