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Essential Read: 'The Accidental Entrepreneur - The Juicy Bits' by Janine Allis

March 30, 2016 Melanie Hawken
Janine Allis, entrepreneur and author

Janine Allis, entrepreneur and author

The Accidental Entrepreneur tells the incredible and inspiring story of Janine Allis' journey from adventurous backpacker to becoming one of the world's foremost global businesswomen. In chronicling the challenges and triumphs of her story, Janine reveals step-by-step the essential tips for budding entrepreneurs wishing to change their life and turn their business dream into a highly-successful reality.

 

Packed with a wealth of tips, ideas and suggestions, this book will empower you to:

  • stick to your values and fulfil your passion
  • lead with conviction, honesty and integrity
  • build a loyal, resourceful and passionate team
  • structure your business to take full advantage of growth
  • take your business to the world stage.

With proven strategies and winning formulas, The Accidental Entrepreneur gives you the inspiration and motivation you need to bring your business idea to life.

Running a business is not as complicated as I thought. If you simplify everything, if you are sensible when making decisions, and if you look for the solution that exists for every problem, you’ll go far.

- Janine Allis, author and entrepreneur

 

In The Accidental Entrepreneur, author Janine Allis shares the secrets and skills that took her from housewife to entrepreneur to head of a multi-national corporation. As the founder of Boost Juice, Janine has journeyed from zero formal business training to leading a company with over 400 stores in 12 countries. This book takes you down the long road that she travelled, including some quirky stops along the way, and gives you valuable insight into taking the alternative road to business success. You'll learn how she captured the hearts of consumers with her love-life philosophy, and how to hang on to your core values, build the right team, listen to your customers and market like the big boys. As a working mother of four, Janine understands the demands of modern life, and shows you how you can accomplish your goals without sacrificing your health or your relationships in the process. Boost Juice is in more countries than any other juice bar in the world, employs 6000 people and for the past four years, has grown by an average of 30 stores and four countries every year. And it all began with one housewife in her Melbourne kitchen! Big ideas often start out small, and this book shows you how to nurture them into achieving their full potential. If you think the only way to build a prosperous business is to go to a top business school, think again! Janine Allis is living proof that alternative paths are valid.

About the author

Today, Janine Allis is the founder of Boost Juice and the executive director of Retail Zoo, which has over 500 stores in 13 countries and has turned over more than $2 billion since inception. She is also a Shark on the successful Channel TEN TV show Shark Tank. Janine is an adventurer at heart, having travelled the world as a young Aussie backpacker in the 80s, working her way up from a camp councilor in San Francisco to a Stewardess of David Bowie’s yacht. In 1999 during a trip to the US, Janine witnessed the juice and smoothie category growing steadily. Upon her return to Australia, Janine studied the local retail sector where she noticed a distinct lack of healthy fast food choices. After extensive research, she began to develop a business concept that was different to anything else in the world. Her vision was to “do retailing differently”, delivering a unique customer experience based on the “love life” philosophy. In 2000, Boost was born. Janine’s leadership style is natural, warm, giving and extremely demanding, which has created a high performance culture in her business, achieving amazing results. She has been presented with numerous retail, franchise and business awards and this year BRW named her one of fifteen people that changed the way Australia does business in the last 35 years. Janine and Jeff (Janine’s husband) were looking at expanding upon the Australian Boost business. The strategy was to utilize the solid foundation that had been created with Boost to be able to bolt on new and exciting brands and enable them to maximise their growth potential. Salsas Fresh Mex Grill was the first, and in 2007 they purchased a 4 store business and now has over 50 stores Australian wide. In December 2012, Retail Zoo acquired CIBO Espresso, the Italian espresso bar franchise that has wowed Adelaide for 12 years. CIBO Espresso shares the simple pleasures of the Italian lifestyle – wonderful coffee and quality food – in a stylish bar setting. It has 21 stores in Adelaide and three in Brisbane. Under the guidance of Retail Zoo, expansion is underway.

Their new baby into the business is a chicken shop call Hatch, which has huge potential in the Australian market. There are almost 7000 people working across the four businesses under the holding company Retail Zoo, for which Janine is now a director. Retail Zoo has over 400 stores that has turned over from inception just on $2 billion dollars. Boost Juice bars are also in over 12 countries outside of Australia. Based in Melbourne, Janine is a working mother of four. Her life is hectic so she understands first-hand the demands the world can put on an individual! Janine is an advocate for a healthy lifestyle – she maintains a five-day-a-week yoga practice and she is a very average surfer and tennis player…but loves both. Her previous book “The Juicy Bits - The Secrets of My Success” was published in 2013.

Website: www.janineallis.com.au


Why LoA loves it….

At LoA, we love those inspirational women entrepreneurs who think big ideas and visions for their businesses, and make them a reality, no matter how small they start out in the early years. Janine Allis is a role model for all those women in business who want to build a business and a brand that can go big, and are prepared to work flat out to get there. She is also a great example of an entrepreneur who thinks about doing things differently and, as a result, finds that key differentiator that makes her business and brand stand out in the marketplace. A real inspiration for all those women entrepreneurs who want to build a great business and maintain a strong and successful personal and home life too - it seems you can have it all if you work hard enough for it!
In Essential Tags Books
← Bernadette Umunyana - The startup story of a Rwandan leather fashion accessories company committed to Fair Trade principles and the training of young peopleSonia Mugabo - The startup story of a fashion entrepreneur in Rwanda, building a strong men and womenswear brand that celebrates local artisan craftsmanship →

Tech FoundHER AFRICA CHALLENGE

MEET THE 10 FINALISTS — We look forward to announcing the winning women founders on 19 November 2025.


