IF YOU JUST SCANNED THIS BLOG POST AND DIDN’T CLICK ON THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM TO http://www.springleap.com/posts/view/springleap-shuts-down THIS POSTING WAS A JOKE FOR APRIL FOOLS - THANKS FOR THE HUNDREDS (AND I MEAN HUNDREDS) OF EMAILS, TELEPHONE CALLS, TWITTER MESSAGES, SMS’S, AND OTHER COMMUNICATION I RECEIVED - IT MEANS SOOOOO MUCH TO ME THAT I KNOW SO MANY PEOPLE THAT CARE. BUT TO PUT EVERYONE’S MINDS AT REST, SPRINGLEAP VOTING WENT LIVE TODAY, AND IT’S BEEN A FIRST CLASS DAY.
Well, for the last few months, Eran & myself have put our heart and soul into our Internet start-up springleap.com but unfortunately we were the only ones who saw the potential in our new venture.
Since we launched a month ago, we’ve had 17 registrations, and only 3 people entered our first Tshirt competition although we thought the prizes were attractive.
We had committed to printing 20 tshirt designs a month, but with such a poor response, we had to “shoot the puppy” & “jump the shark” - if you don’t know what i’m talking about, ask Mike Stopforth.
There were a few of you that told us you thought the site had potential, and we thank you for believing in us.
For now, I’m going to be heading to my beach house - I might even write a book about this experience. I’ll be back stronger!
We’ve set up a message board on springleap where you can leave a message. It would mean a lot to me if you left a message!
35 responses so far ↓
1 Jason R // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:12 am
We’re really sorry to hear that Eric.
We know how much energy & time you put into this.
Don’t worry. There’ll be more opportunities in the future.
Much Love
The R’s
2 Dimitrio // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:17 am
Hey,
Sorry about that, I for one thought it was a good idea. The best ideas are yet to come.
Dimitrio
3 Tyler // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:26 am
Nice April fools Eric.
4 Eran // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:26 am
I for one am not so boyant and bubbly about this
It’s a sad day for artists worldwide and especially in South Africa, in my opinion
We really had huge things planned, and now it’s all dust.
We tried our hardest I guess, but without public support - these altruistic endeavours often don’t see life past the crack of dawn.
I would have LOVED to see 20 fresh designs hitting the shelves every month, featured SA artist, a SA garment expoted to all countries and people all over the world getting interested in SA design and textiles.
Guess it was a pipedream, Eric. Sadly today springleap shuts down due to lack of support from the people we wanted to empower.
RIP springleap : 2007-2008.
5 Chris M // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:55 am
APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ROFL!
6 Tanya // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:22 am
Eric,
Remember nothing was lost! I am sure you learned a number of valuable lessons, worked with a great team, and gained more experience. You are a success! I am always amazed by you!
I am sorry to hear about springleap! Its unfortunate when an idea does not catch on, it might just be timing. Maybe you can revive it in a couple of months! Remember we become stronger, wiser, and more creative in the face of adversity. Everything happens for a reason!
“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Michael Jordan (1963 - )
American businessman and
retired professional basketball player
-TA
7 Al Flipoor // Apr 1, 2008 at 1:42 am
Is this a coincidence or a conspiracy theory?
Good luck in the future
Al Flipoor
8 Cuzz // Apr 1, 2008 at 2:37 am
That’s a bummer dude…
Enjoy the beach house! To continue the quote trend…here are a couple I like especially Quentin Crisp’s
Don’t be discouraged by a failure. It can be a positive experience. Failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, inasmuch as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true, and every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterwards carefully avoid.
John Keats (1795 - 1821)
You always pass failure on the way to success.
Mickey Rooney (1920 - )
If at first you don’t succeed, failure may be your style.
Quentin Crisp
Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.
Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
9 Kristine Paikin // Apr 1, 2008 at 2:46 am
Hey Eric
Something my dad sent me when faced with adversity:
“Winners are too busy to be sad, too positive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated.” Darryl Campbell
Hope it keeps you going!
Well done for taking the courage to put yourself out there. There will be more opportunities for you - I have no doubt you’ll make a success of one of them!
Kris
10 Carl Spies // Apr 1, 2008 at 4:09 am
Dude, I’m mortified, gobsmacked even (and not in the retro Tina & Ike way either)
Guess it’s no use keeping the secret about all those clandestine meetings at Dream Nails in Sandton when you where up here meeting me to develop:
1. The Kevlar impregnated range of Springleap shirts so that security personnel could work with dignity AND panache.
2. The Consum-O-Collar{TM} shirts with RFID tagging and subliminal embroidery to persuade wearers to vote and buy more shirts.
I’ve sent you some Chicken Soup For The Soul books - I know how much it cheers you up to burn them at braais (and give your wors that smoked intellect flavour).
