Cardiff mother of two, Nicky Bright, turned her life around from the brink of financial ruin to becoming a millionaire in just 18 months. The Daily Mail featured her heartening story, which unfolds during the challenging times of 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Rocky Start

The summer of 2020 was a tumultuous period for Nicky. At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was facing a difficult divorce, had lost her job, her car, and was on the verge of losing her home to the bank. Facing bankruptcy in one of the UK’s worst economic downturns, without any governmental support, Nicky decided to take matters into her own hands.

A Bold Move

Nicky started renting out her five-bedroom family home on Airbnb while she stayed with friends and family. This decision marked the beginning of an unforeseen successful venture. Surprisingly, the venture was more successful than she had ever imagined. She expanded her business by renting out a family caravan and offering her expertise to help other Airbnb hosts and property owners enhance their rental listings. In her first 18 months, she astonishingly made over £1 million.

Leveraging Her Skills

With no prior experience in short-term rentals, Nicky utilised Eviivo, a property management platform, to manage her listings. This platform enabled her properties to be listed across various online travel agencies like Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia.com, and Vrbo, free of charge. Initially, she averaged about £400 a month, but after renting out her caravan, her turnover skyrocketed to £50,000 within the first year.

Nicky’s passion for interior design played a crucial role in her success. She created a website to showcase her talent, which caught the attention of many property owners. She began offering her services to transform properties with poor reviews and unattractive listings into appealing vacation rentals. Her efforts not only revamped the properties but also significantly increased their revenue.

Expanding Her Empire

Nicky’s knack for transforming failing businesses into successful ventures earned her widespread recognition. Her services expanded beyond vacation rentals to include pubs, turning them into unique Airbnb experiences where guests could “manage” their own pub for the weekend.

Her business, Nicky Bright Holidays, along with Nicky Bright Interiors, quickly took off, managing 17 properties across Cardiff to Pembrokeshire by 2022. These properties, once underperforming, are now fully booked and have received awards and recognition from the Welsh Tourist Board.

A Testament to Perseverance

Nicky’s journey from being bankrupt and homeless to owning properties worth a million pounds is nothing short of remarkable. She credits her success to her determination and the innovative use of short-let platforms, which allowed her to manage her burgeoning empire effectively.