The Answer is Yes — Now What is the Question?
On the 26th of September 1974, I bought a piece of window-cleaning
cloth for 37p.
On the 14th of February 2011, Marilyn and I sold Kiddicare for
£70 million in cash.
This is what happened in between. Four decades. One family. A 10-foot
caravan in the snow. A shop in Peterborough that became the biggest
independent baby retailer in the UK — and a recession that very nearly
took the lot.
Buy the book
392 pages · Published 2016 by Fast-Print Publishing · ISBN 978-178456-336-3
Marilyn and I didn’t write this to make money out of you. We wrote it because our grandchildren should know what their nanny built, and because people keep asking me how we did it. Whatever the book earns goes to good causes. Simple as that.
What you’ll get out of it
It’s not a business textbook. It’s what I wish somebody had sat me down and told me in 1974.
37p and my father’s ladder was all I had. I’ll tell you how we turned that into a £70 million business — including the failures, the three months on the dole, and the day I walked out of the dole office and told the man behind the counter I’d look after my family myself.
Marilyn started the shop in 1977. Elaine and Joanne grew up in it, stood behind the counter at eleven years old selling prams to grown-ups. This is how we kept the family together while the business tried its best to tear us apart.
2009. £14 million of debt. Living in a tin box above the shop. Selling the house we’d lived in for 26 years. I’ll tell you exactly how we got through it, because most people in that position don’t.
Who should read this
- You’re starting a business — and you want to know what the first ten years actually look like. Not the version people put on LinkedIn.
- You’re rebuilding after a setback — and you need proof that people come back from worse than this.
- You’re dyslexic, ADHD, or neurodiverse — and someone, somewhere, has told you that you can’t. I couldn’t read properly until my forties. Don’t let anybody tell you what you can’t do.
- You’re a parent — building something worth handing down, and wondering every day if you’re getting the balance right. I worried about that too. You’re not on your own.
- You like true stories — and you want one that doesn’t flinch. This one doesn’t.
He possesses no superpowers, and has not used any magical silver bullets to become successful.
— Reader review
About me
Have a look inside first
Not sure yet? That’s fine. Have a read of the first few chapters on Amazon before you spend your money. I’d do the same.
What other people say
These are the reviews that mean the most to me. The rest are below if you want them.
“I bought this book as my life is at a low point” ★★★★★
Being disabled for many years, always being in some business or another. I’ve had some success. More than a few failures. Reading through the book inspired me to keep on going.
“How a normal bloke turned 37p into £100m+” ★★★★★
I’ve listened to this book three times now — and always pick something different up. Neville is a normal bloke like you or me. He possesses no superpowers, and has not used any magical silver bullets to become successful. What he has done, you and I can do too. And Neville tells you how he did it, in plain English.
“How one man worked around his dyslexia to achieve lifetime goals” ★★★★★
This book demonstrates a journey how one man worked around his dyslexia to achieve his life-time goals. Someone who encouraged innovation, determination and passion for everything. A true account of a successful, ambitious entrepreneur with courage, but above all else a family man.
“Absolutely fantastic!” ★★★★★
A truly inspirational read. Written with such passion, demonstrating all the life-long hard work, sheer determination, love and care — plus the essential ability to think outside the box. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the whole book, with parts making me cry and others making me laugh, and then further parts making me cheer their triumphs. Think all business owners should read this!
“What a story. What grafters the Wrights are!” ★★★★★
Took a while to get into the writer’s flow but I couldn’t stop listening to it after chapter 1. Have a vision, be clear on a direction, take the actions required and keep going and growing all the time.
“The answer is definitely YES — you won’t be disappointed” ★★★★★
This book is a must to help you on your journey to success. Neville has overcome many obstacles including personal and financial challenges to achieve great successes. Behind every great man is a great woman — Marilyn and his girls have been his rock and driving force.
