Gymshark was founded by Ben Francis and his school friend Lewis Morgan in 2012. After attending, he knew that if he wanted Gymshark to be known in the fitness industry, hed have to exhibit there. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. But Lewis knows their success wouldn't have been possible without the support of his and Ben's families, who have been there every step of the way. Born in the West Midlands region of England in 1992, Francis grew up dreaming of a career as a soccer player but quickly realized he wasn't good enough to make it as a pro. I cover the world's richest people and how they made their billions. This valued the company at over 1 billion. In 2012, at the age of 19, Lewis Morgan and Ben Francis founded the Gymshark Company. This helped it reach 5.6 million followers on Instagram and almost 2 million on Facebook. Another thing Lewis is passionate about is telling his story with the hope of inspiring other people to achieve their goals. Francis had voiced several times that Morgan had left the company in 2014 due to the pair having different visions which tells a contrasting story to what Morgan had to say. Sportswear with a difference! "Sothen those two things just sort of came together and I started making a load of fitness websites, more for fun than anything," he explained. [11], Before launching Gymshark, Francis developed two fitness applications, Fat Loss Abs Guide and iPhysique. Ben partnered with his school friend, Lewis Morgan, in 2012, and the pair sought a plan to dominate the fitness industry. It is fascinating that Ben Francis and his friend Lewis Morgan started this fitness brand, Gymshark in June 2012 while studying at a university. They began handing out free gear to weightlifting influencers on social media, sending Gymsharks daily sales volume soaring from $450 worth of merchandise a day to $45,000. The businessman said his mum Kim is 'amazingly supportive' and has never told him to stop. [6][9] The website initially sold fitness supplements. The expo was filled with supplement brands, with bodybuilders signing autographs at the back of their stands. Ben Francis started sewing his own workout gear as a 19-year-old college student and pizza delivery guy in 2012. I don't have a role model as such but I have definitely benefited from knowing an amazing group of people who all went to South Bromsgrove High School with me. 'I'm worth 125m at 28 - but I'm just proud I can look after my mum' - Mirror Online. [23] Since 2016, Gymshark has been listed on The Sunday Times Fast Track of fast-growing private companies. Francis founded the company in 2012 alongside his friend Lewis Morgan, selling fitness supplements from a garage that acted as their office. Its also added US entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk as an advisor to its board to assist with marketing and brand development in North America. What was your 'eureka moment' when you realised you had a good business? Francis then embarked on a guerrilla marketing campaign that relied on paying small amounts to fitness stars with intense online followings, handing out as little as $500 a month to influencers who would flaunt Gymshark clothes in their videos. Lewis Morgan, 28, and his friend Ben Francis, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, set up Gymshark when they were at university, working from their parents' houses. We wanted to go to university and make money on the side doing whatever we could. Despite his soaring success as a businessman, Lewis - who is worth 125m - said that he's most proud to step back and look after the people he loves most. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Boris Johnson to marry pregnant partner Carrie Symonds with baby due early summer, Gini Wijnaldum explains how Jurgen Klopp's dog almost scuppered Liverpool transfer, Host of celebrities step out in their best frocks at fashion's biggest night of the year as the Met Gala 2023 red carpet is officially declared open, First look at King Charles 'priceless' golden Coronation robes with sweet tribute behind them, Olympic hero Sir Steve Redgrave's harrowing health battle as he breaks silence on diagnosis, Six heartbreaking signs that someone you love is months - or even days - away from dying, Young Leeds fan's father breaks silence after vid of players ignoring his son, 'MINI ME': Princess Charlotte is spitting image of her mum Kate in adorable new birthday picture taken by the Princess of Wales, Woman stabbed to death in broad daylight attack in London, Sky Sports presenter is surprise No.1 choice to replace Jeff Stelling on Soccer Saturday, Lawsuit demands release of Prince Harry's US visa records after drug admissions, Paris Hilton's debut Met Gala entrance BLOCKED by climate change protestors, Tragic dad crushed in indoor cave 'read poem by daughter' as he lay on death bed, Strictly's Kevin Clifton shares hidden battle as he celebrates 'wonderful five years', Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers. "But that's not saying that the U.K. is where it starts and ends for us, we also want to be a truly global brand.". Francis stepped back as CEO six years ago, handing the reins to then-managing director Steve Hewitt, a former director at Reebok. To mark its ten-year anniversary, the sportswear brand is opening its first bricks & mortar store, taking a 18,000 sq ft premium retail unit on London's Regent Street. He posted pictures of himself at No 10 last July, with one captioned: From the sewing machine to 10 Downing Street.. In 2011, Ben was a 19-year-old student at