Cheer up buddy! We’ll always have that time together at that carpark that time, where the wind picked up that woollies packet and just danced it around for hours while we cheered and cried and beat each others chests in ‘undoubtedly masculine’ posturings.
Just remember your favourite Whitney Houston quote: “Everything happens for a reason, now where’s my crack bee-otch”.
*Fluffy Hugs*
11 Jenny Ambrozek // Apr 1, 2008 at 4:35 am
Eric
So sorry to hear this round of entreprenuerial endeavour didn’t catch fire. I worked with more than enough startups during the late 90’s Internet boom to know that more fail than succeed. Regardless everyone learns an extraordinary amount and proceeds enlightened.
Enjoy the beach. I’ll look forward to reading the book and seeing what next you tackle.
Very best
Jenny
12 Allan // Apr 1, 2008 at 6:58 am
good thing too. there are way too many t-shirt sites in SA already!
13 Jason Dugmore // Apr 1, 2008 at 7:21 am
Is in not a bit early to shut down? With only a month being up? No start up will become a hit over night these things take time.
14 Jason Dugmore // Apr 1, 2008 at 7:26 am
Oh I think this is a Aprilfools ^^, got me!
15 Eric // Apr 1, 2008 at 7:33 am
@everyone Thank you Thank you Thank you for the words of encouragement. They mean a lot to us
@Allan I’m speechless!!!
16 Ryan // Apr 1, 2008 at 7:34 am
Hehe are we aloud to shout out April Fools!!
17 Jade // Apr 1, 2008 at 7:55 am
So Sorry that it has come to this.
The sun is still shining and you can always look forward to tomorrow!!
I have a feeing there are great things coming…
18 Anton // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:09 am
April 01 ?????
19 bobo // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:31 am
april fools!
20 JBagley // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:31 am
Hahahahahahah!
And I’ll be the first to call your bluff. April fools! Man, you suckered so many people, I can’t believe it!
21 Dave // Apr 1, 2008 at 8:57 am
LOLOLOL!
But here’s an idea: “we can all sign up to Springleap, upload our designs, and make SA a better place for designers, bloggers and t-shirt wearers everywhere!” What u think?
:-p
22 Stefano // Apr 1, 2008 at 9:04 am
Yea, funny that. Happy April fools.
23 Pam // Apr 1, 2008 at 9:10 am
I’m sorry to hear it — I was looking forward to the T-shirts! I’ll hope on your behalf for a last-minute spurt of activity..
24 springleap into april | Web AddiCT(s); // Apr 1, 2008 at 9:27 am
[...] into april Categories: More, Quality Traffic skip to comments Springleap closing down, yeah [...]
25 James // Apr 1, 2008 at 9:28 am
Hi, This is probably the worst way\time to find out you are closing shop. I am not particularly interested in T-s. The next time I am I will at least know where not to go.
26 Duncan.Boxie.Elite. // Apr 1, 2008 at 9:47 am
I guess I better get another job.
Anybody looking for a charismatic writer who can make a killer cappuccino?
Did I mention that I’m a compulsive complimenter??
Call me I’m waiting.
Dial: 0800-damn you Eric.
27 Chris M // Apr 1, 2008 at 10:57 am
I can’t believe you didn’t approve my comment that I posted! Grrrr
28 Lauren Cohen // Apr 1, 2008 at 11:37 am
Eric, what can I say. I’m truly sorry, I should have written something about it for the newspaper to help you publicise it. But it seems you have a lot of support anyway, judging by all these responses. Try harder next time buddy!
29 Lauren Cohen // Apr 1, 2008 at 11:39 am
PS: What’s the beach house address?
30 ned // Apr 1, 2008 at 12:28 pm
April Fool stops at 12 noon
31 Viral Dirk // Apr 1, 2008 at 2:19 pm
It’s a shame, well good luck with the next one… So much for SEO compo!
32 Anton Lopis // Apr 1, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Shame, Eric, sorry to hear about this. After all of your efforts, must have hit you rather hard. One needs to remember though that health is what is vital, one needs a clear perspective. New and better ventures will come along - any mistake is ok if you learn from it……
Anton
33 Google and Virgin start Virgle Inc. by Justin Hartman // Apr 1, 2008 at 10:29 pm
[...] must say I’ve prided myself with being able to spot the various April Fools jokes on the Internet today but this one got me hook, line and sinker. Share this post: Share this post [...]
34 Springleap t-shirt voting has begun! // Apr 2, 2008 at 7:30 am
[...] its not an April fools joke! The designs for the very first batch of Springleap t-shirts has gone live, and you can now login [...]
35 Cruel April Fool’s | Mike Stopforth // Apr 2, 2008 at 6:02 pm
[...] about the proliferation of April Fool’s jokes that dominated the Web. I know for a fact one particular local joke had negative consequences… [...]
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