Gymshark
Company History
Gymshark History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2012 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, United Kingdom
When was Gymshark founded?
Gymshark was founded in 2012 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, United Kingdom by Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan, making it 14 years old.
- Founded
- 2012
- Founding place
- Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, United Kingdom
- Founders
- Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan
- Headquarters today
- Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom
- Milestones documented
- 7 (2012–2024)
- Current CEO
- Ben Francis
- Acquisitions
- 1
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Founding in Bromsgrove |
| 2013 | BodyPower UK & Influencer Pioneer |
| 2016 | Sunday Times Fast Track #1 |
| 2020 | General Atlantic £1B Valuation |
| 2022 | Regent Street Flagship Opening |
| 2023 | £556M International Revenue |
| 2024 | Wholesale & Hybrid Retail Expansion |
- Where was Gymshark founded?
- Gymshark was founded in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, United Kingdom in 2012. gymshark.com
- Who founded Gymshark?
- Gymshark was founded by Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan.
- When did Gymshark start?
- Gymshark was founded in 2012.
- How old is Gymshark?
- Gymshark is 14 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Gymshark was launched in 2012 in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, United Kingdom by visionary founders seeking to modernise traditional practices across Fitness Apparel & Direct-to-Consumer Activewear. Through agile early iteration and rigorous financial controls, the business established strong unit economics before expanding nationally and internationally.
Founders
Ben Francis
Lewis Morgan
Key Milestones
Founding in Bromsgrove
Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan founded Gymshark in Bromsgrove, UK, screen-printing custom fitness apparel by hand in a garage.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgBodyPower UK & Influencer Pioneer
Sold out entire stock within hours at the BodyPower expo, pioneering modern fitness athlete sponsorships across Instagram and YouTube.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSunday Times Fast Track #1
Ranked as the UK's fastest-growing private company by The Sunday Times Fast Track 100, reaching £12.8 million in direct sales.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgGeneral Atlantic £1B Valuation
General Atlantic invested £200 million for a 21% equity stake, making Gymshark a British tech and apparel unicorn valued at £1.0 billion.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRegent Street Flagship Opening
Opened first permanent 18,000 sq ft experiential retail store on Regent Street in central London, featuring workout studios and community spaces.
Source: en.wikipedia.org£556M International Revenue
Achieved record global revenue of £556 million ($710M) with direct customer shipments across 180 countries.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgWholesale & Hybrid Retail Expansion
Expanded brand distribution into Selfridges and major US premium fitness specialty retail destinations.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMajor Acquisitions
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Gymshark Company History FAQ
When was Gymshark founded and who started it?
Gymshark was established in 2012 in Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom. The founders launched the enterprise with a clear mission to innovate within Fitness Apparel & Direct-to-Consumer Activewear, pioneering customer-centric solutions and transforming traditional marketplace practices.
What were the most important milestones in Gymshark's history?
Key historical milestones include its initial foundation in 2012, the rollout of proprietary operational and digital platforms, major institutional capital expansions, strategic corporate acquisitions, and its evolution into a recognized market titan generating $710M in annual revenue.
How did Gymshark survive historic economic downturns?
Gymshark navigated major economic crises and market volatility by preserving conservative balance sheet reserves, diversifying its core revenue streams across multiple customer segments, and leveraging low-cost operational infrastructure to maintain positive operating margins.
Where is Gymshark headquartered today?
Gymshark maintains its global corporate headquarters in Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom, directing enterprise strategy, regulatory compliance, technology engineering, and international customer operations from this central location.
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