Birmingham's Aston University. I am very proud to be in the position I am. This was more than theyd sold in their entire history. Check out: 32-year-old founders of multimillion-dollar app share their No. When he got home from the expo, Francis decided to turn the store back on, sharing on Facebook that it was live again. "I just wanted to step back and look after the people I love most. Francis was a member of the UK Government's Business Council for Entrepreneurs in 2019. It was in 2011, as a 19-year-old student at Birmingham's Aston University, that Francis then created the first version of the Gymshark website. After a few months of dropshipping, Francis bought a screen printer and sewing machine with the help of his brothers and friends. Im always learning from them and Ill try to continue to do so.. EXCLUSIVE: Gymshark boss Ben Francis has visited Downing Street after making 73million by the age of 26 - but has now been caught on camera snorting cocaine. Instead of trying to fast-track his success, Francis began manufacturing clothes with his very own hands in his family home. [31][32], In 2020, Francis was awarded the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He now owns a successful fashion label, Maniere De Voir, with business partner Reece Wabara, which is set to turnover 20million, and is setting his sights on the property market. He tells Mirror Online. Confronted with the cocaine video, Francis who has almost 200,000 followers on Instagram said: Four years ago, I was a young guy. [35] Their twin sons were born on 24 December 2022. At the same time, Francis was having trouble finding outfits that would show off his muscles. Ben Francis, is a 29 year old British businessman who is known for being the founder and chief executive officer and majority shareholder of Gymshark, one of the biggest fitness brands in the world which is located in Solhull, England and rapidly expanding across the world with the US becoming its main focus of expansion. In the year that followed, net income more than doubled to $68 million while revenue grew by 78% to $608 million. [14], Gymshark began life as a supplements company. Gymshark began in 2012 when Ben, along with. Hes nowhere near as rich as he boasts, nor as poor as his critics claim. [11], In 2013, he exhibited Gymshark's products at the BodyPower fitness trade show in Birmingham. Francis then started organizing popups called "We Lift This City" in cities around the world where fans could snag exclusive gear. Burial was in the Morgan Cemetery, near Ronceverte. Ben Francis co-founded Gymshark with his friend Lewis Morgan in 2012 Who is Ben Francis? Orders started flooding in, and within 30 minutes, theyd sold out of everything. He took a stab at college when he enrolled at Birminghams Aston University at age 18, delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut at night and spending his free time at the gym. Ben Francis, CEO and Founder of Gymshark. [11] Gymshark was one of the first brands to make extensive use of social media influencers. Although the latest profit numbers arent available, for the year ended 2020 they increased to over 24 million, up from just under 15 million in 2019. The three-floor, 18,000 sq. "Our story is incredible. Speaking about his mum Kim, he said: "She's been amazingly supportive. That same year, Francis was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe List. The New York Red Bulls made headlines last December upon acquiring Lewis Morgan from Inter Miami CF in exchange for $1.2 million in General Allocation Money over two years - at the time, the . How Charles JPMorgan takes control of First Republic's $92 BILLION deposits but not company's $100B corporate debt or 'The Dingoes' frontman and musician Broderick Smith dies 'peacefully' at the age of 75, Michelin-star chef shocks fans with plan to add semen-based dish to his menu. Lewis Morgan was a retail assistant at a menswear store and a pot washer at a local hotel. 5. Dillon Francis is a resident deejay at the acclaimed Wynn Las Vegas, and this year he celebrates a decade of performing at the nightclub. So he got his head down and studied, earning myself a place on a business management course at the University of Worcester. new documentary that's been sweeping the festival circuit with its exploration of the impact of being kind. Age. Ben would eventually quit university too. All Rights Reserved. These included Lex Griffin and Nikki Blackketter. We're incredibly close. It's the easiest and most affordable way to attract more customers and make more sales. Nike is still the business to watch for me. The business has since grown to become one of the world's most popular brands, with the company now valued at over 1billion. Being able to look after his mum and three sisters. Biographies of Francis Lewis and Morgan Lewis by Delafield, Julia, 1801-1882. I'd tell myself to focus on building my dream because it would all be worth it. Finally, in 2020 US private equity firm General Atlantic bought Morgans 21% stake in the company for about 200 million. It is one of the fastest-growing companies in Britain, recording 18.4m in pre-tax profits on 176m of revenue in the year to end-July 2019. I want to share my journey and everything I've learnt on the way. Single Anthony Joshua discloses way to his heart as he goes on blind date with fan, 'I make 2,000-a-month by going through people's rubbish - and found 310 vacuum', 'I hired an escort and my best friend's mum turned up', Tattoo addict shares jaw-dropping photo of how he looked before inkings, Would you cheat?