Meet The Founder Behind Gym Shark: Ben Francis

The 26-year-old from Birmingham would never have imagined that six years after, his business is going to turnover £100million.

Eager gym goer Ben began Gymshark – which sells fitness attire and accessories online only – he always wanted to discover a way to earn money in the fitness business.

He previously began selling health supplements yet couldn’t make a lot of benefits on them. At the point when he was unable to discover fitted workout clothes that he needed to wear; he chose to take a stab at making garments.

He figured out how to sew from his grandmother and would make around 10 products per day by hand subsequent to purchasing a sewing machine and a screen-printer.

Work Ethic

The business visionary, who lives with his Canadian fitness model sweetheart Robin Gallant, did this while studying at Aston University full-time and working each night as a pizza conveyance driver.

He told the BBC: “I’d wake up and go to Aston University [Birmingham], then finish university classes early afternoon, and work at Pizza Hut from 5 pm till 10 pm.

“I could answer messages [about his business] in the middle of delivery. Then I’d return home and sort out the website and plan new products.”

Success

He kept up this debilitating system for a very long time until the maturing business had enough revenue of £250,000 every year.

Ben – who likewise ran two private ventures as a young adult, including a fitness tracking application – chose to drop out of college, and keep his focus on Gymshark full time.

Presently the business has 1.2 million clients and 215 representatives at its Solihull central headquarters, as indicated by the BBC.

Launching Gymshark

The way into Gymshark’s popularity was utilizing online media influencers to elevate the brand’s products to a great many followers.

Ben sent his products to fitness models, for example, weightlifter Lex Griffin, who has 392,000 followers on Instagram, who at that point raved about the brand on his page.

He likewise ensured Gymshark’s own social media accounts were attractive, with appealing models presenting in Gymshark apparel.

It worked, as the organization’s Instagram account has 2.4million followers.

Gymshark likewise hires influencers to be brand representatives called “Gymshark Athletes,” and they venture to the far corners of the fans and while also advancing the brand.

Ben’s better half, Robin, is additionally a Gymshark Athlete.

Ben disclosed to Drapers magazine: “One of the examples I generally use is that I wanted to meet, say, a Nike[-sponsored] competitor, the nearest I’m probably going to get to them is in the event that I pay to go to a football game and see them from the stands.

“We need our team to be as accessible as conceivable to the more extensive Gymshark community.”

Ben gave over the title of CEO to athletic apparel veteran Steve Hewitt, who held a senior position at Reebok and Adidas, a year ago, though he’s still holding a larger part of the company’s shareholders.

The accomplished pair of hands has helped the business to develop significantly further, Ben accepts.

The business presently just sells clothing online, however, Ben is considering opening a physical store soon.

Fiona Paton, a senior retail expert at market research company GlobalData, disclosed to Drapers why Gymshark has been such a triumph.

She stated: “Gymshark has utilized fitness stars wearing the brand and advancing it online with extraordinary achievement, permitting it to arrive at its objective market directly.”