Usborne Books & More

Good fall to all.  I have left my board dry for months but I am ready to get back to posting current events, announcements, etc. 

Just in time for the release of Conspiracy 365.  I have not read the book yet, but I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. 

All home office copies are being shipped to arrive on Friday, November 13th.  If you are place any order with a Conspiracy 365 book in it, the shipment will be scheduled to arrive on Friday, November 13th.  I'm am planning to order over 20 copies to have for my book fairs that follow that Friday and for my Christmas Open House as well.  If you'd like to come by and pick up a copy for your personal library or have me send one to you, send me an email.  If you ask it to be shipped, I'll ask you to pay for the shipping.  For just one copy or two I'd send it/them media mail with the Post Office.  Consider ordering one yourself through your website, or get your 25% discount with me if you like. 

Remember that this is a worldwide release and the world will be watching how we market this brand new title and the subsequent releases that will come out Feb. 1, March 1, etc.  We, as Usborne Books & More, have gotten the rights to get this book out to our customers and hostesses, schools and libraries six weeks ahead of the rest of the planet.  Take advantage of this and let everyone know you can get them a copy early.  Have them reserve their copy with you and get it in time for Christmas, while the rest of the world waits until Jan. 1, 2010. 

If you have someone who is interested in buying all the titles as they become available, you can get their payment information for the first one and then permission to authorize each one subsequently as they are ready to order.  Get some business set up for each and every month this way and send all your orders in together.  Advertise that you'll give away the proceeds (free books) that result from everyone's order to a local, worthy cause.  Each month place your order and give a copy or two based on the sales to the local children's hospital or safe house/shelter. 

Conspiracy 365 - a year of books.  A year of suspense.  A reason for a year of new business for you.

Do you know someone who is interested in our business opportunity?  Do you know someone who'd like to ask more questions than you can field?  Come Monday night, May 18th to my home at 7 p.m. for an opportunity meeting.  We'll have treats for all, pie or cake, and answer lots of questions about Usborne Books and Kane Miller and how this business can work for them.  Bring someone new and get book bucks for National Convention in July or Megaregional in January!

Supplies for office use can add up.  To help you watch your expenses and budget, I pass along tips about where I can find deals, short or long term.  I've found a company that sells the gold return address labels, good for the smaller books, postcard invitations, and flyers, at a reasonable price.  The web address is www.ipc-store.com.  500 labels are $6.95 and no shipping.  That's a good deal!  Check it out.  (Hint: these labels are smaller and don't cover the larger web address on the backs of the books.)

In 1999 I registered for my first convention, 3 years into the business and done it mostly as a hobby.  I learned Peter Usborne was coming.  I wanted to know more of this man that made all these great books, so I signed up.  That was April.  Two months passed and convention loomed large and I still hadn't done anything about travel or accomodations.  My supervisor, Merike, called me while I was out of state at my niece's graduation in Connecticut and after chatting with me she told me she would make all the arrangements needed.  True to her word, she did just that, and I met two of our awesome team, Nadette and Becky.  We drove down to Tulsa and I basked in the light of their abundant knowledge and skill. 

The three days whizzed by.  I tried not to blink, afraid to miss something.  I must have looked like a deer in headlights.  Moms all around me who cared about the education of their kids, many who wanted to stay at home, many choosing not to work full-time, but wanted or needed to have an income.  Peter Usborne casting his vision and sharing his dreams.  The home office staff welcoming and accomdating.  On top of that I was not expecting people so friendly and down to earth who were also successful.  I was inspired by their stories of struggles and achievements. 

Saturday night I watched those same women walk across the stage and receive awards for those achievements, not because they had won something but because they had done something.  They had worked, and earned their recognition. 

The president, Randall, stayed up all night with some of the women and later held court, calling many consultants by name, in the hotel lobby to bid us all good-bye in the morning, encouraging us to work hard and come back next year.  (He reminded us that he can sleep when he's dead, so he didn't want to bother now.) 

