At just 28, Ben Francisbecame Britain’s youngest self-made billionaire when his gymwear brand, Gymshark, skyrocketed to a $1.3 billion valuation. Now, at 32, he’s setting his sights on an even bigger conquest—New York City.
After this year, Francis will start a sprawling 13, 000-square-foot Gymshark shop on Bond Street, a walk he sees as essential to the company’s international success, reported the New York Post.
” I love New York … It’s the ideal place for Gymshark, and I’m honored to call it our North American home”, he told me. ” We must succeed in the US for to succeed globally,” he says.
Building a company, one business at a time
In 2012, Francis capitalized on the rise of health influencers and the growth in e-commerce to create Gymshark online. But then, he believes real stores are just as critical as a manufacturer’s online presence.
His second retail opportunity came in 2022 with a premier keep on London’s Regent Street. Dubai followed, and in later 2024, a Gymshark pop-up landed on Wooster Street in SoHo. Due to the success of that momentary store, Francis was able to commit to a permanent appearance in New York City.
” The town has been so supportive of our company vision”, he said. ” People you suddenly notice and feel the product we’re but proud of,” says one customer.” I think natural brick-and-mortar stores are actually sort of a new and different way to reach people.”
Unlike traditional athletic apparel stores, Gymshark’s locations are designed as community hubs, featuring workout spaces, personal training sessions, and room for fitness events.
surviving the fights over gymwear
The$ 25 billion gymwear market is fiercely competitive. While traditional players like Nike and Lululemon compete for supremacy against younger players like Alo Yoga and Vuori, brands like Outdoor Voices and Olympia Sports have folded. Gymshark, however, has carved out a loyal following with its sleek, performance-driven designs and strong influencer network.
Francis attributes the strength of Gymshark’s survival to its community, which he created from scratch by providing free products to fitness YouTubers long before influencer marketing was common.
” When I was getting into the gym, all the people I learned the most from were online on YouTube”, he said. When Gymshark first launched, we ended up sending products to a few of my heroes at the time.
Some of those influencers even received equity in the company, aligning their success with Gymshark’s meteoric rise.
From a grandmother’s sewing machine to a billion-dollar empire
Francis, who grew up in England’s West Midlands, wasn’t an overnight success. As a teenager, he engaged in numerous business ventures, many of which failed. But when he started Gymshark, he had a clear vision: create gym clothes that were breathable, sweat-wicking, and odor-resistant.
He took his grandmother’s sewing instruction and started sewing early orders himself. The brand’s rapid success was fueled by both its quality and Francis’ transparency—he let customers see behind the scenes of the business, building trust and loyalty.
” People nowadays are interested in the story behind a brand”, he said. ” They want to know who’s behind the scenes, who’s running it, and what the story is”.
Now, as he brings Gymshark to the heart of New York, Francis is betting big on a future where fitness isn’t just about working out—it’s about belonging.
