Latest news with #BenFrancis
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gymshark tycoon issues X fake ads alert and blasts 'misinformation'
Midland Gymshark tycoon Ben Francis has warned his X followers over fake ads using his image. The gymwear company founder said his picture was used on the social media site to illustrate articles falsely claiming to have been produced by the BBC. Dragon's Den judge Steven Bartlett has also been the subject of similar bogus ads on X, which was formerly Twitter and is owned by the world's richest man, Elon Musk. READ MORE: Man buys £4million National Lottery winning ticket from Londis but sees none of cash READ MORE: UK faces 550-mile wall of rain but nine counties in England will be spared READ MORE: I tried new restaurant and they're 'really showing off' with £5 dish Francis, who is from Bromsgrove, co-founded Gymshark as a student at Aston University. His fortune was estimated at £725 million in last year's Sunday Times Rich List 40 Under 40. He posted on X: "There are some fake ads on this platform using my image for supposed BBC articles. As I say, these are fake and if you click on them, it takes you somewhere completely different. The more people that report these ads, the more likely X is to take down this misinformation." Bartlett responded to the fake ads featuring his likeness on X earlier this month, urging people to take steps to protect themselves against "scams". He posted: "Over recent months I've had thousands of messages flagging AI videos and paid ads that use my image on every social platform. "The crazy part is that these aren't normal posts - they are promoted adverts that are being boosted using Facebook, X or YouTube's advertising tools - this means someone somewhere is paying Meta and X to target people with scams, and Meta and X are collecting that money. "I've received so many (too many) messages from people who have lost money because of these scams - some of which are absolutely heartbreaking - and the horrible truth is that the people most at risk are some of the most vulnerable in society. " If the platforms can tag my face in a photo, automatically, it can spot it in a scam advert. If it can name a song in one second, it can spot an AI voice clone in a video." X tells advertisers: "Advertisers on X are responsible for their X ads. This means following all applicable laws and regulations, creating honest ads, and advertising safely and respectfully. This article describes our advertising policies. Our policies require you to follow the law, but they are not legal advice."
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Meet Gymshark founder Ben Francis, Britain's youngest billionaire
Ben Francis became Britain's youngest billionaire at only 28 thanks to his fitness apparel brand Gymshark, sported by the likes of Emma Roberts, Shay Mitchell and Chanel Iman . With his brand's valuation sitting at US$1.4 billion, according to Forbes, Francis, now 32, has plans for a big expansion with the opening of a 13,000 sq ft flagship store in New York. Ben Francis, co-founder of apparel brand Gymshark. Photo: @benfrancis/Instagram 'I love New York … it's the perfect place for Gymshark and I'm honoured to call it our North American home,' Francis said in a recent interview with the New York Post, adding, 'We have to be successful in the US in order for us to be successful around the world.' Here's everything to know about Gymshark CEO Ben Francis. He was 19 when he co-founded Gymshark Ben Francis was a teenager when he co-founded Gymshark. Photo: @benfrancis/Instagram Ben Francis grew up in England, where he attended South Bromsgrove High School, south of Birmingham. By 18 he had already made several failed attempts at launching a business. The idea of making workout clothes came to Francis when he, a fitness enthusiast, was looking to improve his own gym experience. In 2012, Francis and friend Lewis Morgan co-founded Gymshark in the Francis family garage. Francis was 19 at the time and working as a pizza delivery boy, says Forbes. The young entrepreneur reportedly enlisted his grandma for help with sewing the clothes, as per the New York Post. The brand grew steadily with the support of social media influencers. Francis even gave some influencers an equity stake in the company during its infancy, so they were keen to help it grow. He loves motorcycles
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Meet Ben Francis, Britain's youngest billionaire: he co-founded fitness apparel brand Gymshark in his parents' garage while still a teenager – now he's bringing the brand to the US
Ben Francis became Britain's youngest billionaire at only 28 thanks to his fitness apparel brand Gymshark, sported by the likes of Emma Roberts, Shay Mitchell and Chanel Iman With his brand's valuation sitting at US$1.4 billion, according to Forbes, Francis, now 32, has plans for a big expansion with the opening of a 13,000 sq ft flagship store in New York. Ben Francis, co-founder of apparel brand Gymshark. Photo: @benfrancis/Instagram Advertisement 'I love New York … it's the perfect place for Gymshark and I'm honoured to call it our North American home,' Francis said in a recent interview with the New York Post, adding, 'We have to be successful in the US in order for us to be successful around the world.' Here's everything to know about Gymshark CEO Ben Francis. He was 19 when he co-founded Gymshark Ben Francis was a teenager when he co-founded Gymshark. Photo: @benfrancis/Instagram Ben Francis grew up in England, where he attended South Bromsgrove High School, south of Birmingham. By 18 he had already made several failed attempts at launching a business. The idea of making workout clothes came to Francis when he, a fitness enthusiast, was looking to improve his own gym experience. In 2012, Francis and friend Lewis Morgan co-founded Gymshark in the Francis family garage. Francis was 19 at the time and working as a pizza delivery boy, says Forbes. The young entrepreneur reportedly enlisted his grandma for help with sewing the clothes, as per the New York Post. The brand grew steadily with the support of social media influencers. Francis even gave some influencers an equity stake in the company during its infancy, so they were keen to help it grow. He loves motorcycles