I realized within the hours that followed convention that I'd reached a landmark point in my life.  I also realized that I wanted two things.  When I went back to Tulsa the next year, I wanted to walk across that stage and receive an award for working and doing a good job, and I wanted President Randall White to know my name. 

On the drive home I peppered Nadette and Becky with questions and completed my EC (Educational Consultant) manual and self-test and mailed it immediately.  Out of my comfort zone I scheduled my first book fair.  I made phone calls and organized my office.  I made more phone calls and booked home shows.  And in Nadette I'd found a successful and willing Usborne buddy to help me when I didn't have answers or needed suggestions.

I worked, but found that it was not work, but fun.  I booked more home shows off home shows.  It became easier than when I was only doing one a month, though I was now doing 6-8 a month.  I called more schools and did more book fairs.  I found people who wanted to join me, who could see an Usborne business in their lives.  I made new friends, built my business and made money along the way. 

Time for convention came and I registered.  I was excited to renew some friendships and make new ones, develop my business skills, and learn even more.  The vice-president of our home business division called me a month before and asked me if I'd share my story of success.  Amazed that she really meant me, I happily agreed and wrote down some thoughts to share.  I took members of my team with me, too.

Though I had dreamed and worked, I was not ready for what came next.  President Randall White was standing in the hotel lobby, as though a fixture there still present from the last year, and reached out his hand to shake mine, his arms to hug me and greeted me by name.  My first name.  There's a moment I will never forget.  That dream was no longer a dream.

Convention was full and exciting.  New friends were made, renewed friendships deepened.  I learned and grew, boundaries were challenged and new thinking awakened.  Peter Usborne came and shared more of his story and made us drool over the new titles he was creating.  I shared my thoughts about what our VP had claimed was my success.  My team and my supervisor were surprised and proud. 

It was time for Saturday evening's banquet and awards ceremony.  I still was not ready for my dream to come true.  They announced the home show awards.  My name was announced as the #2 consultant in nation.  But I knew better.  This was me.  I wasn't anyone special.  I didn't believe it so I didn't get up.  But everyone at my table and those on the podium nodded and smiled, and cheered, and convinced me that it was my name they called.  So I got up and climbing those stairs and walked across that stage and hugged the staff handing me my award for working and doing a good job!  It bore my name.  It was for me.  It was no longer a dream.

I had two simple dreams that year, and I've had others.  Many have come true, including my hubby's dream trip of a lifetime to the Mayan Riviera, and I've been able to celebrate with my friends and family here at home, but with hundreds of other Usborne friends in Tulsa each year.  I learn and grow.  I'm challenged and encouraged.  I'm always glad that I took the time and spent the money to develop my business and myself. 

What is it that you want?  For your business, your family, yourself?  Do you have dreams?  How big are they?  Can Usborne help you make those dreams reality for you?  Many of us have realized dreams through this delightful business that encourages us both to do our best while making our family life a priority.  Please join me at our national convention this year and see what dreams Usborne can help you make come true!

I hope that all of you were able to get your taxes done and in on time.  Today we all take a deep breath and relax for another year. 

Spring is blooming at last in Southern Minnesota.  People are out cleaning up their yards and getting the soil ready for planting.  The highway and road workers are out and have visited our neighborhood, digging a massive hole at the end of our street to set in an equally massive pipe for storm water run off.  It appears that we have truly left winter behind and entered Minnesota's other season - road construction.

Tuesday night was our first night at the book fair.  We had a short set up time, just 1/2 hour to get everything out, and actually took a bit longer because of the addition of Kane Miller books.  We were still getting books out when some parents arrived, but that didn't deter them from browsing and asking questions.  Tonight is our 2nd of 3 nights at this school.  I'm excited to see how the books sell.  So far there is plenty of interest and some purchases.  One teacher's wish list consisted of any of the Kane Miller titles, How Big is A Million and all of the Easy Words to Read series.  She is a big fan of Usborne books and has many of them in her classroom (and is an inactive consultant), but she was thrilled to hear about the addition of titles that educate the heart. 

