Gymshark Company Profile
Gymshark is a British fitness apparel and accessories brand, manufacturer and retailer, headquartered in Solihull. The brand designs, manufactures and distributes all of its own fitness clothing.
Ben Francis (CEO and Founder), first started printing apparel under the Gymshark name in 2012 when he was just 19 years old. He did this in collaboration with his school friend
Lewis Morgan, with whom he ran the business whilst studying at university and working in a part-time job. Its apparel was extremely popular which led both of them to drop their studies to focus on the business full time. In 2016, Gymshark was named as the UK’s fastest growing company in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100.
The company embraces the power of influencers and social media in its marketing. With over 5.5 million followers on Instagram, it is one of the fastest growing brands in the UK right now, being valued at upward of £1 billion. It pays upwards of over 100 influencers and top athletes to be ambassadors; these include
Steve Cook, UFC heavyweight champion
Francis Ngannou and upcoming boxing star
Ryan Garcia.
Gymshark Products and Services
- Fitness apparel for men and women
- Workout vests
- Hoodies
- T-shirts
- Shorts, legging, jogging bottoms
Ben Francis is the majority shareholder of Gymshark and is the main face behind the brand. His stake in the company is rumoured to be in excess of 50%. Co-founder Lewis Morgan has partially exited the business, but still holds a 20% stake.
In 2020, US private equity firm
General Atlantic purchased a 21% stake in the company, then costing it $261.7 million. Gymshark said it would use this to fund global expansion.
