Ben Francis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Francis
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Francis in 2022
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| Born |
Benjamin David Francis
4 June 1992 West Midlands, England
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| Education | South Bromsgrove High School |
| Alma mater | Aston University (dropped out) |
| Known for | Co-founder, CEO and majority owner of Gymshark |
| Spouse(s) |
Robin Gallant
(m. 2021) |
| Children | 2 |
Benjamin David Francis (born June 4, 1992) is a British businessman. He is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Gymshark. This company makes fitness clothes and accessories. Ben started Gymshark in 2012 when he was just 19 years old.
Ben owns most of Gymshark, over 70% of the company. In 2020, investors valued Gymshark at more than £1 billion. This made Ben Francis a very successful entrepreneur. In April 2023, he joined Forbes magazine's list of the world's billionaires.
Contents
Early Life: Ben's Journey Begins
Ben Francis was born in the West Midlands, England, in 1992. He grew up in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. He went to South Bromsgrove High School. Ben first became interested in computers after studying IT at school.
His very first business was an online shop. It sold car number plates. As a teenager, Ben also started going to the gym. He learned that the hard work and routine from the gym could help him in other parts of his life. In 2010, he began studying international business at Aston University. He left university in 2012 to focus on his new company.
Ben's Career Path
Before starting Gymshark, Ben created two fitness apps. These apps were called Fat Loss Abs Guide and iPhysique. While he was at university, from 2010 to 2013, Ben also worked as a delivery boy for Pizza Hut. He earned £5 an hour. He stopped working there six months after he launched Gymshark.
Gymshark: From Garage to Global Brand
In 2012, Ben Francis launched Gymshark with his school friend, Lewis Morgan. They started the company in Ben's parents' garage. At first, the website only sold fitness supplements. Ben could not afford to buy a lot of products. So, he started by dropshipping items from other sellers. It took him six weeks to make his first sale.
In 2013, Ben decided to sell fitness clothing instead of just supplements. He began making the products himself. He used a sewing machine and a screen printer. He bought these with £1,000 of his savings. Ben even learned how to sew from his grandmother.
In 2013, Gymshark showed its products at a big fitness trade show in Birmingham. After the show, a tracksuit became very popular online. It went viral on Facebook. This led to £30,000 in sales in just 30 minutes! After this success, Ben left university and his Pizza Hut job. He wanted to focus on Gymshark full-time.
To make the brand known, Ben worked with social media influencers. These included bodybuilders like Nikki Blackketter. Gymshark was one of the first brands to use social media influencers a lot.
In 2015, Ben stepped down as the CEO of Gymshark. He became the chief marketing, brand, and product officer. He said this change would help the company grow faster. It also gave him time to improve his business skills. In 2018, Gymshark opened a new £5 million headquarters in Solihull. In 2019, the company opened its own gym and innovation center.
Since 2016, Gymshark has been on The Sunday Times Fast Track list. This list features fast-growing private companies. Today, Gymshark sells its products in 131 countries around the world.
In August 2020, Gymshark sold a part of its company to a US investment firm. This deal valued the company at over £1 billion. Ben still owns more than 70% of the company. In August 2021, he returned to his role as the company's CEO.
Awards and Recognition
In 2018, Ben Francis was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. This list highlights young, successful people. In 2019, he joined the UK Government's Business Council for Entrepreneurs. In 2020, Ben won the EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Ben was also honored by the Queen. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2023. This was for his services to the business world.
Personal Life
Ben Francis loves cars and motorcycles. He is also a big fan of the football team Aston Villa. He has a season ticket to watch their games.
Ben and his girlfriend Robin Gallant got engaged in April 2021. They got married on September 9, 2021. On September 8, 2022, Ben announced they were expecting twins. Their twin sons were born on December 24, 2022. In July 2024, the couple shared that they are expecting another child.
