Are Gymshark The UK’s Answer To Nike?

To kick off 2021, Gymshark have released a dedicated running collection that features everything you could possibly need to refresh you wardrobe. Tapping into the lockdown-induced running boom last year their range offers simple but highly technical running apparel.

Gymshark are one of the UK’s fastest growing brands and during their relatively short history they have amassed a huge following. To give you some idea of their popularity, the company’s full-year revenues to July 2020 were an eye-watering £258 million.

The company was founded by Ben Francis, who is the major stakeholder, and Lewis Morgan, who left the company in 2017. They started out as a supplements business, drop shipping bodybuilding supplements through its website but soon began to manufacture clothing from Ben’s parents’ garage. (A garage being a must-have for any great start-up story.)

Growing year on year, Gymshark were one of the first brands to capitalise on Influencer Marketing, by simply sending free items to their favourite YouTubers. YouTubers of whom, have arms the size of legs, and legs the size of… well, legs! Realising the success and sway of these burly influencers, they doubled down and expanded their influencer posse.

Their meteoric success has seen Gymshark conquer the women’s athletic apparel market (so much so, that these make up 2/3 of all their sales) and the always sought-after American market, with Ben Francis having his sights set on becoming the UK’s answer to Nike or Adidas. And the well-timed release of a running collection backs up his lofty ambition.

On the whole, the collection offers minimalist items with cleverly thought-out features perfect for any run, which means the more gymphobic, feebler looking types like me can fit right in!