Dr.Blend’s story is the ultimate proof that mothers are always right. In 2010, Jamahl Schoonhoven left his job at a large IT company to start his own business. He was looking forward to it, but he also realised that setting up a business on his own was no easy task. Fortunately, he knew the sector he was going to work in very well: IT. And then he called his mother.

“She told me I was doing it wrong,” Schoonhoven laughs as he sits down with us in Dr.Blend’s cosy office in Amsterdam. “And she was right.” His mother, a retired teacher, thought it would be a much better idea if he started selling products that would make people healthier. And so the groundwork was laid for Dr.Blend.

Because a good start is half the battle, Schoonhoven travelled the world for a few months to meet suppliers and develop his business plan. Soon after, he launched My Green Coffee, a company that sells fat-burning green coffee beans and other health products. “I became successful very quickly,” he says. “But after a few years, the health sector exploded. The competition was so fierce that there was almost nothing left to gain. I learned some important lessons from that.”

But Schoonhoven is not done with the health sector: he wants to help people be healthier. So he decided to change course and opened his own shop in the Herenstraat in the centre of Amsterdam. The name? Dr.Blend.

Within weeks, the shop became a meeting place where the c’s met for smoothies, wraps and conversations with each other and the hospital staff. “It was one of my happiest times,” recalls Schoonhoven. “The shop opened at half past seven in the morning and it was busy all day. Hard work, but I loved seeing all those happy faces.”

In terms of visitor numbers and reputation, Dr.Blend is a resounding success. The growing circle of satisfied customers encouraged Schoonhoven to open a second shop. No sooner said than done, but due to the high rents, no profit was made. So, as befits a true entrepreneur, he went back to the drawing board and developed a new plan: e-commerce.

How Dr.Blend came online

Armed with a range of products that had been tested by customers for years, Schoonhoven closed his physical shops and opted for online sales in 2018. With his connections in the health industry, loyal customer base and business acumen, he turned Dr.Blend into a multi-million dollar business. It now sells detox boxes and healthy juices and shots across Europe. All are cold-pressed and packaged using a high-pressure process for better taste and longer shelf life.

So what is the secret to Dr.Blend’s success? “For a start, quality,” reports Schoonhoven. “We never skimp on our products and always use the best, freshest ingredients. In addition, the way we cold-press and package the products ensures that everything stays good longer.”

Another no less secret ingredient of Dr.Blend’s success becomes clear as soon as Mr Schoonhoven welcomes us into his office: investment in relationships. The company is known for offering its customers fast and friendly service. “Feedback from our customers is why I do it,” he says. “When they tell me they had a great experience, I feel incredibly proud. I couldn’t do it without my colleagues: thanks to them, we provide customers with an exceptional experience.”

The fact that Schoonhoven – the boss – calls his employees ‘colleagues’ speaks volumes about the respect he has for them. Dr.Blend’s personal approach is also behind another success factor: partnerships. It was through a conversation between friends that the company came into contact with Mollie.

Growing up paying via Mollie

“I’ve known Adriaan Mol (founder of Mollie) since I was a kid, because we lived in the same neighbourhood,” explains Schoonhoven. “When I went online with Dr.Blend, he helped me set up the online shop. His advice saved me tens of thousands of euros and helped my business grow. I’ve had a personal connection with Mollie ever since – so they were our first choice when I was looking for a payment service provider.”

He sees similarities between the two companies. “At Mollie too, the service is exceptional,” he says. “I have a great relationship with our customer success manager at Mollie. She gives me advice on how to use payments to develop Dr.Blend. And when integrating Apple Pay, Mollie made sure everything went smoothly from the start. New perspectives and a good relationship with your payment service provider are invaluable.”

“I have a great relationship with our customer success manager at Mollie. She gives me advice on how to use payments to grow Dr. Blend.”

– Jamahl Schoonhoven founder of Dr. Blend

For Schoonhoven, working with Mollie is a great pleasure. “Everything is easy. You add an integration in a few steps and the integration is very fast. New products and payment methods are added all the time, so we can continue to meet customer demand. And when we expanded internationally, Mollie helped us expand into other countries as well – you can add your customers’ preferred payment methods with a single click.”

It looks like Dr.Blend and Mollie will be working together for a long time. “There are huge opportunities in Germany and the UK, so that’s where we’ll focus next year,” says Schoonhoven. “We are developing the teams in these countries to grow faster. There are a lot of great things to come.” What does he think about when he looks back on the past few years? “I’m extremely proud of my colleagues and everything we’ve achieved. And I should call my mother more often.”

Mollies’ mission is to help businesses grow. We do this with an efficient payment product that increases conversion through a customized checkout, offering customers all known and local payment methods. Easily integrate Mollie into your website and opt for a quick integration with no minimum fees, lock-in contracts or surprises. Learn more about paying with Mollie, or read other customer success stories.