What We Learned from our Fall Conference Roadshow: Fun, Insights, and Trading Cards
Diana R. Nada
Chief Marketing Officer, PlaySpace
We’ve just wrapped up an incredible conference roadshow, and I couldn’t wait to share some highlights. Over the past couple weeks, we’ve attended HLTH USA , Behavioral Health Tech , Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Symposium, and finally landed at Children's Mental Health Ontario . It’s been a whirlwind of new connections and inspiring conversations filled with hands-on demos, playful moments, and a few surprises along the way.
Here are a few things we learned (and loved!) from our time there:
Talking about PlaySpace is one thing, but letting people experience it? That’s where the magic happens. Our touchscreens, gaming tables, and VR demos let attendees get hands-on with our tools. It made it so much easier for them to really understand what we’re about, and it was fun watching their reactions as they explored everything we had set up.
At PlaySpace, we’re all about making sessions engaging and fun, and we brought that same energy to our booth. From kinetic sand (a nod to our 3D Sand Tray ) and slime giveaways, to a mini basketball hoop where attendees could shoot some hoops during the break, every detail reflected who we are. And of course, there was candy—because who doesn’t love a sweet treat? Seeing people connect with our brand in such playful and hands-on ways was a true highlight.
When we were at CMHO, we went into it thinking we’d mostly be chatting with clinicians. Turns out, we were wrong—in the best way! We ended up connecting with teachers, parents, community counsellors—the list goes on. It was a great reminder that our tools can be valuable in ways we hadn’t fully realized yet.
Remember when people said business cards were passé? Not so fast! Our trading card-style business cards were a showstopper. They sparked conversations, brought people back to our booth, and turned into a bit of a collector’s item. It’s proof that a little creativity goes a long way in making an impression. It was a fun reminder that sometimes the smallest details can leave the biggest impressions. (Thank you Rachel Altvater, Psy.D., RPT-S Victoria Kennedy-Adkins, Psy.D. for the inspo!)
(I have more thoughts and learnings on this for another article, stay tuned!)
We thought QR codes were the way forward for our handouts, and while they worked for some, others preferred a good old-fashioned brochure. There’s something about having something tangible to take away that still resonates. The lesson? It’s all about balance—give people options and meet them where they are.
The CMHO Conference wasn’t just a fantastic way to end our roadshow—it was a reminder of why we do what we do. From playful moments at our booth to meaningful conversations with unexpected audiences, this experience left us with so much to think about and build on for the future.
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