Case study: How De Schilderstudio & Straalstudio evolved with Fonzer towards control, professionalism and peace of mind
From classic painting company to high-end residential partner
De Schilderstudio and Straalstudio are today established names in high-quality painting work.
Under the leadership of Bjorn Van den Brande and his partner Jeroen De Ceuster, the company grew from a small-scale activity into a team of 18 employees, active in complex residential projects and collaborations with architects.
What once started with classic painting work evolved into:
- high-end residential projects
- complete finishing in collaboration with architects
- specialised techniques such as air blasting and sandblasting.
"We've evolved from small jobs to residential projects. The bar is simply raised every year."
The challenge: always reachable by phone… but without control
As with many growing businesses, a recognisable problem emerged: for years, their telephony was:
- linked to private numbers
- spread across mobile and landline
- always reachable, even when that was undesirable
- unstructured and unprofessional.
"My landline number was actually my home private number. Clients would sometimes end up speaking to my wife or children."
Although clients never actually complained about it, Bjorn felt differently:
"When you're speaking with an architect and you can hear children in the background, it just doesn't feel professional."
The real challenge was not availability, but control over availability.
The decision: from chaos to structure with Fonzer
The switch to Fonzer didn't come out of pure necessity, but out of insight. Around 2015, Bjorn discovered cloud telephony through his network and immediately saw the added value:
- a professional system without complexity
- lower costs than traditional telephony
- flexibility in settings
- support without worry.
"I found it so interesting and professional that we started immediately."
Implementation: completely hassle-free and surprisingly simple
The transition went smoothly. Fonzer handled everything:
- configuration of the numbers
- installation of the systems
- migration of existing telephony
- guidance during start-up.
"Fonzer did everything for us. That went super smoothly."
Today the system operates deliberately simply and efficiently:
- one general number
- personal extension numbers
- smart call forwarding to mobile
- voicemail outside working hours
- temporary adjustments (holiday, absence).
The biggest shift: control over availability
Where previously the client decided when to call, control now lies entirely with the business.
"Before, the client was in charge of our availability. Now we are."
In practice, that means:
- reachable between 8am and 5pm
- clear boundaries after that
- professional voicemail
- structured follow-up.
This brings not only peace of mind, but also a stronger positioning.
A more professional image, without extra effort
An unexpected effect of the new telephony approach: the business automatically appears more professional.
"I think it's professional to simply have a landline number on the website. It projects something different."
Through clear communication:
- clients know when they will be helped
- less chaos arises
- the perception of quality increases.
Efficiency without complexity
The operation remains deliberately simple. No call centres, no queues, just:
- direct forwarding
- clear structure
- minimal friction.
"With one click I forward everything. It's super easy."
Internal organisation also becomes simpler, for example:
- leave → call forwarding set up quickly and easily
- administration → only reachable at fixed times
- urgency → quickly detectable via voicemail.
Cost savings as an added bonus
Alongside control and professionalism, there was also a financial benefit.
"The old telephone exchange cost three to four times more. Fonzer is truly incredibly affordable."
The Fonzer model:
- fixed cost per number
- low call costs
- no heavy infrastructure.
Fonzer makes telephony scalable without financial pressure.
Scalability without worry
For growing businesses, flexibility is crucial, and the same applies here:
- additional employees → easily added
- new numbers → quickly set up
- changes → immediately supported.
"One phone call and everything is sorted. They are super flexible."
Work-life balance: the hidden gain
Perhaps the biggest impact is personal.
"It gives me peace of mind. Work and private life are now clearly separated."
Through control over availability:
- fewer interruptions
- more focus
- clearer boundaries.
This is something many entrepreneurs underestimate.
Why Bjorn recommends Fonzer
In one sentence:
"Flexible, efficient and cost-saving."
But underneath it's about more:
- control
- peace of mind
- professionalism
- scalability.
Conclusion: from availability to authority
For De Schilderstudio and Straalstudio, telephony was never the problem. The lack of control was. With Fonzer they evolved towards:
- a professional communication system
- clear boundaries for clients
- efficient internal operations
- lower costs
- more peace of mind as an entrepreneur.
Cloud telephony didn't become a tool, but a strategic lever for growth and professionalisation.
Are you also looking for a scalable and flexible cloud telephony solution for your business? Contact Fonzer and discover what this can mean for you.