Barefoot Books ambassadors - the perfect career for SAHMs

Nicola Kelsall is an Ambassador Leader at Barefoot Books. She was a secondary school teacher for twelve years and is mum to two (soon to be three) young children. Here she tell us her story – Going Barefoot; My Family First

It’s something many of us strive for – the freedom of being self-employed, working part-time to enable quality family-time, whilst still earning enough to pay the bills.

When I first joined Barefoot Books, I had one child at nursery and was a full-time teacher running a large department. I thought that I would market Barefoot Books online and fit it around my career.
Within a few months, everything changed. I discovered I was pregnant with my second child and earlier in the same week, had decided that my teaching full-time wasn’t working for me or my family. I gave up teaching to concentrate on being a Barefoot Books Ambassador. With a new baby, things moved slowly, but our quality of life had improved.

The thing about being a Barefoot Books Ambassador is that it is so flexible. Had I wanted to continue teaching full-time, whilst marketing the books online, I could have done. There are Ambassadors who work mostly (or solely) online, using their marketing skills and contacts. Others prefer to carry minimal stock and concentrate on home parties. Some choose to target the education sector, others prefer small community events. Some opt for big conferences and festivals and others do a little bit of everything, depending on what fits with their lifestyle. Most work part-time, often around family commitments, whilst some have forged a full-time career.

It’s three years now since I joined Barefoot Books. My children are almost seven and two; number three will be joining us in a few short weeks. I continue to be self-employed, working part-time as a Barefoot Books Ambassador, choosing to attend small to medium community events, and market online. I’m both a Sales Leader and a Team Leader and I put my skills to use by providing training sessions for other Ambassadors to help them forge the business they want.

I have set my personal goals and am working towards them. What’s great is that whilst I work to get there, I am earning enough to pay our mortgage and food bill each month, and still get to do the things that are important to me. Being an Ambassador has given me time – to spend with my young family, to attend school, to volunteer with my local Sure Start centre. It’s given me freedom too – I set my own hours and decide what I want to do.

I have a small, enthusiastic and successful team and I really enjoy helping them to achieve their own goals. My team all have young children and some have outside employment too. Others work freelance in addition to their Barefoot work, and at least two are studying (one for a Masters and one for a PhD). One thing we all have in common (as well as being parents) is our absolute passion for quality children’s literature and the belief that story is an essential part of childhood.

That’s what Barefoot Books boils down to – a family-friendly, flexible business opportunity, promoting outstanding children’s books, with a strong sense of community, providing opportunities to fire the imagination of children from all walks of life. I only wish I’d taken the plunge earlier!

To find out more about becoming a Barefoot Books Ambassador, please email karen.itta@barefootbooks.co.uk, call on 01865 312470 or look online at Barefoot Books.

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