- Teachers and schools
Become an Independent Usborne Partner

Working in partnership with Usborne, Independent Usborne Partners sell our fantastic children's books in their local communities, schools, nurseries, and beyond.
Rachel Shayler has built a flexible business that works around her family as an Independent Usborne Partner. Here's her inspirational story:
“I joined Usborne in the depths of lockdown, in January 2021. Like many of us, I needed something to focus on other than the routine of mealtimes and entertaining my children, who were then three years and seven months old. The solution came in March of that year when I attended ‘The Next Chapter’ – a virtual conference for Independent Usborne Partners to work on building our businesses. I felt like I’d seen the light! It became clear to me that this could be my job.
My husband and I had agreed that I would stay off work until my son Freddie was old enough to start school. Although this was still a long way off at the time, I was reluctant to return to the inflexibility of the corporate world. Becoming an Independent Usborne Partner provided an alternative, so I set to work building my business!
Of course, I knew back then that the answer to making a success of my bookselling business was working with schools. However, having to look after my son meant that I could only dedicate a few hours a week to my Usborne work.
With more time the following year, I was able to organise a couple of school events. In February 2021, I ran a ‘Ready Steady Read’ event with my daughter’s school, and in May, I ran my very first book fair. The book fair was an hour from home, and it took some careful planning to organise childcare, but it was a success. I had now checked two goals off my list and there was no going back!
Networking with other Independent Usborne Partners was really helpful and there are plenty of opportunities to do so, both online and in person. Having attended the ‘The Next Chapter’ conference the previous year meant that I was able to meet like-minded Partners who had built successful businesses of their own. Between asking them lots of questions, pouring over ‘Tools and Downloads’ (The shared resources that all Partners can access), and getting involved with the wider community of Usborne Partners on Facebook, my first events were successful, and I well and truly had the Usborne bug!
Schools I had approached to organise events with started responding to me and before I knew it, I had booked Christmas fairs and World Book Day events for March 2023. It was fantastic!
November was my busiest month so far, in personal sales, team sales, and earnings. I did a Book Fair in Surrey, a ‘Ready Steady Read’ event, a book fair in Northumberland, a pre-loved sale, and two pop-up events. All of this success and flexibility has given me the inspiration and motivation to explore what I can achieve in 2023 and beyond.”
Do you want to become an Independent Usborne Partner? Ask your local Independent Usborne Partner about joining their team here.
Are you a teacher? Find out more about what Independent Usborne Partners can bring to your school or nursery here.