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41 interviews · 10 quotes
In conversation
Ben Francis is the Founder and ambitious entrepreneur behind leading global fitness brand, Gymshark. Ben founded Gymshark when he was 19 years old, while still a student at Aston University. In addition…
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From the archive
I want Gymshark to be the brand that unites the conditioning community… that brings fitness into the reach of more people… gives people the opportunity to work on themselves physically and mentally. I wasn't very good at school. I got in the gym and then I was good at school because I applied the principles I learned in the gym to my general life. I want more people to have that experience.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
We don't necessarily hire the best CV, we hire the right CV. We try to hire the right people. If someone is 10/10 skills-fit, but doesn't seem interested in our long-term vision? I'd rather have the 8/10 candidate who's passionate about where we're going.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
I wish I could sit here and say that a group of us built a strategy, formula, and tried to work it all out – but it was nothing like that. It was organic. It was reaching out to our heroes on YouTube to see if they liked our kit. They loved our kit, they started wearing it and we started to get to know them – and eventually invited them to our events. It was super organic.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
If I acted 8 years ago how I do today, I wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes in the business. If I acted today how I acted 8 years ago, the business wouldn't be where it is today. Entrepreneurs and founders have to learn to be the most adaptable people in their business- that's really important – otherwise, the business will outgrow the founder, or the founder will cause the business to stagnate or slow.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
I was working on the principle that if you only listen to the voices around you, you'll amalgamate them into something that already exists… My view was that consensus isn't going to build something that will change the game.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
At the beginning I literally started a business out of passion. I loved fitness- it changed my life- it changed my schooling, education and taught me skills that changed my life for the better. I just wanted to be in fitness. When we started the business- whilst the first 6 months were difficult- it started to gain momentum and started to feel like a real opportunity. That's when I had to grab the business by the 'scruff of the neck' and drag it to where I thought it needed to be.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
I learned more from the people at those events – the community, the customer – than anyone in business.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
I learn every single day from my girlfriend, my family, from graduates coming into the business… I try to learn relentlessly.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
Entrepreneurs and founders have to learn to be the most adaptable people in their business- that's really important – otherwise, the business will outgrow the founder, or the founder will cause the business to stagnate or slow.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
If you only listen to the voices around you, you'll amalgamate them into something that already exists… My view was that consensus isn't going to build something that will change the game.
— Ben FrancisFounder and CEO of Gymshark, fitness apparel company
