Zone Update, National Conference, $1 Tees, Shows, and more: UPDATES June 2026
Posted by Merry Cadalso on
It's been a busy few weeks at Flat Out.
We've survived our first National Conference, spent time with customers at shows around the country, filmed more educational content, and taken a moment to reflect on where things stand six months after the Zone RV collapse.
We've also uncovered a box of long-forgotten Flat Out T-shirts that we're practically giving away.
Here's a quick look at what's been happening.
Never Waste a Good Crisis
Zone RV Update: We're Actually Stronger Now
When our biggest customer went bankrupt six months ago, we were given some advice that was difficult to accept at the time: never waste a good crisis.
That advice helped shape the way we approached the months that followed. Since then, we've learned a lot, made some significant changes, and come out the other side in a stronger position than we were before.
Watch the video for a quick update from Zoe.
Conference Chaos
Flat Hoses, Flat Cables, and Flat Beer
We officially survived - and somehow thrived - at our first National Conference!
Taking a trade stand was a huge investment for us, but we knew it was important for manufacturers and dealerships to see how easy it can be for new caravan owners to start touring with gear that genuinely makes setup and pack-up easier from day one.
Honestly though… we may have had a little too much fun putting the stand together.
From our “We Make Good Connections” giveaway cards, to custom “Flat Beer” cocktails (Liquor 43 may or may not have been involved), to completely over-the-top homemade masks for the masquerade awards night - it was a lot.
Huge thanks to my mum for her incredible artistic contribution once again.
Most importantly, we caught up with old friends, made plenty of new ones, and came home with more leads and opportunities than we quite know what to do with yet.
You’ll probably start seeing Flat Out gear popping up in a few new places soon… watch this space.
Voltage Drop
The Invisible Thief Stealing Your Caravan's Power
Most people assume all extension leads are basically the same. They’re not.
Lead length and cable core size can make a huge difference to how your appliances perform - especially in modern caravans running heavier loads.
In this video, Zoe breaks down voltage drop in simple terms, why it matters, and how choosing the right lead can help protect your setup and keep things running properly.
And some extra reminders while we're talking RV power:
Always fully unspool any extension lead from any cable reel before use. Keeping them coiled will cause heat to build up. That's exactly why our Multi-Reels lock the plug out of access until you take your whole lead out.
You can also burn a plug from a bad connection caused by leads not being pushed on fully and firmly enough. Better safe than melted.
While clearing out the office recently, we uncovered the final stash of our premium Aussie-made Flat Out tees.
These weren’t cheap promo shirts either. Proper thick cotton. Australian manufacturing. Some feature our logo, others have my mum’s classic Aussie artwork across the back.
We genuinely love them, but as Flat Out keeps growing, we’ve had to admit we probably can’t stay in the T-shirt business forever too.
So rather than letting them sit boxed up in the office, we thought it would be far more fun to get them out into the hands of the people who’ve supported us along the way.
The shirts themselves are just $1. We’re essentially giving them away - we just ask for a small contribution toward shipping at checkout.
Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
It's Show Season
A huge thank you to everyone who has visited us at shows recently.
The Sydney Supershow was record-breaking, and with a fair bit of uncertainty floating around the travel industry lately, we’re incredibly grateful for people continuing to value quality gear, and choose to support small businesses like us.
We were also excited to finally make it back to Maitland this year after last year’s event was rained out, twice.
One of the highlights in Sydney was having Josh Leonard from CCIA stop by to film a feature on our products. The funny part is he’s actually been using our sullage hose himself for years - and honestly explained it all so well I was half tempted to recruit him as our newest salesperson.
Unfortunately for us, he already has a job.
Something else that really stood out over the past few weeks was just how many people stopped by simply to say hello.
Some wanted to thank us for keeping everyone updated through the Zone situation. Others mentioned they’d been enjoying the YouTube videos and educational content lately. Some just wanted a chat. Some customers jumped behind the counter to help sell the products to new prospective Flat Out nerds.
And honestly that is the best part of being at shows.
Please know you never need a reason to come say hi at a show. Don’t wait to approach us when you’re looking to buy something. We genuinely love hearing your stories and catching up with the community behind the screens.
We also captured some fantastic customer stories and interviews while out there, which you can check out below:
Flat Out is still all about the people. We love that you’re coming along for the ride.
Happy travels,
The Flat Out Team