Read the other 11 reviews
“An inspirational read, absolutely outstanding.” ★★★★★
Hearing the journey of Neville and his wife Marilyn was a wonderful insight into what it takes to achieve your dreams. Hard hitting and brutally honest, I was captivated with every page. This book is an absolute must for all business owners and entrepreneurs.
“What a great story of a family” ★★★★★
Who not only worked hard, but took the occasional risk and were never afraid to “muck in” and get their hands dirty. I am a great reader and this is one of only a very few books I found difficult to put down.
“A great story from a man who merged property and business” ★★★★★
Started at the very bottom. Very down to earth reading and full of practical advice on business and life. Overcame adversity and turned the challenges into success and we get to watch the whole journey as if we were there in the book.
“One of the Best Business & Entrepreneurship Books” ★★★★★
This book has very quickly become one of my favorite business and entrepreneurship books. Neville has a life philosophy we should all look to adopt and a back story everyone should know. Opportunity really is everywhere when you put in the work. A true inspiration!
“A great read — a real story of rags to riches” ★★★★★
What a great story of a family who not only worked hard, but took the occasional risk and were never afraid to “muck in” and get their hands dirty. I find it hard to believe this is the first book — I look forward to the next. Well done Neville Wright.
“The Answer is… read this book” ★★★★★
This is a very interesting read, quirky and honest with a nice touch in self deprecation. Packed full of practical tips on how to take control and be successful and removes the excuses that most people put in the way of making it and being happy. All from a self made man who knows the value of family and friendships.
“Inspiring and fascinating — well worth reading” ★★★★★
An enjoyable and interesting read. It’s not my usual choice of read but I found the details of how Neville Wright and his wife made the most of every opportunity and their attitude to business inspiring. A valuable read for those starting out and those who might think that they can sit back and relax and let their business run.
“Real-life, down to earth success” ★★★★★
A great story from a man who merged property and business and started at the very bottom. Very down to earth reading and full of practical advice on business and life. Overcame adversity and turned the challenges into success and we get to watch the whole journey as if we were there in the book.
“Must read book…” ★★★★★
A must read book if you are in business, retail, dealing with the public or just want to understand what it takes. Inside is so much knowledge from the man who sold his business at the height of the recession for £70mil, no mean feat. So many high street stores could learn so much from this book.
“Highly recommended.” ★★★★★
A 40-year journey that is a fantastic read that holds the attention from start to finish, containing both tears and joy — it’s got the lot. 10/10. Neville has a life philosophy we should all look to adopt and a back story everyone should know. Opportunity really is everywhere when you put in the work.
“Refreshingly honest view of building a business” ★★★★★
Neville gives a very detailed and refreshingly honest overview of the hard work he and his family put into building the business. It’s clear that he enjoyed the process, and pulls no punches about the dedication and graft needed as well as other sacrifices, in order to make the company successful.
Questions people ask me
Do I need to be in business to enjoy this?
No. Most readers aren’t in business at all — they just like a good true story about an ordinary family doing something extraordinary. The business bits are in there, but they’re wrapped around a human story: births, deaths, arguments, marriages, and a family that held together while everything tried to pull it apart.
How long is it, and is it available as an audiobook?
392 pages in paperback. If you’d rather listen, it’s on Audible and iTunes. I drive a lot, so I understand — half the motivational tapes I ever listened to I got through in the car.
What happens to the proceeds?
They go to charity. Marilyn and I decided that years ago and we’ve never wavered from it.
I’m dyslexic or I don’t read much — will this work for me?
I’m dyslexic myself and I didn’t read properly until my forties. I wrote the book I would have wanted to read — plain English, short chapters, no business jargon. I used Dragon Dictation to write it — the software that turns your voice into words on the screen. Without it, this book wouldn’t exist. If you struggle with reading, you’re not on your own, and this book was written for you as much as anybody else. A lot of the reviews mention they found it hard to put down, which isn’t something people usually say about business books.
Ready to find out how it’s done?
37p to £70 million. Four decades. One family. The proceeds go to charity.