How Shibumi Shade Took Over the Beach with Dane Barnes
About this episode
Dane Barnes discusses the evolution of Shibumi Shade from a DIY project to a popular beach product in North Carolina.
How Shibumi Shade Became North Carolina’s Unofficial Beach Flag | 10 Years of a Homegrown Idea Ahead of the July 4th beach rush, the episode features Dane Barnes, co-founder of Shibumi Shade, reflecting on the company’s 10-year rise from a DIY, wind-powered shade prototype made from hardware-store materials to a common sight on North Carolina beaches. Barnes explains how he, his brother Scott, and friend Alex—without sewing or product experience—built early shades for their own family trips to Emerald Isle, began taking orders in 2016, and later grew into a Raleigh-based business with defined roles across sales, operations, and marketing. He shares the meaning of “Shibumi,” discusses the Quiet Canopy and the shift from local manufacturing to overseas production, clarifies misconceptions about beach bans, and highlights new products including the Shibumi Chair and the Park Vista shade for grass. 00:00 Sponsor Messages 01:44 July 4 Beach Setup 02:53 Origin Story Prototype 05:13 From Hobby to Orders 06:15 Meaning of Shibumi 06:55 How the Shade Works 08:09 Founders and Roles 09:51 Manufacturing and Quiet Canopy 10:44 Beach Bans Explained 14:26 Becoming a Must-Have 15:23 New Colors…
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