History of Gymshark in Timeline

Gymshark is a British athletic apparel and accessories brand founded in 2012 by Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan. Starting as a fitness supplement vendor, Gymshark transitioned to designing and selling its own fitness apparel. It has become a prominent player in the activewear market, known for its online presence and influencer marketing strategies.

June 2012: Gymshark Founded

In June 2012, Gymshark Ltd. was founded in Solihull, England, by Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan. Initially, the company focused on selling fitness supplements.

2012: Gymshark Founded

In 2012, Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan, founded Gymshark while studying at university. Initially, Gymshark started drop shipping bodybuilding supplements through its website.

2013: Began Designing and Manufacturing Fitness Apparel

In 2013, Gymshark began designing and manufacturing its own fitness apparel. Francis manufactured the garments in his parents' garage on a made-to-sell basis using a sewing machine and screen printer.

2013: Exhibition at BodyPower Fitness Trade Show

In 2013, Gymshark exhibited at the BodyPower fitness trade show at the NEC arena in Birmingham and sold out of all its stock on the first day. The Luxe tracksuit went viral on Facebook, generating £30,000 of sales within 30 minutes.

2016: Lewis Morgan Exits Part of Gymshark Business

In 2016, Lewis Morgan partially exited Gymshark, retaining 20% of the company, to focus on his other ventures, property development company Ernest Cole and fashion label Maniere De Voir.

August 2019: Fitness App Released

In August 2019, Gymshark released a fitness app offering both free and premium plans, providing a range of workouts, video demonstrations, and customizable training plans. The home-based workouts gained popularity during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

2019: Opened New Office and Launched Gymshark Lifting Club

In 2019, Gymshark opened a new 8,000 square foot office in Hong Kong. In 2019 Gymshark launched the Gymshark Lifting Club, a gym and innovation hub, on the same site as its headquarters in Solihull.

February 2020: First Pop-Up Shop Opened in London's Covent Garden

In February 2020, Gymshark opened its first pop-up shop in London's Covent Garden.

August 2020: General Atlantic Purchases Stake in Gymshark

In August 2020, the US private equity firm General Atlantic purchased a 21% stake in Gymshark, valuing the company in excess of £1 billion. Gymshark stated it would use the funding to further expand globally.

2020: Utilized Social Media Influencer Marketing

As of 2020, Gymshark has utilized social media influencer marketing strategies by partnering with social media influencers. The company was paying 125 influencers to market the brand on social media platforms.

2020: Sales to Women Increase

By 2020, approximately two thirds of Gymshark sales were to women, despite the brand initially targeting men.

2020: Gymshark Valuation Reaches Over £1 Billion

In 2020, Gymshark reached a valuation of over £1 billion. In 2020 Gymshark sells online and it opened its first retail store on Regent Street, London.