Thursday, 2 April 2015

Start Here: The Basics

Welcome to Lindsay's Barefoot Books website!

 I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador and sell Barefoot Books in the Greater Toronto Area.  This blog is dedicated to sharing Barefoot Books' message of educating children as the caretakers of tomorrow through beautiful books and captivating story telling.

 What is Barefoot Books?

Barefoot Books is an independent, award-winning children's publisher w For over twenty years, they have created bright, colorful books for children that combine beautiful artwork with captivating storytelling. Their books capture the imagination, spark curiosity, inspire creativity and instill a respect for cultural, social and ecological diversity. 

To learn about what makes Barefoot books different, check out my blog post here.

Why are you doing this?

I can count on one hand the number of companies who have the same values as I do.  Barefoot Books stand for education, curiosity, compassion, diversity, responsibility and sustainability.  So do I.  Once I discovered Barefoot Books, I felt compelled to work with them to spread the word.  I truly believe that if we teach our children these values from an early age, we will have reason to be much more optimistic about the future.

Read more about why I am a Barefoot Books Ambassador here.

Where can I find out more about Barefoot Books?

This blog post is a great place to start.  To find out more about what makes Barefoot books different, click here.

If there is something in particular you are looking for, check out my Blog Index for a quick way to navigate through my blog.

Additionally, feel free to visit the Barefoot Books website.

I'm interested!  What should I do from here?

There are a couple things you can do:
  1. You can contact me using the form on the right to set up a time to look at the books in person, or chat more about any of the activities below.
  2. You can purchase some Barefoot Books for yourself or as a gift.  Check out my online marketplace and this blog post for details and tips for ordering.
  3. You can host a Barefoot Books party and earn great rewards and free books for yourself. 
  4. You can host a Barefoot Books fundraiser for your school, daycare or organization.  
  5. You can become a Barefoot Books Ambassador yourself.  
  6. You can support the Barefoot message in other, low-effort, ways.  
Where can I find a comprehensive catalogue of all Barefoot Book products?

The full catalogue can be accessed here.  I can also provide a hard copy to you if you would like.  Just send me an email (colley.lindsay@gmail.com)

My online marketplace is also a good way to explore Barefoot Book products.  You can sort and filter the books by a number of categories including age and theme.  You can access my online marketplace here.

 I'm a little overwhelmed.  How do I figure out which products are right for me?

In my online marketplace, you can search by age, subject and format, as well as get a list of award winners and best sellers.

You can also take a look at my Book Recommendations post, which shares with you some of my favourite books, as well as best sellers, sorted by age.  I also have a Top 5 "Must Own!" list.

Finally, you can always contact me using the form on the right, and I'll curate a list specifically for you and your needs :)

How do I get to touch and see the books?

There are many ways to see the books "live" - everything from me dropping a borrow bag off to your house, to hosting a party! Take a look at this blog post for more details.

How much do Barefoot Books cost?

Each item is priced individually and range from approximately $6-$20 USD.  You can find the price of each item on my online marketplace.  However, take a look at my "Let's talk cost" blog post to find out how you can save money when ordering.

How do I place an order?

For details on placing an order, please visit this blog post.

How long does shipping take?

All Barefoot books are shipped from the US and usually take between 10-14 business days to arrive.  Sometimes the books will arrive within the week, but that cannot be guaranteed.  For more details on shipping costs, please visit my "How to place an order" blog post.

What if I have more questions?

Feel free to email me at colley.lindsay@gmail.com, or use the contact form on the right.  

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Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Blog Index


Below is a list of blog posts in order to help you find your way around this website.

First time visitor?  Start here!

About Barefoot Books
Pricing/Cost
Placing an order
Other ways to live Barefoot
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How to place an order

I'm so glad you have decided to place an order - I guarantee that you'll be thrilled!

 Before ordering, make sure you check out my "Let's talk cost!" blog post which details out ways to save, as well as my Recommended Books blog post if you need some ideas.

