Showing Up Matters: Why We Hit the Road for Seven Expos Last Year
Last year, we made the decision to attend seven expos across Australia — and while that might sound like a whirlwind (it was), it turned out to be one of the most important things we’ve done to grow The Chooze Shop.
There’s something about being face-to-face with the people you’re here to serve. You can read every survey and analyse every bit of data, but nothing compares to standing at our booth, chatting with a participant about what makes online ordering feel overwhelming, or hearing from a support coordinator about why they’ve stopped recommending certain providers. These are real stories, shared over coffee, between sessions, or on the fly while someone’s waiting for a demo. And they’re the stories that stick with us.
Each expo – whether it was in a capital city or a regional centre – gave us the chance to listen first. We heard what’s working, what’s frustrating, and what feels like too much red tape. We took notes. We asked questions. And we’ve already made changes to our platform because of what we heard.
But beyond that, these events gave us something else: connection. We met hundreds of participants, families, support workers and providers — and many of those connections have become lasting partnerships. Some providers who wandered over for a chat are now active sellers on our platform, offering their products to people they may not have reached otherwise.
That’s the magic of showing up.
We never saw the expos as just a sales opportunity — they were firstly about learning and building trust. We stood side-by-side with people doing incredible work in the disability and aged care sectors, and we felt proud to be part of that community. There were moments that were fun, a bit chaotic, sometimes emotional, and always deeply worthwhile.
The energy we felt from these events has fuelled a lot of what we’re focused on now. It’s helped us sharpen our support services, improve our accessibility, and find better ways to make life simpler for participants and providers alike. Most of all, it reminded us why we started: to build something that actually helps.
This year, we’ll be back on the road again with targeted expos – not just because it’s good for business, but because it keeps us grounded. When you’re building a digital platform, it’s easy to forget the human side of things. Expos bring it all back into focus.
So, if you came by our booth last year — thank you. If you shared feedback, joined the platform, or even just grabbed some giveaways and said hello, you’ve played a part in shaping what The Chooze Shop is becoming.