Nichola Portelli is the founder of Rent Luxury in Malta, a business focused on making high-end fashion more accessible. Inspired by the idea that luxury items shouldn’t be limited to those who can afford full retail prices, she built a rental service offering designer handbags and dresses at a fraction of their original cost. Customers can rent pieces from brands like Chanel and Dior starting at €49.99 per day.
Her main audience is women with families who want to enjoy luxury fashion for events or everyday use without the long-term commitment. Before switching systems, Nichola managed bookings through Wix forms, which made it difficult for customers to choose dates and complete orders quickly. That gap between browsing and booking often led to lost sales. She needed a clothing rental website and software that could handle both the storefront and the booking process in one place.
After exploring her options, she chose Booqable for its built-in website builder and live availability features. These tools made it possible to accept upfront rental orders and launch a fully online business with confidence. The result is a luxury rental experience that feels straightforward for customers while supporting her dream of business expansion.
Building an online storefront that works for rentals
Before using Booqable, Nichola’s biggest challenge was turning interest into actual bookings. Customers could browse products, but the process of selecting dates and completing a rental wasn’t smooth. This made it harder to run a fully online business without constant manual follow-up.
With Booqable’s rental website builder, Nichola created a professional-looking site using ready-made templates to match her brand. She connected her own domain and set up product pages for each handbag and dress. Customers can now browse, select rental dates, and pay directly online in one flow. The checkout experience feels clear and direct, which helps reduce hesitation and drop-offs.
This setup means she doesn’t need a physical storefront. Her entire business runs online, supported by delivery. Customers can book from anywhere, at any time, without needing to message or wait for confirmation.
What this feature achieves for Rent Luxury:
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A complete online booking flow from product selection to payment
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A branded website that reflects the luxury feel of the products
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The ability to run the business without a physical store
This directly solved her earlier issue of customers not being able to check out instantly. Now, the path from browsing to booking is clear, which helps convert more visitors into paying customers.
Using live availability to remove booking uncertainty
Another major challenge for Nichola was managing availability. With her previous setup, customers couldn’t easily see which items were available on specific dates. This created back-and-forth communication and uncertainty around bookings.
Booqable’s availability calendar changed that. The live availability shown on the website mirrors what Nichola sees in the backend. When a customer selects a handbag or dress, they can instantly check which dates are open and book accordingly. There’s no need for manual confirmation or double-checking stock.
What this feature achieves for Rent Luxury:
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Real-time visibility of which items are available and when
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Fewer booking errors or double bookings
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A smoother experience that encourages quicker decisions
This removes the friction that used to exist between browsing and booking. Customers feel more confident placing an order, and Nichola spends less time managing enquiries.
Growing a modern luxury rental business
Today, Rent Luxury runs as a fully online business with a small team of three handling photography, development, and operations. The combination of a built-in website and live availability has helped Nichola create a rental experience that matches the expectations of modern customers.
Reflecting on the change, she highlights how much easier the process has become: “It reduces the friction from seeing the catalogue to final sale.”
That shift has made a clear difference. Customers can browse, book, and pay in one place, while Nichola can focus on growing the business. And with plans to expand globally, having a reliable system in place gives her the foundation to scale Rent Luxury beyond Malta.