CELEBRATING 10 YEARS


LATEST PODCASTS

Lioness Radio Show Interview: Listen to Mr Jules Ngankam, Group Chief Executive Officer of the African Guarantee Fund, discussing the journey from Bias to Bankable - AGF’s Case for Financing Women Entrepreneurs.

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LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
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Vanessa Mhlom, a South African wellness brand builder
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Dr. Phindi Cebekhulu-Msomi, an agripreneur focused on climate-smart solutions
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Retang Phaahla, a pioneer for South Africa’s indigenous teas
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Dr Margaret Kemigisha, a publishing entrepreneur passionate about childrens’ literacy

IMAGE OF THE DAY. CELEBRATING WOMAN MADE IN AFRICA.

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Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi
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Sustainable Home Decor…If you want to make a statement with your interior design and home decor, and at the same make a contribution to supporting eco-friendly enterprise, then these unique decor pieces from Qu
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Silk Sensation…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Eki is known for its signature soft silks and ethereal c
Image of the Day / ‘57 Chocolate

Bean to bar luxury chocolate… Taste the difference with the finest chocolate lovingly produced by ‘57 Chocolate, the pioneer bean to bar chocolate manufacturer in Ghana, created by sisters Kimberle
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Handcrafted home decor …We are big fans of the work of Manuela Kamadjou, an interior architecture and design entrepreneur who transforms homes and spaces in Cameroon through her business, Kebe Home. Her new Echo V
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Beautiful bracelets… Introducing The Aruba Bracelets by Katherine-Mary Pichulik, the founder and designer behind the Pichulik line of accessories. Pichulik is an ethical jewellery, accessories and womenswear atelie
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Vibrant textile design…This striking textile design by Eva Sonaike caught our eye this morning. Like the rest of the world, we love the African aesthetic which is increasingly finding its way into global interio
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Luxury statement accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The
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Traditional craft elevated…We love the impact-driven accessories created by Márcia Nangy O’Connell, founder and artistic director of Dathonga Designs in Mozambique. Since 2010, she has establis Image of the Day / Dounia Home

Statement lighting… from Dounia Home, the home of innovative, handcrafted and ethically made Moroccan lighting and home decor founded by Dounia Tamri-Loeper. Her company designs, produces and brings to market hi Image of the Day / Mash. T Design Studio

Award-winning furniture design…We are big fans of talented South African designer Thabisa Mjo, founder of Mash. T Design Studio in Johannesburg, and these fabulous side tables are firm customer favouri Image of the Day / Quazi Design

Sustainable Home Decor…If you want to make a statement with your interior design and home decor, and at the same make a contribution to supporting eco-friendly enterprise, then these unique decor pieces from Qu Image of the Day / Eki

Silk Sensation…Nothing is quite as luxurious as silk, that’s why we love the ‘Africa on Silk’ collections from Eki, founded by Hazel Eki Osunde. Eki is known for its signature soft silks and ethereal c Image of the Day / ‘57 Chocolate

Bean to bar luxury chocolate… Taste the difference with the finest chocolate lovingly produced by ‘57 Chocolate, the pioneer bean to bar chocolate manufacturer in Ghana, created by sisters Kimberle Image of the Day / Kebe Home

Handcrafted home decor …We are big fans of the work of Manuela Kamadjou, an interior architecture and design entrepreneur who transforms homes and spaces in Cameroon through her business, Kebe Home. Her new Echo V Image of the Day / Pichulik

Beautiful bracelets… Introducing The Aruba Bracelets by Katherine-Mary Pichulik, the founder and designer behind the Pichulik line of accessories. Pichulik is an ethical jewellery, accessories and womenswear atelie Image of the Day / Eva Sonaike

Vibrant textile design…This striking textile design by Eva Sonaike caught our eye this morning. Like the rest of the world, we love the African aesthetic which is increasingly finding its way into global interio Image of the Day / Adèle Dejak

Luxury statement accessories…We are big fans of luxury jewellery and accessories made with love and passion on the African continent, and Adèle Dejak in Kenya is the epitome of handmade luxury. The

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LIONESS BOOK REVIEWS

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Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams by Betsy Fore
Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams by Betsy Fore
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The Magnetic Female Entrepreneur: The Art of Empowered Presence, Rising to New Levels of Impact and Influence, and Financial Success on Your Own Terms by Mary Grant
Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out  by Fiona Soutter
Women Entrepreneurs Rewired To Rise: Powerful Habits that Break Through Burnout, Silence Your Inner Critic, and Build a Thriving Business from the Inside Out by Fiona Soutter
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
Dream Big and Win: Translating Passion into Purpose and Creating a Billion-Dollar Business by Liz Elting
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin
After the Idea: What It Really Takes to Create and Scale a Startup by Julia Austin

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