Blackberry Hearing – The Company Story
JUST over two and half years ago, John Ryan and Dave Gleeson had their separate offices in a shared office complex in a small village in Kildare, Two Mile House. Their business interests only overlapped in that they were members of the same business angel syndicate, a group that supported young technology companies with investment and expertise. Conversation and banter at the mid- morning coffee break led to a discussion on hearing aid prices when Dave produced a magazine article asking the question as to why hearing aids were more expensive than laptop computers. This was the start of Blackberry Hearing and as they investigated further, Dave and John felt they could bring their business expertise to offer a much more affordable hearing solution with a focus on customer care.
The company started in 2015 by offering quality hearing aids at significantly lower prices than those available in the market. Focussing on putting the customer first, the company found that many available audiologists had undergone just several weeks training by the companies seeking to employ them. In contrast, Blackberry Hearing employ only fully qualified, degree level ( 4 years) audiologists. The difference is remarkable, with customers feeding back to them about the high quality of the consultation. John and Dave feel it has significantly enhanced the hearing solution of their customers. This has been one of the many learning’s of the company.
From the outset, the company has set to demystify the process of acquiring hearing aids. Many of their prospective customers talked of how they had been unsure previously of pricing and felt under pressure to buy the most expensive hearing aids. Blackberry Hearing offers just two models, with two prices and clearly outlines to prospective customers the end price before they start the consultation. This transparency has been a cornerstone of the company’s philosophy.
With its strong customer care philosophy, the company has expanded rapidly throughout rural Ireland, collaborating with pharmacies, opticians and GPs to hold regular clinics. Blackberry Hearing offer free follow up care by appointment for the hearing aid lifetime. This is very reassuring for new and experienced users of hearing aids alike. Now with over 50 clinics nationwide, the company hopes to expand further geographically this year. Its simple customer first philosophy is paying off as positive customer referrals are leading to a growing portion of the company’s customers.
All consultations are free and Blackberry Hearing offers a 100% refund if a customer feels their hearing solution does not meet expectations. With its new Dinamico product range offering the latest available features, the company has adopted a variation of the old Ronseal slogan. “We do exactly as it says on the tin”!