"I could've taken the safe option, but I didn't want to be mediocre in a job I didn't love. I had to take a chance on myself…"
Meet Jane Lu
The visionary behind Showpo, the global fashion brand, capturing the heart of millions of customers globally.
In 2010, Jane faced numerous obstacles, including a mountain of debt, a failed business, and unemployment. Despite these challenges, Jane refused to let them get in the way of her dreams. She secretly quit her corporate job to start a business, and put on a suit everyday to pretend to her parents that she was still working as an accountant.
Fast forward thirteen years to today, and Jane's hard work has paid off. Showpo is known worldwide for its trendy and affordable clothing that has a set mission to empower women everywhere. Alongside this, Jane has launched her the Lazy Ceo’s guide to starting & growing an online business online masterclass, The Lazy Ceo Podcast and is a part of the panel of Shark Tank Australia.
The Showpo Story
Jane had started out in the corporate world as an accountant, but realised the 9-5 cubicle life wasn't her jam. With her enthusiasm for entrepreneurship, she quit, and started a business running pop-up stores selling products from emerging designers.
It eventually folded, leaving her jobless and broke (and her parents none the wiser). But she wasn't put off. A month later, she launched Showpo.
What started with a laptop and two shelves of clothing in her parents' garage in Sydney is now a global fashion force, offering thousands of trend-driven styles, from clothes to accessories, and shipping to more than 120 countries.
Jane's social media savvy also made Showpo a disrupter in the retail scene. A keen user herself, she leveraged platforms like Facebook before many others did. This strategy paid off, and then some. Today, Showpo has over three million followers globally across its social media platforms.
They love Showpo for its fun and inclusive mission statement: 'fashion for everyone'.
The Lazy CEO
After more than a decade, Jane's social media handle, The Lazy CEO, still captures who she is. A fan of working smart, not hard, her ethos is one that Bill Gates once put well: "I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it."
To learn more from Jane and her journey, follow her business course on:
Follow Jane on social media:
The Lazy CEO Podcast
Conversations with the entrepreneurs behind some of the most iconic brands we all know and love. They’ll be sharing their stories of how they started and built these incredible brands and sharing the lessons they’ve learnt along the way.
But this isn’t just a business podcast, this is also about mindset, personal development being your best self. So wherever you are on your journey, I want you to feel inspired, empowered and entertained.
Listen Now:
Jane's Impact
Despite the CEO status, Jane has never taken herself too seriously; she's always believed work should be fun - and shared with a passionate, like-minded team.
A big focus of her career is promoting entrepreneurship and women in business. A role model to aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide, she regularly talks up the importance of learning through mistakes, and following your own path unapologetically.
In 2015, she co-founded Like Minded Bitches Drinking Wine, a Facebook group and website for female entrepreneurs and business owners to bond over their experiences. The community has since grown to more than 167,000 members, with meetup events held around the world which includes Bitchcon - a conference hosted by the Like Minded Bitches Drinking Wine.
She is also known for her numerous media and public speaking appearances, in Australia and internationally, and her active support of the local startup scene.
On The Horizon For Jane
She is also known for her numerous media and public speaking appearances, in Australia and internationally, and her active support of the local startup scene. Now including Shark Tank Australia as she is part of the panel of Sharks that help aspiring entrepreneurs from all over Australia. Jane is accompanied by Sabri Suby, Dr. Catriona wallace and Davie Fogarty alongside Robert Herjavec whom all have unique backgrounds and expertise airing on Channel 10.
Awards & Accolades
Jane and the Showpo team are proud to have won awards for their work. See a selection here.
- Top Social Retailer - Power Retail All Star Bash Awards 2022
- Top User Experience - Power Retail All Star Bash Awards 2022
- Top Social Retailer - Power Retail All Star Bash Awards 2021
- #3 Top 50 People in eCommerce - Inside Retail 2020
- Top Social Retailer - Power Retail All Star Bash Awards 2020
- Top Social Retailer - Power Retail All Star Bash Awards 2019
- Top Marketing Initiative - Power Retail All Star Bash Awards 2019
- Hall of Fame Inductee - Online Retail Industry Awards (ORIAS) 2019
- Best Pureplay Retailer - ORIAS 2019
- Technology Champion - ORIAS 2019
- Excellence in International Fulfilment - Retail Fulfilment Awards 2018
- Top Social Retailer - Power Retail All Star Bash Awards 2018
- #5 in Top 100 Retailers - Power Retail All Star Bash Awards 2018
- Online Retailer of the Year - ORIAS 2018
- Best International Conqueror - ORIAS 2018
- Best Site Optimisation & Design - ORIAS 2018
- Best Social Commerce Initiative - ORIAS 2018
- Most Viewed Fashion Professionals in Australia - LinkedIn 2017
- 30 Under 30 Asia - Forbes 2016
- Entrepreneur of the Year - Cosmopolitan 2015
- #35 Fast Starters List - BRW 2014
- Finalist - EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2014
- Australian Small Business Championship 2012
- Sydney Business Award Finalist 2012-2011
Press & Media
Jane's story has received media coverage around the world. Explore a selection of highlights below.
Read
- Jane Lu on Starting Showpo and “Shark Tank Australia” - Pop Sugar - 2023 Who is Jane Lu - Who - 2023
- Shark Tank Australia: Channel Ten announces premiere date for reboot of the show - with The Oodie tycoon, a tech guru and fashion queen as the new 'Sharks’ - Daily Mail - 2023
- Shark Tank judge and Showpo founder Jane Lu launches online course on how to start an online business - Smart Company - 2023
- How Jane Lu Balance motherhood and a multimillion-dollar fashion empire - Good Morning America - 2023
- CEO shares journey of ditching corporate job to follow her passion for fashion - Today - 2022
- Showpo Founder Jane Lu Reveals How She Went From Student Accountant, 'Broke' and Selling Clothes Out of Her Parents' Garage to CEO of a Multi-Million Dollar Fashion Empire, Daily Mail - 2021
- Showpo's Post Lockdown Glowup and Plans for Global Domination, Power Retail - 2021
- Showpo's CEO Acknowledges Her Mistakes, Power Retail - 2018
- Forbes Under 30 Summit Asia: Highlights from 'Inspiration and Drive' Presentation by Jane Lu, Forbes Asia - 2016
- Australia's All Women Start Up Club, The Australian - 2016
- Showpo, One of Australia's Biggest and Fastest-Growing Online Fashion Retailers, Breaks Into the US Market With Its First Store in LA, news.com.au - 2016