by Lauren Kruchten | Jun 3, 2025 | June 2025, Stuff
Get your toes in the water and bum out of the sand. NC-born brand Shibumi—of wind-powered sunshade fame—just launched its brand-new first-ever beach chair, and just in time for Raleighites’ annual summer trek to the coast. Boasting the same signature blue and teal colors of the popular shades, the lounger is designed with comfy breathable fabric, multiple recliner settings, padded backpack straps and two accessory ports—and promises to withstand years of sand and salty air. So, perf for that *fabulous* Sharpay Evans feeling (IYKYK). shibumishade.com
by Heidi Reid | Feb 25, 2025 | Buzz, March 2025
Based on the Cap City’s bustling business scene, it’s clear great minds thrive here. Many local inventions have ventured beyond our state and (literally) connected the globe—and there’s still plenty of inspiration in Raleigh. Here, test your smarts on NC inventors and products.
1. The NC trio that created the Shibumi Shade—you know, those fluttering blue canopies that dot the coastline come summer—borrowed their brand name from an apartment complex at which Triangle university?
a. NC State
b. University of North Carolina
c. North Carolina Central University
d. Duke University
2. What’s in a name? Raleigh-born inventor Beulah Louise Henry claimed 49 patents on over 100 inventions, earning her
what nickname?
a. Miss Edison
b. Lady Edison
c. Lady Franklin
d. Madam Tesla
3. The Wright Bros. famously flew the first flight in Kitty Hawk. The plane—which then cost $1,000 to make and never flew again—would run how much to build in today’s currency?
a. ~$1,500
b. ~$5,700
c. ~$10,500
d. ~$36,000
4. After being told by his doctor that he needed to relieve stress to avoid a breakdown, a 28-year-old executive in Fayetteville invented what now wildly popular game?
a. Spikeball
b. Water balloon toss
c. Putt-Putt
d. Disc golf
5. Buzzy fun fact: Burt Shavitz—aka the “Burt” of the Durham-headquartered natural skincare brand Burt’s Bees—originally worked in Manhattan as a what?
a. Dermatologist
b. Pharmacist
c. Photojournalist
d. Race car driver
6. It’s all in the sauce. Raleigh-founded BBQ sauce brand Bone Suckin’ Sauce began when it won the NC Battle of the Sauces in March 1994. How many years in a row was the sauce awarded best in sales records?
a. 3
b. 4
c. 6
d. 12
7. What local craft company garnered the attention of Lori Greiner and Mark Cuban on Shark Tank and ultimately partnered with the duo, who invested $450K in the company?
a. The Woobles
b. IpsyDoodles
c. Jerry’s Artarama
d. J. Sanders Studio
8. Sweet relief! What OTC headache reliever was invented by Durham-based pharmacists Germain Bernard and C.T. Council in 1910?
a. Advil
b. Tylenol
c. Aleve
d. BC Powder
9. IBM’s famed engineer George Laurer—who held 25 patents and published 20 technical bulletins in his lifetime—received the Raleigh Inventor of the Year award in 1976 thanks to what invention?
a. Universal Product Code
b. Windshield wipers
c. Contributions to holography
d. Loudspeaker system
Answers: 1. B; 2. B; 3. D; 4. C; 5. C; 6. C; 7. A; 8. D; 9. A
by Laura Brummett | Oct 2, 2024 | Do, October 2024
A new speaker event aims to inspire.
Lights, camera, inspiration. A new series of speaker events is debuting at The Rialto this fall. Enter TinyTalks Raleigh, the brainchild of father-daughter duo Grace and Mike Palmer. Founded on their shared love of stories and community building, the first event is being hosted at the historic theater Oct. 9, with the goal to deliver a fresh and intimate way to connect with some of the area’s most interesting individuals.
Think of it like a mini TED Talk meets social mixer. The event will feature multiple speakers, each given 10 minutes to share their stories, supported by a simple PowerPoint to highlight key moments. With speakers like Shibumi Shade co-founder Dane Barnes, Sir Walter Miler co-founder Sandy Roberts and Director of the NC Science Trail Dr. April Smith, TinyTalks invites locals to share personal stories.
“We’re excited to share the Shibumi story with the Raleigh community and connect with others to learn from their ideas,” says Barnes.
The October event will be the first of an ongoing series, with the Palmers planning to host about one per quarter (or four a year). Speaker lineups will range from entrepreneurs to influencers and everyone in between.
And in the name of sparking meaningful conversations, attendees will enjoy connection periods before and after the presentations where mingling is encouraged.
“My dad and I, we’ve always naturally shared curiosity and really enjoy hearing people’s stories and experiences,” shares Grace. “So, ultimately, this idea was kind of a natural extension of that.”
Know someone with a story that needs sharing—or got the speaking bug yourself? Nominate you or a friend to be a future speaker. Oct. 9, 6–8:30pm, tickets $10 in advance online, $15 day of, tinytalksraleigh.com
by Heidi Reid | Jun 28, 2024 | July 2024/August 2024, Stuff
Two NC brothers and their best friend are about to upgrade your beach day—again.
It’s time to swap your Shibumi for a shhhh-ibumi (!). The iconic blue-and-teal arched billowy canopy that has dotted our coastline—and beyond—since 2016 is getting a soundless improvement. Enter the Shibumi Shade with Quiet Canopy.
“With past Shibumi Shade versions, we understood the noise created by the canopy flapping in high wind could be a pain point for users, and so this is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” says Alex Slater, who originally launched the shady solution with NC brothers Scott and Dane Barnes after putting up with far too many less-than-ideal beach umbrellas during vacations in Emerald Isle.
Post extensive R&D to include tests in labs, on beaches and in the wind tunnel built into their Raleigh-based warehouse (!), the team engineered an optimal amount of stretch into the fabric to ensure some peace and quiet—in addition to shade, natch—for your next coastal escape.
It’s all part of the crafty trio’s value of creating an excellent commodity they’re proud to stand behind (and under). “We want to continue to make excellent products,” emphasizes Slater, “and to make sure the Shibumi brand is synonymous with quality and innovation.”
He adds that making connections has always been his favorite part of starting the biz, “so we always want to honor those relationships and our commitment to customer service. Along the way, if we can make going to the beach a more enjoyable experience for more people, that’s all we can ask for.” Now entering our quiet shade era… shibumishade.com
