a little background
For as long as I can remember, I have loved books. I remember studying every little detail of my Berenstain Bears book collection as a young child, waiting patiently for my monthly order of Babysitters Club and Goosebumps books, and saving every penny when the book fair came to my school. Before I had children, I worked in early childhood education and witnessed the impact books had on the students in my classroom as well as how much they adored the stories we shared together. I even began investing in my children’s books collection before I had my own children. Once my own boys came along, I worked jobs here and there so that I could fund my desires to grow our home library and nothing has filled my cup more than to see my boys choose books to interact with everyday.
When my youngest Otto was just 4 weeks old, I learned about the opportunity to become a consultant with Usborne Books & More and was enticed by the ability to acquire more books for our home for free or at a discounted price. That was in the spring of 2018 and this journey has become so much more than free books (though that is still one of my favorite perks!) since then. I have been able to help countless other families grow their home libraries by learning about these books or earning them for free, I earned a free trip to Alaska for our family, and we have paid off all of our outstanding debt as a family because of the additional income I have brought in. I am excited to share a love of literacy with you and your children. I love learning about all types of books: from those for babies and toddlers to school-aged children and young adults, storybooks, non-fiction, and activity books beautifully promote cognitive development, imagination, creativity, and play.
To me, books not only entertain us, they provide us with a wider view of the world. They teach us about things we might otherwise have never known about, help us develop empathy and perspective beyond our limited scope, and they play a key role in our own language development — a tool that we will always navigate life with.
VIRTUAL Book BASHES
A “book bash” is a gathering of people (typically on a virtual platform) who get to learn about the features & benefits of Usborne Books & More books from me! A host who partners with me for a book party will earn free books based on the sales earned from the party and help other families learn about books that will benefit and engage their children. Win, win!
So how does it work?
Well, we work together to help spread the word about how amazing Usborne Books & More books are through a VIRTUAL "e-party". Yes, picture yourself on the couch, in your PJs, wearing a face mask, and sipping some wine after the kids are in bed as you share a love of amazing children’s books with your tribe. Your role is to invite the guests in a personal way (I'll send you the details on just how to do that but just know, it's pretty easy!) and get folks excited about the event. I do all the "work" of the event and you just get your people pumped up!
Before your party, I create custom wish lists for your guests to help them narrow down some book options that will be perfect for their unique kiddos. During the event (it's about 20 minutes long) I will share 10 posts highlighting Usborne Books & More and what they provide and offer. These are really fun posts with lots of pictures, videos and tons of literacy tips. As a former educator, I like to be interactive with the whole shebang and as a mother, I like to ensure everyone’s valuable time is worthwhile. I also offer a giveaway to your guests just for joining in on the fun. The virtual parties are really exciting considering everyone is on their own couch at home in their comfy clothes. That's when we’re all having the most fun, let's be honest …
Leading up to the event, my priority is to ensure that you have a successful party so you get as many free books as possible - it’s truly a partnership. Several hosts have earned over $300 in free books! My goal is to promote literacy and help families learn about awesome books for their kids - all while you earn awesome books for your own family. How does that sound?
Become a brand partner
As a PaperPie Brand Partner, I have loved leading a team of people who find joy in children’s books AND helping other families build their home libraries. There are so many benefits to becoming a PaperPie Brand Partner (25%+ commission on all sales, zero monthly sales minimum or requirements, opportunities to earn free books and free vacations even) but perhaps one of the most amazing parts about this experience is working with my team.
When you join my team as a consultant, you are never alone. My goal is to support each of my team members with their individual goals. For some, that’s as simple as building their home library for free or discounted prices; for several, it’s a little extra income each month; and for others, it’s dreaming as big as earning a 6-figure income for their family.
Whatever your goals are, I’ll be your number one fan — cheering you on, problem solving alongside you, and sharing all of my knowledge and tried-and-true tips to help you succeed. I genuinely want others to experience the same joy I’ve experienced in this endeavor and to promote literacy as a team. Questions? Just holler or check out my FAQ’s below for more insight.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Hop on over to the blog for a closer look at some of our favorite titles.
Frequently Asked questions
click a question to read more about the UBAM program
↓ WHY UBAM?
Usborne Books & More offers a unique range of children’s books that I wholeheartedly believe in. As a former educator I have seen just about every children’s book under the sun & there is something special about UBAM books. UBAM books are exceptional quality (and the company stands behind that in their 50% replacement guarantee) and highly interactive plus loaded with rich content & robust vocabulary. UBAM books have figured out how to take high-level information and make it engaging & digestible for children of all ages. A shelf does not do UBAM books justice, they have so many powerful components to them that it only makes sense the company would entrust people who love them to showcase them. I love that UBAM chooses to put money in my pocket to support my family rather than in the pocket of big box retailers.
↓ what happens when I join?
When you officially join you will receive a fun digital welcome packet directly from me! In the welcome packet I will ask you to share some details with me so that I can help you get started. I also share resources, tools, and best places to start as you kick-off your adventure. You will get a link to join our Facebook team page so that you can get acquainted with our amazing team & resources. You will eventually receive your starter kit in the mail so you can get to know (and LOVE) some of our amazing books.
↓ how do I make money?