I'll keep you posted about how the Kane Miller books sell to help give you some idea of what you might want to add to your booths, book fairs and home shows.  Remember to add a title or two to your supply each time you send in an order.  Budget your spending that way, and still be able to save some money for convention!  Keep July 18 - 19, 2009 open on your calendar.  If you'd like to ride with me from Minneapolis or have me pick you up on the way, plan 3 additional days, two for driving and one for supervisor day (I'm going for that extra day and so I'll be leaving on Wed. to travel to Tulsa.)  I'd sure love to have you join me!

Have you checked out this new home show opportunity?  Introducing the Thrilling $30 deal.  What is it? 

• Begins April 1, 2009 and ends July 31, 2009
  
• New hostess must book her show within 30 days
  
• Must have $350 in retail sales
• Gets $30 additional FREE books!
• No consultant cost

Where can you use this?  Absolutely anywhere you are booking home shows. 

• Booths
• Book fairs
• Home shows
• In line at the grocery store, post office, library, etc.
• On the phone
• ???
  

Now there's another reason to follow Belinda Ellsworth's advice and never leave the house without knowing your next two open dates.  You don't have to take your calendar with you, but you do have to know when you have scheduled yourself to work. 

Coupons are ready-made by our fabulous home office to give to the new hostess who qualifies.  This is really exciting and you need to print those coupons and get your new bookings now.  Don't wait.  Click on this link, print your coupons, and book those shows TODAY!

Looking at the date below I see it has been two weeks since my last post to this page.  With my eldest home from college on spring break along with several of his dorm mates I've been spending more time in the kitchen and the laundry than in my office.  So after cleaning up from the fallout of those 10 days and getting back in to our normal routine, I looked at my Usborne calendar and found it severely lacking in April bookings.  So, I decided that I need a challenge to get on the phone and get dates set to fill up those days or evenings I have set aside to be working. 


I'm going to challenge myself to get on the phone at least 1/2 hour each day this week to book home new shows, book fairs and appointments with schools and preschools.  My goal is to fill all the dates in April that I have open to work.  Send me an email to let me know that you are doing this, too, and I'll send you a business treat right away.  Finish the week and I'll send you something more.  And if there is something you want to earn FREE from me (catalogs, books, racks, cash for convention, jewelry, a spa day, whatever!) let me know what that is.  Perhaps this will be the week you make that dream come true! 

Need help getting started?  I'm just a phone call away!  612-724-4447 or toll free 877-280-5467. 

I just got my copy of 50 Easter Things to Make and Do.  For those of us in the upper Midwest who are tired of winter, all the spring ideas in this book can bring some cheer in to the house.  I love the simplicity of many of the projects, made with common household items.  The Bunny napkin rings on pp. 18-19 are adorable and the Surprise eggs on pp. 20-21 are a great twist on using an egg carton.  I love the Cress egg-heads on pp. 26-27, which only need to be done about one week ahead to enjoy them on Easter.  The Easter egg cards on pp. 34-35 lend themselves to lots of creativity, as do the Decorated eggs on pp. 38-39.  I can't wait to make the Easter garland on pp. 40-41 and the Tree decorations on pp. 58-59.  The Painted Daffodils are so convincing that they might even do in lieu of fresh flowers, on pp. 64-65.  And there are some very feminine sheep romping in the fields at night on pp. 94-95.  All in all, a great buy for hands that love to be busy making things at only $9.99.

A great Easter book for the preschool set is Easter Fun  Each page is tabbed with a picture on the tab of the project inside.  My favorites are the Bunny card, the Butterfly garland, the Printed Chicks, the Easter baskets, the Chocolate nests (yes, this is yummy food) and the Easter Bouquet.  Easy and very sweet projects for afternoons of fun, for only $12.99. 

Both books are hard cover and spiral bound with heavy, cardboard pages.  Email your customers today so that they can get their copies in time to make those Easter decorations and gifts.  And don't forget to order one for yourself!

"Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion."  - Bill Hybels.