Kandace and Richard Martin, owners of All Air Xtreme Trampoline Park and Hoppity Hop Inflatables in Hendersonville, have been named 2018 Rising Stars by the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Volunteer State Community College. The Rising Star Award goes to a small business that has had great success utilizing TSBDC resources.
In the fall of 2011, the Martins came to the TSBDC to get advice on how to expand their inflatable rental business. They also wanted to open a physical location that would serve a need in the community for a place for kids to have fun. They worked with TSBDC to create a plan and projections that guided them on expansion. The TSBDC also gave referrals for attorneys and accountants that would become part of their team. Within three months, the Martins opened Hoppity Hop Inflatables. They immediately hired ten employees and sustained year-over-year growth over the next seven years.
In 2018 they decided to expand again. This time they worked with a local lender to create the Air Xtreme Trampoline Park that opened in January 2019. The new business is located in a 21 thousand square-foot building and has created more than 30 new jobs. They are the only trampoline park in the area that has electrical jump bands.
The TSBDC at Vol State worked with 181 small businesses and clients in 2018, offering free and low-cost classes, and counseling and helped launch 18 new business. In all, the projects raised more than $4.4 million in capital and created or retained 82 jobs. For more information and a list of classes contact Charles Alexander at Charles.alexander@volstate.edu or call 615-230-4780.
