At 19, a guy from Bromsgrove, Birmingham started a small business in his parents’ garage. He did this while studying and delivering pizzas to earn a few quids.
What began as a side hustle in 2012 quickly turned into a billion-dollar business.
This is the story of Ben Francis, the founder of Gymshark.
With a sewing machine and a passion for fitness and tech, Francis managed to turn his company into a global fitness powerhouse.
He once said: "Entrepreneurs and founders have to learn to be the most adaptable people in their business—otherwise, the business will outgrow the founder, or the founder will cause the business to stagnate or slow."
Read on to find out more about this local success story and some takeaways that might be helpful on your personal and professional journey.
Born in Bromsgrove, Birmingham, Ben Francis thought he was not cut out for school. His grades were average. At some point, he realised that this was simply due to his approach to studies rather than a lack of inherent ability.
Two things triggered this realisation and caused a transformation in Ben’s approach to school, life, and business:
Ben understood that the same framework applied everywhere. Whether in life or business, a good structure, consistency, and hard work are key to achieving better results.
His grades immediately changed from Ds and Es to Bs and As.
Frustrated by the lack of quality, affordable workout apparel, Ben decided to take matters into his own hands. While studying at Aston University and working part-time at Pizza Hut, he initially started Gymshark as a website for dropshipping supplements due to limited funds.
However, recognising a gap in the market for fitted, aesthetic gym clothing, Ben pivoted to creating his own fitness apparel.
Using a sewing machine and a screen printer in his parents' garage, Gymshark was born in 2012.
During his university days, Ben combined his passion for fitness and tech. In 2012, he created two apps, Fat Loss Abs Guide and Iphysique. Both centered around losing fat, building abs, and getting in shape.
Both apps were successful.
But Ben wanted to try something else. He wanted to build a business—a business that involved a transaction, where he would sell something people wanted to buy, instead of just creating apps with information.
The most convenient and cost-effective idea was a dropshipping fitness supplements business. It took Ben several weeks before he finally made a sale. He set up a website and sold fitness supplements online, sourcing products from different vendors and mailing them to the shipping address.
Then he stopped dropshipping and decided to focus on fitness apparel. Why? Because there was no fitness wear being produced that fit different body types.
Ben and his friend Lewis Morgan bought a sewing machine and a printer with the money they had, set up shop in Ben’s parents’ garage, and started crafting the Luxe tracksuit.
This tracksuit sold out within 30 minutes at the BodyPower fitness expo in 2013.
The rest is history.
Ben took to social media, Facebook and Instagram, to share his product and build a fitness community and grow the brand.
His products started gaining traction, and Gymshark began to grow at a rate that Ben couldn’t initially keep up with.
Ben’s main problem growing the company was finding an efficient way to produce the products. He decided to overcome his supply chain problems by bringing production in-house.
His strategy also involved investing in e-commerce infrastructure (like joining Shopify, which was also starting to grow) to improve product quality and delivery.
But Ben still felt that something was missing. He found himself suddenly at the helm of a rapidly growing company without prior CEO experience.
He decided to step down from his position in 2015 and bring in Steve Hewitt to lead the company. Ben explained that he lacked the skills necessary to grow and expand the company, and Steve Hewitt would do just that for the next 6 years. At this point, Ben Francis felt that he was ready to return as CEO, which he announced in 2021 after gaining significant experience in various roles within the company.
Since then, Gymshark has expanded into new markets in the US and Asia, with a recognised and established brand operating in over 180 countries.
Gymshark has built a global loyal fanbase, growing from a small startup in Birmingham to a worldwide presence.
Ben’s story provides valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs:
Ben Francis’s journey from a small garage startup to a billion-dollar fitness empire is nothing short of inspirational. His story is a powerful reminder that with passion, perseverance, and a willingness to learn, even the smallest beginnings can lead to extraordinary success.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or someone seeking to make a difference in your field, Ben’s story shows that every great success starts with a single idea and the determination to see it through.
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