About Us

The Health Junkee Story

We started Health Junkee during one of the busiest seasons of our lives — running a business, raising two little ones, and trying to stay healthy in the middle of it all.

At the time, we were deeply involved in the trade industry, operating a successful family business that we had spent years building. While we were proud of what we’d achieved, we both found ourselves craving something different — a passion business outside the trade world. We wanted to create something that reflected our shared love for health, fitness, and people — something that inspired others and gave us a new sense of purpose and creativity.

We were always searching for ways to fuel our bodies without adding more to our plates. We didn’t have time for complicated routines, but we still wanted to feel good, stay sharp, and take care of ourselves.

That’s when the idea for Health Junkee was born: to make health easy, convenient, and actually doable — even on the busiest days.

How It All Began

For over a decade, we worked together in our trade business, which taught us so much — especially a love for business itself — but there came a time when we knew we wanted to build something of our own. We’ve always shared a passion for health and wellness, and we wanted to combine that with our drive for entrepreneurship.

We began exploring business opportunities — cafés, health food stores, gyms — but nothing felt quite right. Every idea we looked at, we wanted to reinvent. So instead, we created something new from scratch.

The idea came one day when the whole family was sick. Standing in the kitchen blending a smoothie packed with vitamins, we started listing all the supplements and ingredients we wanted to restock. That’s when the thought hit:

“Imagine if you could get all of this in one place.”

That was the moment Health Junkee came to life — originally envisioned as a sports and health supplement store that also served protein shakes, so people could taste and experience what they were buying.

The First Store — Bli Bli

Our first location opened in Bli Bli, right in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. What began as a supplement and sports store quickly evolved into a full shake and espresso bar.

We began serving premium Toby’s Estate coffee, protein-packed smoothies, and functional supplements designed to support real-life needs — energy, focus, gut health, recovery, and more.

What started as a retail concept soon became something much bigger — a local hub where people came to connect, recharge, and feel good. Health Junkee became a space for busy people who wanted to make better choices without overcomplicating their day.

The Move and the Reality Check

After some time, we made the decision to relocate to a smaller space closer to town. We subleased from another business, believing the location would bring new exposure and opportunity.

We poured our hearts into the move — the fit-out, the relaunch, the rebrand. But sometimes, even with the best intentions, things don’t go to plan. The new location didn’t bring the foot traffic we’d hoped for.

It was a challenging period that forced us to take a step back and really reflect on what mattered most.

The Lessons and the Pivot

Running a business while raising a family taught us more than any course or book ever could. There were sacrifices — time, sleep, and at times even our own health — but there were also countless lessons.

Somewhere along the way, what began as a passion project about simplifying health started to drift from its purpose. Our shake and supplement bar had slowly turned into a full-time hospitality grind. We found ourselves behind the coffee machine six days a week — pouring lattes, mopping floors, managing staff, and doing admin late at night — instead of building the lifestyle and balance we had envisioned.

We loved the people, the chats, and the community — but we couldn’t ignore the truth: we were losing ourselves. The business we’d created to promote health was quietly taking ours. We were running on caffeine and adrenaline, missing the very balance we were trying to inspire in others.

We’ve never been afraid of hard work — but we’ve always valued growth, gratitude, and living a life that truly feels good. And as much as we loved Health Junkee, we began to realise it had grown far from what it was meant to be.

There’s a Chinese proverb that says:

“If you realise you’re on the wrong train, get off at the next stop — because the return ticket is longer.”

That line replayed in our minds for months. We had built a brand around health, yet we weren’t living it for ourselves. Health Junkee had become everything except what it was supposed to be — it wasn’t giving us freedom, it wasn’t bringing balance, and it wasn’t nurturing our wellbeing.

So, we made the hard decision to step off the train.

Not because we failed — but because we finally had the courage to listen to our gut.

We realised that success built on stress isn’t success at all. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and we were both running on empty. Continuing out of fear instead of alignment would have meant losing the very thing that mattered most — our health, happiness, and family.

That was the turning point... someone had recently said "Pride is the biggest loser" and we we're prepared to loose anymore to something that wasn't serving us anymore.

So, we made the decision to close the physical storefront.

Where We Are Now

Health Junkee now lives on as an online platform for supplements, shakes, and wellness — still local, still heart-led, and still focused on simplicity.

We’re collaborating with local personal trainers who receive their own discount codes and can share them with their clients for exclusive access to our monthly store openings and product pre-orders.

At the same time, we’re sharing our own journey back to health — writing about rebuilding balance, rediscovering energy, and getting back to what matters most.

We hope you'll continue to follow our journey.

Love,
Chris & Natalie Jacobson