Building a brand requires tireless hard work and efforts that are unmeasurable. With the right hard work, you also need a leader who is humble, gracious, and has an easy going demeanor. Despite the rapid growth of Gymshark, Ben Francis the founder of Gymshark has remained true to his founding ethos: staying humble while building a brand as a community. Gymshark, a British fitness apparel and accessories brand that has taken the world by storm was started by Ben Francis in 2012 when he was just 19 years old. Since then Gymshark has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the UK.
Who is Ben Francis and What is his story?
Ben Francis is a 30 years old British businessman who is known for being the founder, majority shareholder, and chief executive officer of Gymshark, which is one of the biggest fitness brands in the world and is located in Solihull, England. Gymshark has rapidly expanded all across the world, with the United States becoming its main focus for expansion.
Ben loved the gym and working out from the beginning, and thus his ambition was simply to be involved in an industry that changed his life, in any capacity. At an early age, Ben was lucky enough to find his passion at the intersection of business, IT, and fitness, and he founded Gymshark in 2011 when he was only 19 years old. While juggling university and working as a pizza delivery driver for Pizza Hut, Francis bootstrapped the brand from his bedroom.
From this point, there was no turning back as he made a profit of £1,000 as well as developing two iOS fitness apps that managed to make it on Apple’s fitness charts. But wait, where did this idea of starting a fitness brand come from? As I previously mentioned, Ben Francis loved working out, and the Gymshark brand was established as a result of his frustration at not being able to find comfortable gym clothes. Ben started sketching out some ideas in his bedroom.
Ben decides to start making fitness-related clothing out of his parent’s house using the money from his side hustle. At the time, he was determined enough to ask his grandmother, a curtain maker, to teach him how to sew, which allowed him to keep his costs low by making and sewing the clothing himself. He then spent the next two years hand-making products with a sewing machine and a screen printer – a testament to his steadfast work ethic.
Factors behind Gymshark’s Success
Ben got involved in developing Gymshark, and even though he had to put a hold on his studies to pursue a degree in international business and management, he believes the knowledge he gained from his time at university helped him lay the required foundations of Gymshark. This allowed him to channel his expertise in business, sales, social media, and market research into the business world. The success of Gymshark is due in large part to Francis’s innovative approach to marketing and brand building. When he first started the company, Francis utilized social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and the video-uploading platform Youtue to promote his brand and connect with customers. He also utilized influencer marketing, and partnership with fitness influencers to showcase his products and generate buzz around the brand.
Ben’s approach paid off and within a few short years, Gymshark has become one of the most recognizable fitness brands in the world. Today, Gymshark has millions of followers on social media and the company has expanded to offer a wide range of fitness apparel and accessories for men and women.
One of the key factors in Ben’s success is his dedication to creating high-quality products that meet the needs of his customers. Gymshark is known for its innovative designs and high-quality materials and Francis is constantly working with the best in the team to improve and innovate the brand’s offerings.
Another critical factor in Gymshark’s success is its focus on community and inclusivity. Francis has made it a priority to create a welcoming and supportive community around the Gymshark brand, and the company is known for its inclusivity and diversity. Over the past few years, Gymshark has been successful enough to also expand into brick-and-mortar retail and has opened stores in key markets around the world. This has helped the brand to reach a wider audience and build even stronger connections with its customers.
In conclusion, the success of Gymshark is a testament to the vision and hard work of Ben Francis. A 19-year-old who was passionate about the gym and yet frustrated enough not to find comfortable gym clothes founded the biggest fitness brand in the world. Through his innovative approach and brand building, Francis has created a brand that resonated with fitness enthusiasts around the world. As Gymshark continues to grow and expand, it will undoubtedly continue to be a major player in the fitness apparel and accessories market.