Q. Could you introduce yourself and tell us what brought you to Australia? I’m Jin-woo Choi. I arrived in Australia on January 1, 2015, with my wife and our first son. Arriving on New Year’s Day held a special meaning for us—it felt like a truly fresh start. Back in Korea, I worked for a reputable company and later started my own business, but it didn’t go as planned, and I went through a very difficult period. To be honest, coming to Australia was more of an escape. Korea was so tough for me at the time that my only thought was, “I just need to leave.” I boarded the plane only three days after making the decision. I didn’t have a solid plan then; I just heard that working in tiling made getting a visa easier. My only goal was permanent residency.
Q. How was your early life in Australia? It was incredibly hard. I had never done tiling before. My body was in constant pain, and there were many moments when I wanted to give up. However, I had a strong desire to raise my children in Australia. We only had one child when we arrived, but now I’m a father of four. It was because of my kids that I was able to push through.
Q. We heard the journey to permanent residency wasn’t easy either. That’s right. While processing my sponsor visa, I changed companies four times. I finally managed to stick it out at the last company for four years to qualify. I’ll never forget February 3, 2022—the day my residency was approved. When I called my family to give them the news and heard the tears in my wife’s voice, I got choked up too. All the years of hardship flashed before my eyes at that moment.
Q. When did you start your business? I actually wanted to run a business from the moment I arrived. My goal was to become a top-tier tiler, then a builder, and eventually start my own company. Although the business is still relatively new, I’ve realized that entrepreneurship comes with a whole different set of challenges. My personality is very action-oriented—I tend to dive in headfirst—so instead of doing thorough research, I just jumped in and opened a shop on my own. Consequently, I took a big financial hit early on. It started as a material supply shop, but when that struggled, I pivoted to a specialized renovation showroom. I’m working hard again, looking for that synergy.
Q. What is the driving force that keeps you going despite the hardships? My family. I used the money we saved for a house to open the shop. Most people would expect their spouse to object, but my wife trusted me. She stood by me even when I quit my sponsor visa jobs three times. It was the same when we moved to Australia. I think she is truly amazing. Most would have tried to stop me, but she always cheered me on. I believe I’ve made it this far thanks to my family’s sacrifice.
Q. We heard you recently obtained your builder’s license? Yes. I failed twice and finally got it on my third attempt. I was so happy. It happened right when I was pivoting my business because the material shop wasn’t doing well, so getting the license became a major turning point for me.
Q. What is your outlook on the tiling and renovation industry? I’ve heard that the tiling industry follows a 10-year cycle, but in my experience, I’ve always been busy. There is a growing demand for internal renovations where the structure of an old house is kept but the interior is completely transformed. I think the outlook is very bright.
Q. Do you have any advice for young people? I think it’s more important to have a clear, definitive goal rather than a vague idea of “gaining experience” in Australia. Once you set that goal, keeping your passion alive is crucial. For young people working in tiling, if you stay consistent and keep setting targets, you can eventually run your own business or become a builder. Regardless of the field, you must also work steadily on your English to truly carve out your own path in Australia.
Q. What sets your company apart from others? Renovations involve so many decisions. Since we have a showroom operated directly by a builder, clients can handle everything—from material selection to all renovation details—in one place. This saves a massive amount of time and effort. Also, because I am a builder with a background as a tiler, I have a major advantage in terms of fine details and finishing touches. In spaces like bathrooms, the quality of the tiling often determines the overall standard of the project.
Q. What is your current goal? I’ve achieved almost all the personal goals I set 12 years ago. Now, my goal is for my shop to be the first place that comes to mind when people in Brisbane think of home renovations, like bathrooms or kitchens.
Q. How do you spend your leisure time? Honestly, I’m a workaholic. Part of it is the effort required for the business, but as a father of four, I feel a huge sense of responsibility. I often work on weekends, and I feel guilty for not spending more time with my kids. Especially since starting the business, I’ve been struggling with the dilemma of having less and less time for my family.
Q. Is there anything you’d like to say to your family? I want to tell my wife thank you for believing in me, and tell my kids that I’m sorry and I love them. Also, I didn’t get here alone. There is someone who is like a brother to me who has been with me through everything. He gave up his previous job to join me. I’m truly grateful to him.
Final Words “I might seem reckless, but I’m someone who acts quickly. While that has led to some mistakes, I believe it has brought better results than just worrying and never moving forward. I want to continue building relationships with my customers in Brisbane and become known as one of the best renovation specialists in the city. Please come and visit us.”
