How Jane Lu turned a failed start-up into a $100m fashion success

The Showpo founder swore off fashion after quitting her job to focus on a business that failed. She soon realised she had learnt too much from the failure to walk away.

Jane Lu grew up with a fear of failure. Louise Kennerley

Sally Patten and Lap Phan

Feb 18, 2025 – 5.00am

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Jane Lu’s online fashion company, Showpo, clocks up sales of more than $100 million a year.

The business has come a long way since Lu, who appeared on last year’s Financial Review Young Rich List with an estimated fortune of $107 million, founded the company in 2010.

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Sally PattenBOSS editorSally Patten edits BOSS, and writes about workplace issues. She was the financial services editor and personal finance editor of the AFR, The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. She edited business news for The Times of London.