Gymshark is an online retailer of high-end yet affordable gym apparel that is popular amongst the fitness community, influencers, and wellness advocates.
The company is ten years old but has made quite a name for itself. Gymshark has made ambassador and influencer marketing the main focus of its marketing strategy, allowing the company to reach its target market in an extremely genuine way.
Gymshark partners with some influential people, with many top athletes choosing to work with the brand and become Gymshark athletes.
Gymshark ambassadors are fitness advocates that identify with the brand's overall message and want to work alongside them.
And Gymshark doesn't look to cut costs and work with ambassadors on a short-term basis for a quick cash grab. Quite the contrary. The brand focuses on relationships with its team of influencers and wants to grow a mutually beneficial partnership.
The company is obviously doing something right, seeing as customers love this brand and Gymshark athletes typically have only positive things to say about the company!
This article will discuss Gymshark, examine its ambassador program, and show you how to become a fitness brand ambassador!
Gymshark was started in 2012 by school friends Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan. Gymshark designs, manufactures, and distributes its fitness clothing products. The company is now valued at over £1 billion in just eight years.
Gymshark first started by selling supplements online. Ben Francis wanted to combine his love of computers and programming with his passion for fitness, and he found that he could do that by being a third-party supplement seller online. The only issue was with profitability. So Francis got together with his friend Lewis Morgan and decided to try the apparel route.
Ben Francis and Lewis Morgan started Gymshark with a dream and a sewing machine. The pair wanted to create high-performing, log lasting gym clothes that looked good. In addition, they knew they could utilize social media to sell the brand and the Gymshark lifestyle.
Influencers played a massive role in that. The brand was one of the first in the fitness and eCommerce apparel space to leverage influencer marketing, and it has played a crucial role in its success.
Much of Gymshark's success is due to its intelligent influencer marketing strategy. It's hard to go on social media and find a fitness influencer that doesn't rock Gymshark. In fact, they work with many incredible athletes (both with large and small followings!)
When the brand first started to gain traction, it partnered with well-known bodybuilders, including:
These bodybuilders hosted meet and greets and would wear and promote Gymshark clothing. The brand found a sweet spot in influencer marketing; they could partner with famous bodybuilders, athletes, and trainers to make a mutually beneficial relationship. As a result, the brand could generate more income, and the influencers would build social proof and earn more, all while doing what they love.
There are many success stories of fitness influencers becoming sensations in the fitness space, all thanks to their partnership with Gymshark. Likewise, many of your favorite fitness personalities are Gymshark athletes.
Some official gymshark profiles include:
The youngest Gymshark athlete was David Laid, who began training when he was just 14 and started working with the brand in his teens.
As the first Gymshark athletes, they paved the way for others to work with the brand, which helped build a community and promote trust in the brand.
Gymshark likes to work with athletes that inspire their followers.
The brand aligns itself with athletes that share the Gymshark Vision, which is:
Be human. Being accessible, inclusive, and humble is at Gymshark's heart.
Give a shit. That means being conscious of the world we live in, caring for those around us, and being proactive to create positive change.
Do the right thing. Count on us to be honest, trustworthy, and genuine.
Find the Gymshark way. Refuse to forget the garage mentality that made us: ambitious, agile, disruptive.
Put family first. Unconditionally.
If you align with Gymshark's vision, you might be perfect to be a Gymshark athlete.
Gymshark has seen itself get into hot water, with many social media patrons claiming the brand promotes unrealistic beauty and body standards for both men and women.
Additionally, many of their original athletes promoted "bioscience," often signing fitness knowledge as fact, when it was more of an "if it works for me, it will work for you" approach that wasn't backed by exercise science.
This is something that Ben Francis has addressed, and it is something the brand has put effort into changing.
Now, the brand is switching its influencer strategy and focusing on working with influencers with different body types. In addition, they want to focus their energy more on creators with education in exercise science. So even if you don't have a six-pack, you can still work for Gymshark!
Gymshark does have an ambassador program. Gymshark has been working with influencers and athletes since influencer marketing took off. Gymshark invests a lot in its social media influencers because they can showcase its clothing in real time.
As a Gymshark ambassador, you can create fitness and wellness content for the company and earn money doing so. If Gymshark apparel is your go-to, you might be a perfect fit to join the program!
Gymshark is always looking for influential people to bring on as Gymshark athletes. If you want to be a brand ambassador for Gymshark, there are a few things to keep in mind.
The brand doesn't necessarily have specific criteria to sponsor athletes. Instead, they want fitness influencers to lean into what makes them unique. And, of course, they want you to do that while you wear Gymshark apparel.
The only advice that the company team gives about becoming a Gymshark athlete is as follows:
Simply put, it is not about the athlete — it is about your ability to positively affect others. Make sure to follow us on social media, tag us in your posts, and promote the Gymshark brand! We are constantly on the lookout for fresh talent.
Suppose you want to become a Gymshark athlete. In that case, the brand advises potential influencers to focus on their social media presence, fitness goals, and marketing and constantly engage with the brand on social media.
You might be curious about how many followers you need to become a Gymshark athlete. The number of followers Gymshark athletes have varies from person to person. What is more important is how engaged your audience is and the quality of your content.
Try to have around 10k + followers but a high engagement rate. As a Gymshark ambassador, you will need to boost sales and drive more traffic to their website. So the brand will look for a strong engagement rate.
Having followers interested in what you have to say and trusting your recommendations will make all the difference. If you want to be considered for the Gymshark brand ambassador program, aim to have the vast majority of your followers tuned in and interested in what you are promoting. Think of your audience as a community and work to unite them around a shared love of fitness and wellness.
Gymshark athletes can earn some great perks for working with the brand.
One huge perk is access to free clothing. If you have seen Gymshark athletes on social media, they are doing what they love, all while wearing head-to-toe Gymshark apparel. And a plus, they get paid well too!
The good news is that you will get paid as a brand ambassador for Gymshark. The pay grade depends on the size of your audience, your experience in the industry, and your contract with the brand. It is estimated that Gymshark athletes earn between $6,000 to $100,000 a year working with the brand.
Additionally, many Gymshark athletes leverage affiliate marketing to earn more money. The athletes will share their discount codes with their followers and generate sales. They will make a small commission for each sale they generate with their discount code.
Most influencers have several revenue streams, and affiliate marketing can be one of the most lucrative ways to earn extra money. The goal is to generate new customers and encourage them to shop on the Gymshark website.
Gymshark athletes are like any social media influencer. They help the brand get new customers, share their discount code, and make content for their followers that incorporates Gymshark apparel.
They want to inspire others to live an active lifestyle and reach their fitness goals.
Many ambassadors will make social media videos of them doing workouts, all while wearing Gymshark apparel. Additionally, Gymshark athletes participate in videos and photoshoots for the brand for their new product drops. If you like the idea of modeling Gymshark clothing, then the program could be an excellent opportunity for you.
Gym shark is always looking for new talent to bring onto their team. So if you have what it takes to be a sponsored athlete, apply to the program.
Ready to turn your customers into your thriving crew of brand ambassadors? If so, watch the epic CrewFire demo video or get in touch with us to learn how you can drive more referrals, word-of-mouth, and user-generated content for your Shopify store.
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