Steve Holmes

Steve Holmes, Founder of Springfree Trampoline and Goba Sports Group, shares valuable insights for early-stage entrepreneurs tackling unique challenges. He offers guidance on navigating tariffs for manufacturers and emphasizes the importance of identifying core customer segments. Discussions range from creating inclusive activewear to developing year-round strategies for seasonal products like bug repellant. Additionally, Holmes highlights the journey of a Caribbean-inspired chocolate brand, showcasing innovative marketing strategies and the impact of personal resilience in entrepreneurship.

In this engaging discussion, Keith Alexander, a New Zealand engineer and the inventive mind behind the Springfree Trampoline, shares his journey of creating a safer trampoline design. Alongside him is Steve Holmes, a Canadian businessman who took a leap of faith to commercialize Keith's innovative product. They delve into the challenges of marketing their unique trampoline, the importance of safety innovations, and the remarkable surge in sales during the pandemic, showcasing how perseverance and creativity can redefine an industry.

Stewart Butterfield, co-founder of Slack, delves into the future of work and the challenges remote teams face, emphasizing the importance of communication for productivity. Steve Holmes, co-founder of Springfree Trampoline, shares how his company saw a 300% increase in demand during the pandemic and the strategic shifts they made to adapt. Together, they discuss the evolving workplace landscape and the rise of direct-to-consumer sales, highlighting resilience and adaptability in unprecedented times.

Keith Alexander, the innovative New Zealand engineer behind the world's safest trampoline, shares how his design journey began with a simple desire for his kids' safety. Joined by businessman Steve Holmes, they recount the challenges of bringing their idea to market, including securing patents and overcoming retail skepticism. They discuss the pivotal moment of unveiling their product at a major trade show and their strategic partnership with Costco. Their inspiring story is a testament to creativity, resilience, and the importance of safety in play.

The band American Football formed in 1997, and released only one album and an EP before breaking up about three years later. Their critically acclaimed debut went on to achieve cult status as one of the most influential records of the '90s, and was reissued as a deluxe double-LP last year. In this episode, Mike Kinsella, Steve Holmes, and Steve Lamos of American Football break down the first song they wrote together, "The One with the Tambourine," from their self-titled EP. They talk about being influenced by the Chicago music scene of the '90s, and how they combined alternative tunings, unconventional time signatures, and naiveté to craft their sound. This episode is sponsored by Hover, Lynda.com, and Lagunitas Brewing Company.