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Struggling sportswear retailer makes harsh cuts to stay afloat
Most wouldn't believe that a pizza delivery guy and his group of young university friends would come up with one of the most popular modern-day sportswear brands while lifting weights at the gym late at night. This company began with no financial backing in 2012 as a small, nearly blank website that sold supplements from third-party retailers. Two months after its debut, it received its first order, and slowly, it began incorporating apparel, if it could even be called that. 💵💰 Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter 💵💰 The apparel consisted of baggy T-shirts and tanks with a logo screen-printed on them, just like the ones sweaty weightlifters like to wear at the gym to show off their muscles. Related: Temu makes a huge dreaded change amid high China tariffs Nonetheless, this former pizza delivery guy had a vision and began producing and shipping the items himself. That's how Gymshark, the British activewear brand co-founded by the now self-made billionaire Ben Francis, was born. Gymshark reveals a new restructuring source:Gymshark rises to fame with its influencer marketing business strategy Like most companies, Gymshark had a slow start. However, Francis refused to give up on his dream and thought of a way to enter the community he so badly desired to win over. Francis began sending his merchandise to bodybuilders and weightlifters he admired to get their feedback. These athletes liked his clothing so much that they started promoting it to their communities. Related: Apple makes surprising move amid high China tariffs Influencer marketing was just emerging, and Francis implemented it in his business strategy at the right time. This led him to sign some of the biggest names in fitness to promote his brand and build a community that believed in Gymshark just as much as he did. Nearly 13 years later, Gymshark has four physical stores, a massive fanbase, and a huge e-commerce platform that operates in and ships to over 180 countries worldwide. Gymshark unveils a restructuring process to mitigate economic pressures For its fiscal year 2024, Gymshark hit a record-high revenue of over £600 million (around $801 million), up 9% from the previous year, making this the 12th year in a row of sales increases. However, pre-tax profits fell to £11.9 million, a decrease from £13.1 million in 2023, marking the company's third consecutive year of profit declines. "Looking to the future, it's no secret that the retail sector is feeling the strain from macroeconomic pressures. As such, we are ensuring we have a heightened focus on controlling our expenditure, so we are best set up to become a fully omnichannel business and realise our dream of becoming a 100-year brand continuing to make the best gym products for our consumers," said Francis in a statement.
Miami Herald
04-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Struggling sportswear brand makes bold retail store bet
It has all the markings of a modern success story. A fitness brand that exploded online, fueled by YouTube workouts, influencer buzz, and a loyal Gen Z fanbase. It nailed the direct-to-consumer playbook: community-first, influencer-fueled, algorithm-approved. Related: Lululemon faces new threat from growing rival But hype is hard to hold onto. And lately, the shine has started to fade. Growth has slowed, engagement has dipped, and the next era feels uncertain. Now, the brand is making a move that feels both bold and slightly old-school: opening a permanent store in New York City. Image source: Gymshark The brand is Gymshark, and this summer, it's launching a 13,000-square-foot flagship on Bond Street in New York. The space won't just sell product. It will host fitness classes, community events, and hangout areas - all designed to help the brand reconnect with the community it was built on. According to founder and CEO Ben Francis, the store is part of a broader push to strengthen U.S. brand awareness and spark a new chapter of growth. Related: Struggling sportswear retailer makes harsh cuts to stay afloat The business case is clear: in FY24, Gymshark reported £607.3 million (roughly $695 million) in revenue, up 9% from the year prior. But pre-tax profit dropped for the third year in a row, falling to £11.8 million. Meanwhile, about 40% of Gymshark's total sales now come from the U.S., making this flagship launch a high-stakes bet on its most important international market. For Gymshark, the store isn't just a location - it's a statement. The direct-to-consumer landscape is shifting. Online-first isn't a novelty anymore, and digitally native brands are realizing they need more than just scrollable moments to stand out. Like Glossier, Allbirds, and Warby Parker before it, Gymshark is embracing physical retail to stay relevant, deepen customer relationships, and build something that lasts. If the brand can evolve with its audience and use the store to expand its identity, this could be more than a comeback. It could be the reset moment that takes the brand from trending to timeless. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