Every sale through your e-commerce page as a consultant earns commission, even if you purchase books for yourself (consider this your discount). Consultants earn 25% commission on all web sales from the moment they join. If/when you promote to a leadership position, your commission will increase by 8.5%.
↓ how much money can I make?
You can make as much money as you want! Seriously. An average party is ~$400 in sales and you earn a minimum of 25% commission on party sales. A few months into the business I set a goal to earn enough to cover our mortgage, a handful of years later, with some deliberate hustle towards my goals, I'm earning about 9x that & reaching financial goals I never dreamed of.
↓ how do I make sales?
There are SO MANY WAYS that consultants make sales. One of the coolest things about UBAM is that no one consultant runs their business the same as another. If a customer orders a book from your ecommerce website then you’ve made a sale! You can host virtual book bashes or in person-events. You can curate custom book boxes for customers. You can host school book fairs (ESR certification required). You can host booths to showcase books at family and child focused events. You can share your favorite books on social media. The possibilities are endless and I want to help you figure out your unique path.
↓ who is eligible to be a consultant?
Anyone who is a US resident can be an Usborne Books & More consultant.
↓ What if I don’t have or like Facebook?
Facebook isn’t the end-all-be-all but it is a very helpful platform & tool -- specifically because many other people have their networks on Facebook. I did not have a Facebook account when I started but I had many hosts who wanted to reach their guests via Facebook so I created a business-only page. I use Facebook as a business tool (similar to how I use email) and host parties using the platform.
↓ What is a “party”?
A party is an opportunity for others to learn about literacy, Usborne Books & More, and titles great for the kids they love. Parties can take place virtually or in-person and are very laid-back. Through sales connected to a party, hosts are eligible to earn free books. This is our fun way of getting the word out about unique, interactive, high-quality children's books that are not available in big-box stores and thanking folks who join us in doing so.
↓ What if I don’t have children of my own?
We welcome you with open arms! There are many advantages to being a consultant, not just as a parent. There are several women on my team who don’t have children of their own. You don’t have to be a parent to love these books or share them with others.
↓ What is the time commitment?
The amount of time you put in directly connects to your goals. I work my business while also taking care of my 3 boys full-time (none of them are school aged yet). I work during naps, a few evenings a week and whenever I can as needed. An average party is about 3 hours of work altogether so depending on how many parties you choose to have & what your goals are, your workload will vary.
↓ How do I sign up?
I’m so honored that you would want to join my team and work with me to help share these amazing books with others. To join, simply click here and choose your kit! The kit is just for you - to give you a range of the books UBAM offers. It makes no difference for your business which kit you choose, it’s up to you.
↓ Do I get a kit when I join?
Your starter kit will include a 6-moth e-business package (aka your shopping site!) and a selection of books and business materials-- the books are yours to enjoy and get to know! Check out our new consultant kit options here!
↓ What are the requirements?
NONE! There are ZERO requirements. We have no monthly sales quotas/minimums, no autoshipments, no penalties, and consultants do not hold any physical inventory.
↓ How do you make money?
I earn through my sales commission and I earn a small percentage from my downline paid out by UBAM. Since I am your direct leadership resource, most of my energy goes into supporting my team, helping them grow where they want to grow. That percentage compensates me for my time spent creating tools, on coaching calls, and general consultant support. As a consultant, you always earn more than any leader above you, as only you can make 25% commission on your sales.
↓ How do I earn free books?
Usborne Books & More does offer rewards for sales. These can either be earned by you or a host who hosts a book bash under you (in which case you earn a commission on those sales and the host would earn the free book rewards earned from those sales).
↓ How do I earn a free trip?
Every year UBAM offers an incentive trip that every consultant can earn and the destination is always new (UBAM has taken their trip earners to Alaska, Scotland, Punta Cana, Hawaii, Disneyworld ...). The trip earning window is an 8 month time frame. There are a lot of ways to earn trip points but the basics are that 1 point is earned for every 1 dollar sold and the same for recruits who join your team during the trip-earning window. They will also earn trip points so you can both earn together!
↓ How will I be supported?
I will work to support you in whatever way you need. Some folks know exactly what they want from day one. Others (like me!) figure it out as they go. My goal is to support you however you need and we have an amazing network and team to support you as well. You are never in this alone - you'll always have someone to put your head together with and problem solve. You will also have access to all of our team's resources that you can use immediately so you don't need to reinvent the wheel or start from scratch.
↓ What if I don’t have a large social media presence?
Most successful Usborne Books & More consultants don’t have a large social media following. There are many ways to run your business. I use Instagram as one business tool but that is my unique approach and it's not my primary tool.
↓ How do taxes work?
The same way they do in any other place of employment. Usborne Books & More will submit your earnings to the IRS and you will be responsible for filing your taxes (it’s a pretty painless process) at the end of the year.
↓ What if I am not “salesy”?
Great, I’m not either! I simply love these books, love sharing them with others, and have seen firsthand what they have done for my children in terms of developing a love of reading and language skills. Think about the times you've gotten coffee with a friend and are excited to tell them about something you are loving. This is the same way. People want to know what you love, what brings you joy, and what helps your children thrive.
↓ Can I actually earn 6 figures as a consultant?!
Yes you absolutely can and I would love to help you figure it out if that’s your goal!