A woman’s courage turns into growing online business
Founder of JL Shopping Assistant, Janice Lus said her business was never born from profit but from the genuine desire to help others.
Janice’s story began years ago in Kokopo, East New Britain Province, which is the home of the beloved PNG National Rugby League Team, Rabaul Gurias.
During her stay there, she noticed that people from across the country adored the club’s merchandise, especially the T-shirts.
Many of them reached out to her, asking if she could help buy the T-shirts and send them back to their provinces.
She agreed not for money, but simply to help. Some customers insisted on giving her a few kinas for bus fare and a soft drink, but she never asked for more.
What began as a simple act of kindness, has now grown into one of the most heart-warming small business success stories, to emerge from Papua New Guinea.
From a Helping Hand in Kokopo to a Digital Business Owner.
That spark eventually grew into JL Shopping Assistant, an online digital service, that now supports customers from West Sepik and around PNG.
A journey marked by struggles and unshakable determination.
In an interview with NBC West Sepik, Janice bravely opened up about the challenges she continues to face daily. She did not sugar-coat anything, but spoke with honesty, courage and the vulnerability faced, hoping that at least one young woman listening, would feel less alone.
Despite not living with her family, she is still struggling daily to build her life.
She moves from place to place, looking for stability, a safe space to rest, work, and grow her small business.
Yet, despite these hardships, there is something unmistakable in her eyes: a fire that refuses to die out.
Her dream is simple but powerful - to one day open her own mini shop, a place where helping others becomes not just a service, but a livelihood.
A Business Born from Service, Not Profit.
Today, JL Shopping Assistant is active on Facebook and operates as a service-oriented online business.
Janice focuses mainly on helping.
SME mothers who are too busy with market sales to run and restock, or customers outside the province who need shopping done in Batas, Indonesia, to individuals who need help with errands, such as NID office follow-ups.
Her other clients include those around PNG who need items bought and freighted to them, or individuals who need goods such as electronic gadgets, kitchen utensils and so forth, to be ordered from overseas countries like Philippines.
A small commission only enough for bus fare and a cold drink.
“It’s still business,” she says, “but for me, it’s more about service. Helping people who don’t have the time, the distance, or the opportunity to do it themselves.”
From one mobile phone to international reach, Janice started her entire operation using nothing more than a mobile phone, data for internet, and a lot of faith.
She didn’t have capital. She didn’t have equipment. She didn’t have a shop. But she had determination.
And today, her business has already expanded beyond PNG. She is now partnering with a supplier in the Philippines, acting as their agent in the province and around the country — connecting local customers with international products.
“It was a leap of faith,” she recalls. “I didn’t know if I could trust the process. But I tried anyway.
Like many young entrepreneurs, Janice’s journey has been far from smooth. She shared one of the most painful moments in her business becoming a victim of card cloning.
A customer sent money for shopping. The amount appeared in her account. But when she went to withdraw it, the money was gone stolen.
She was devastated. Discouraged, and almost gave up, but she did something truly remarkable:
She refunded her customer using her own money, even though she never recovered the stolen amount.
“That experience taught me to be strong,” she said. “No matter how hard it gets, never give up.”
Janice hopes that her story inspires young women, especially those facing challenges similar to hers.
She encourages them not to wait for marriage or someone else to fix their financial struggles.
“You don’t need money to start a business,
“With today’s technology, you can start with what you have. Find what you’re good at and grow from there.” JAnice said.
Whether it’s shopping, freight assistance, running errands, or helping with government office follow-ups, JL Shopping Assistant stands as a dependable helping hand for anyone who needs it.
All she asks is a token of appreciation bus fare and a cold drink.
To many, this may look like a small business, but to those she has helped, it is a lifeline.
Janice Lus is more than just a small business owner. She is a living example of resilience, courage, and quiet strength.
Her story is a reminder that success does not always start with money, power, or connections. Sometimes, it begins with something as simple and as powerful as helping another person.
From Kokopo to West Sepik, from PNG to the Philippines, and from an idea to a dream in motion, JL Shopping Assistant continues to grow one small act of kindness at a time.
Her journey is far from over, but her message is already clear.
"Never give up. Start with what you have. And let kindness lead the way."