How to place an order
  1. Browse through Barefoot's online catalogue or website (check out the cool Holiday Gift Guide!) and select the items you want to purchase.  Add the items to your online basket.
  2. Take a screen shot of your basket and email it to me OR simply type out the titles, format (i.e. board book, paperback, etc.) and prices for me in the email.  
  3. I will send you back a confirmation email with your total cost and expected delivery date.
Payment Options

*As a reminder, all prices are in USD.  You can be charged in USD on your credit card, or if you are paying via another method, multiply your total by 1.30 in order to arrive at the CAD price.  Remember - there is no sales tax, shipping, handling, or customs/duty charges!

 You can choose to pay as follows:
  1. Email money transfer (CAD) - your bank may charge a user fee, typically $1.50
  2. Credit card (will be charged in USD)
  3. Personal cheque or cheque (CAD) - only available if I see you in person (i.e. at a party)
Email Template

 Send the email below to colley.lindsay@gmail.com
Hi Lindsay,
I would like to place a Barefoot Books order with you.  Here are my details:
  1. Full name:
  2. Address:
  3. Phone number:
  4. Email address:
  5. Items I would like to order:  (attach a screen shot or list the titles, formats, prices and quantities)
  6. Payment option:  If you want to pay by credit card, please include the type of card, full name of card holder, credit card number, expiry date, security code)**:
  7. I would like more information on upcoming special deals, hosting a Barefoot Books party, hosting a Barefoot Books fundraiser, becoming a Barefoot Books Ambassador (select the items applicable, or delete completely)
Thank you,

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QUESTIONS?  Send me an email (colley.lindsay@gmail.com) or use the contact form to the right.

**NOTE: All credit card information will be kept confidential and be securely destroyed as soon as the transaction is processed.  Feel free to call or text me your credit card information instead.
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Monday, 30 March 2015

Host a Barefoot Books Party!

Share stories, connect families, inspire children — and earn amazing host rewards!

When you host a Barefoot Party, you'll earn free products and have a lot of fun.  I will handle everything, so just invite your friends and spend some meaningful time together!

 Why should you host a party?

  • Earn FREE Barefoot Books books and gifts (see our chart below!)
  • Get access exclusive host specials at up to 60% off!  Click here to see the current host specials.
What does a Barefoot Party look like?  Anything you want! 

  • It can take place at your house, in a community space, at your place of work or outside!
  • It can be child-centered and include storytelling and crafts - click here for some theme ideas
  • It can be adults only and include cocktails
  • For a super easy party, it can be an add-on to a get together that you are already holding.  I will come in when you want, and leave right after so that you have time to get on with your event.
  • It can even be online - ask about our Facebook parties, which everyone can attend from their beds in their PJs!
Read our FAQs to see how simple and fun it is to host!


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Become a Barefoot Books Ambassador!

SPECIAL ONE TIME DEAL FOR MARCH ONLY:  YOUR STARTER KIT IS ON SALE FOR ONLY $99!!
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I decided to become a Barefoot Books Ambassador on a whim, so you can too! ;)

I am (somewhat) joking, but, really, there is very little risk and potentially a huge reward!

I have been having a blast with Barefoot so far.  To be honest, I'm a little surprised at how easy it has been to share Barefoot Books with others.  I am not a natural sales person, so I was nervous about signing up.  However, the books are so diverse, values-driven, and beautiful that they basically sell themselves.  Almost everyone who seems them falls in love with them.  I have really enjoyed myself so far - nothing beats sharing something you care about with others.

 For all the nitty-gritty about becoming an Ambassador, check out my blog post about Life as an Ambassador.  It will answer almost all of your questions :)  In the meantime, check out my...

