# Advice Line with Steve Holmes of goba Sports Group

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2025-05-29
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-29-advice-line-with-steve-holmes-of-goba-sports-group

## Summary

Steve Holmes, founder of Springfree Trampoline and GOBA Sports Group, joins Guy Raz to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Holmes shares his strategy for navigating tariffs by stockpiling inventory and diversifying manufacturing, while advising Ikechukwu of Veii Apparel on balancing brand authenticity with broader appeal. He also helps Cody Johnson of Grand Tongo build a year-round advertising strategy for a seasonal bug repellent and guides Kenesha of One More Cocoa on converting viral Oprah exposure into sustainable customer retention.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-29-advice-line-with-steve-holmes-of-goba-sports-group#t=0) Introduction: Steve Holmes and GOBA Sports Group
- [4:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-29-advice-line-with-steve-holmes-of-goba-sports-group#t=253) Tariff Strategy: Stockpiling and Manufacturing Shifts
- [7:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-29-advice-line-with-steve-holmes-of-goba-sports-group#t=428) Veii Apparel: Balancing Core Audience and Expansion
- [20:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-29-advice-line-with-steve-holmes-of-goba-sports-group#t=1204) Grand Tongo: Advertising Seasonal Bug Repellent Year-Round
- [30:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-29-advice-line-with-steve-holmes-of-goba-sports-group#t=1845) One More Cocoa: Sustaining Momentum After Oprah Feature
- [45:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2025-05-29-advice-line-with-steve-holmes-of-goba-sports-group#t=2735) Holmes' Advice: Honesty and Documentation

## Topics

- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up, early-stage companies, founders before launch

## Mentioned

- Springfree Trampoline (product)
- GOBA Sports Group (company)
- Green Bar 2X (product)
- Veii Apparel (company)
- Grand Tongo (company)
- One More Cocoa (company)
- Under Armor (company)
- Costco (company)
- Lowe's (company)
- Target (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [5: The Holiday Season](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2015-11-25-5-the-holiday-season) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [#83 Trade Spend & Retail Promotions 101 with Jake Huber (+ Niramaya)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-03-21-83-trade-spend-retail-promotions-101-with-jake-huber-niramaya) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [47: Seems Like a Nice Way to Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2019-01-16-47-seems-like-a-nice-way-to-live) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [240: Belgian Waffles](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-04-06-240-belgian-waffles) (Embedded.fm)
- [#232 - 2026 Brand Resolutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-01-20-232-2026-brand-resolutions) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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