Individual case studies

BlackBerry® Customer Profile: Ed Belderbos - Landscaper

Title: Managing Director

Company: Belderbos Landscapes

Goals: Find time each day to build new business while also improving my client service.

Solution: BlackBerry Wireless Device

Results: Improved service, more time and better communication with home each day.

"My BlackBerry frees up my time. I can be on job sites all day and stay connected - so I don't spend each night responding to a day's worth of email."

Ed Belderbos

The Story: In less than two years, Ed Belderbos has built his landscaping company into one of the most sought after in London. BlackBerry® has helped him do it.

Ed's Challenge

With Belderbos Landscapes up and running for 18 months, business was booming. Ed was ready to focus on growing the company even more.

The only thing stopping him was time. Designing and building all day and answering emails at night, he just didn't have enough of it. So he went digging for a solution - and uncovered BlackBerry.

He sets his company apart

Ed Belderbos Landscaping, especially in a market like London's, is a tough business to crack into. There's plenty of established competition. But with BlackBerry, Ed found a way to set his company apart.

"One of the problems in the building industry," he notes, "is that customers don't feel they can access contractors when they have questions."

That's just one of the ways Belderbos is different. BlackBerry lets Ed respond fast. "Answering email queries straight away helps me demonstrate to new clients that I'm reliable."

Likewise, he says, clients are impressed with how organised he is. He enters key dates on his BlackBerry calendar right away during meetings. "It signals you're well on top of things, and that too is a major factor for my clients."

His personal life isn't overshadowed by work

Pretty soon, work wasn't the only part of Ed's life. Just recently, he and his wife decided to start a family, and move to a new house - at the same time. His BlackBerry lets him be a part of it all, despite the demands of his job. Because now, Ed and his wife can always keep each other up-to-date, by phone, email or text message. And when agents send property pictures for their home search, Ed opens the attachments right away. Even if he's on a work site.

He exchanges richer information. Easily. From virtually anywhere

What does Ed love about his BlackBerry?

He trades better information with his employees and suppliers. Like when he needed to order a custom-made stainless steel piece to finish a job. He emailed in the specs, got back an attached diagram, opened it, approved it and forwarded it to his co-worker. All from a job site. With no room for mistakes.
It's easy to use. He picked it up within minutes.
It's tough enough for the job site. As a former army officer, Ed was used to rugged equipment - and his BlackBerry hasn't let him down.

"It's a lot more robust than I would have expected - unlike a lot of mobile phones I've used."

His Solution

With his BlackBerry, this landscape artist:

Sets his company above the competition by proving he's responsive and organised.
Keeps in close contact with his wife during busy times
Exchanges detailed information easily, from wherever his job takes him