How a Bournemouth Gardening Business Went Electric with an eCargo Bike
Fully Charged New Forest Delivers Its First Business 2 Business eCargo Bike
Alumhurst Garden Services in Bournemouth approached us at the New Forest store looking for an eBike solution for their gardening business.
How It Happened and How It's Working Out
Alumhurst Garden Services
Dominic Goldup is the owner. He qualified at a local horticulture college before completing an apprenticeship with the local council and then starting his own business 10 years ago. Looking to make the business more sustainable and create an eye-catching profile, he realised an eCargo bike and trailer would be the perfect solution.
Selecting the Right Bike
After visiting the New Forest store for discussions, Dominic was keen to explore all the options and decided to visit the London Cargo Bike Hub store to test ride different models. We set up a meeting with Dan Parsons, our eCargo bike for business expert. After a few test rides, it was clear that the Urban Arrow Cargo XL was the best option.
The Urban Arrow Cargo XL
Urban Arrow, based in Amsterdam, only manufactures cargo bikes and is recognised as the market leader in this category. With the extra weight of the trailer and gardening equipment, we recommended the most powerful Bosch Cargo Line motor, providing the necessary power for Bournemouth’s steep hills. For bulletproof reliability, we suggested the German Rohloff internal gear hub, known as the toughest and best option for heavy loads.
The bikes start as a flatbed, allowing users to select a box suitable for their needs. Dominic required the largest option and chose the aluminium box.
Design Service
Using the Alumhurst Garden Services brand logo, Dominic saw this as an opportunity to refresh his branding. Working with our design team, we developed several concepts before finalising the chosen design. We offer a complete solution, providing in-house design and signage services to deliver a finished bike that’s ready for work.
Carla Cargo Trailer
Viewers of the BBC Antiques Roadshow may recall presenter Fiona Bruce introducing an episode while riding an eBike towing a trailer full of plants. That trailer was the Carla Cargo. It’s an impressive piece of equipment, capable of hauling 200kg and featuring hydraulic disc brakes that engage automatically. When not being towed, its grab handle makes it easy to manoeuvre.
Find out more about the Carla Cargo Trailer
We Caught Up with Dominic to See How It’s Going
Best thing about the eCargo bike? “My favourite thing is that it makes me feel good. It’s a fantastic stress buster, connects me with the outdoors, and I was missing that while sitting in a van.”
What do your customers say? “They love it! It turns heads, and my customers appreciate a different approach. It’s also brought in a lot more enquiries.”
What have been the challenges? “With all the weight and riding in Turbo mode up the hills, I realised I needed a second battery to get through the day. I carry a charger and sometimes ask clients if I can plug in.”
Find Out More
If you’d like to learn more, visit our Business Cargo Bike Hub:
Going Electric: A Business Guide
Get in touch with one of our stores to arrange a test ride.