 My Top 5 reasons to sign up as an Ambassador right now:
  1. Becoming a Barefoot Ambassador is different than any other direct selling company - we're here to share a message about the importance of children's literacy and to share our values of environmental sustainability, compassion and diversity.  
  2. Signing up gives you the opportunity to earn $600 worth of Barefoot Books for only $150!  It's the BEST deal! PLUS starter kits are on sale this month for only $99 (instead of $139!)
  3. Barefoot Books is still growing in Canada.  There is very little competition and tonnes of room for new Ambassadors.  The best time to get into a direct selling business is at the beginning - and we're at the beginning!  Plus, Barefoot recently announced that they will be making significant investments in Canada over the next 6-12 months.  Very exciting!
  4. There is SO much support in the wider Ambassador community.  No one is competitive and everyone shares the same values as you have.  It truly has been amazing getting to know everyone.
  5. There is absolutely no risk to signing up.  There are no penalties for leaving Barefoot if it doesn't work out.  And you can absolutely keep that gorgeous starter kit!  
For more details about becoming an Ambassador, visit the official site here, or send me an email using the contact form on the right.

What are you waiting for?  Sign up today!
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Hosting a Barefoot Books Fundraiser


A Barefoot Books event or fundraiser is a fun and creative way of supporting your school or local not-for-profit organization.  We do all the work and you just reap the rewards!   A portion of all sales proceeds is donated to the organization in either cash or in free products. 

 Fundraisers are heavily used by schools and daycares in order to stock their libraries with Barefoot books for free.

 What sets a Barefoot Books fundraising opportunity apart?
  • Return - Organizations can earn a significant percentage of fundraiser sales.
  • Award-Winning Products - Our beautiful, imaginative and engaging collection of books and gifts for children aged 0–14 offers something for every buyer.
  • Flexibility - Choose from our exciting menu of flexible fundraising models to suit your schedule and your goals. We also provide a Barefoot Books online marketplace where supporters who are unable to attend your event can shop and raise funds.
  • Creative! - We can help you create an event your supporters will remember by adding storytelling, music or crafts.
A fundraiser can be set up in a number of ways, so contact me for more details!  Our most popular formats are: 
  • A passive order-based fundraiser (i.e. putting Barefoot flyers into student backpacks with a letter) 
  • An book fair (where I set up a stall with samples and either take orders or sell inventory immediately) 
  • A reading pledge event (where students collect pledges towards a reading related goal, and 100% of those pledges are used to buy books for the student and for the school)
  • An addition to an event that your organization is already holding (i.e. I can set up a Barefoot Books table at a fun fair, open house, etc.)
For more details on fundraisers, click here.

 QUESTIONS?  Send me an email (colley.lindsay@gmail.com) or use the contact form to the right.
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My Top 5 "Must Own!" Barefoot Books

There are so many great Barefoot books out there that it is hard to narrow it down to a list of five - especially since different books are good for different ages.  However, if I had to pick 5 books to start someone's library, there are the five that I would pick:
  1. *Barefoot Books World Atlas - called an "unconventional beauty" by the Boston Globe, and described by Publisher's Weekly as a book "with it's emphasis on sustainability, interconnectedness, and diversity, [that] offers young armchair travelers and globe-trotters much to discover".  Also check out the Barefoot World Atlas app, picked by Apple as one of the top ten best apps of all time.
  2. *My Daddy is a Pretzel:  Yoga for Parents and Kids - a great introduction to yoga for children and a fun family activity - specifically recommended by Deepak Chopra!  Also check out the Yoga Pretzels card deck, which features 50 Fun Yoga Activities for Kids and Grownups and is endorsed by Tobey Maguire.
  3. *The Animal Boogie - our most popular singalong book with over 2 million copies sold!
  4. *I Took the Moon for a Walk - the most stunningly illustrated bedtime book, featuring a gorgeous story poem.  One of Scholastic's "100 Greatest Books for Kids"
  5. *My Big Barefoot Book of Wonderful Words - This colorful book immerses children in detailed scenes of daily life, which are followed by simple spreads of labeled illustrations to help with vocabulary building and word recognition. Featured in the Wall Street Journal as one of the best books to gift children!  
For a more comprehensive guide of my favourite Barefoot Books, sorted by age, please click here.

 For access to the complete line of Barefoot Book products, visit my online marketplace.

 And as always, I can curate a list of books specifically for you and your needs - just send me an email (colley.lindsay@gmail.com) or contact me using the form on the right.


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