Shift Happens
plnktn
How Firmhouse helped plnktn scale subscriptions across Europe
plnktn is transforming Omega-3 supplements with sustainable algae alternatives. Learn how Firmhouse and Mollie helped them scale subscriptions and drive 60% year-over-year growth.
“Firmhouse and Mollie are critical partners for us. They allow us to do what I was hoping to do when starting the brand, and four years later, we see that it works.”
Thom Siersema, Founder of plnktn
The vision
plnktn is changing the way we get essential Omega-3s by replacing fish oil with sustainable, algae-based alternatives. Founder Thom Siersema discovered that algae oil provides the same vital nutrients for our heart, eye, and brain health—without the environmental impact of fish farming.
Although there are growing concerns around unsustainable fish farming, there’s still a high demand for Omega-3 supplements. This is where plnktn saw an opportunity: high-quality, plant-based alternatives made with algae. Whether customers prefer capsules, powder, or oil, they can purchase them on a recurring basis using local payment methods from across Europe.
The challenge
When plnktn launched in 2020, they quickly faced some challenges: their payment provider didn’t offer their customers’ preferred payment methods. Without preferred local payment methods, conversions would drop, and subscription sign-ups would suffer. The lack of a seamless recurring payment system also made it harder to scale.
Then, Thom discovered how using our recurring commerce platform with Mollie payments could power his business.
"It was like heaven for me, I scheduled a call straight away and quickly integrated the system," says Thom Siersema, Founder of plnktn. "From that moment onwards, it all started."
The solution
After switching to Firmhouse and Mollie, plnktn could immediately offer local and international payment methods, including popular European options like iDEAL in the Netherlands and Bancontact in Belgium. Integrating with Firmhouse and Mollie also meant they could offer a personalized checkout built for conversion and a range of recurring payment solutions to make their billing as seamless as possible.
What works in one European market doesn’t always work in another. With Firmhouse and Mollie, plnktn can tailor their payment experience to each country while managing everything from a single dashboard—an essential factor in their expansion.
These payment solutions, combined with our recurring commerce platform, have been a game-changer.
“We quickly implemented Firmhouse’s checkout and started selling subscriptions straight away,” says Thom. “This made it easy to launch and build our customer base.”
The impact
By offering a truly localized payment experience, plnktn saw an immediate boost in customer satisfaction and conversion rates. With us, they also introduced single-product trials, allowing potential customers to try products before committing to a full subscription.
The plnktn team says the relationship with Firmhouse and Mollie has grown into something special.
“If we want to change something or make a small or quick improvement, the team’s responsiveness is really great,” says Thom. “It's crucial to have a connection with the companies that are a key part of our business model.”
plnktn’s growth speaks for itself. In just one year, they doubled their payment volume, while subscriptions continue to grow at 60% year-over-year. With 75% of payments processed via direct debit, they have full confidence that Firmhouse and Mollie can handle their high transaction volumes.
With thousands of loyal customers and high retention, plnktn is scaling faster than ever.
Serving thousands of happy customers
Working with Firmhouse and Mollie has helped bring sustainable, algae-based supplements to people who care about both their health and the planet.
“Firmhouse and Mollie are critical partners for us,” Thom adds. “They allow us to do what I was hoping to do when starting the brand, and four years later, we see that it works.”
Ready to launch your subscription business? Discover how our recurring commerce platform can help you launch and scale. Get in touch with us or book a demo today.
More stories
Zappie
How Zappie built a subscription experience that just works for Dutch parents
Zappie makes STEAM-based building kits that bring hands-on creativity to kids across the Netherlands. When they decided to offer them as a subscription, the vision was simple: effortless for parents, magical for kids. But beneath that simplicity sits a real operational challenge — and getting it right required the right platform.
Zippit
How Zippit reached 1,000 subscribers and built a subscription experience that actually fits their brand
Zippit makes products that help people breathe better. Sports performance, sleep, overall wellness. Their approach is targeted solutions and guided nose breathing, backed by data-driven growth. When they decided to add subscriptions, they needed a platform that could keep up.
Parfumado
How Parfumado scaled their perfume discovery platform with Firmhouse
By breaking through the limitations of customization and scalability, Parfumado has successfully delivered personalized customer experiences. Since partnering with Firmhouse, they have achieved impressive growth, with year-over-year increases ranging from 50 to 75%.