Community-spirited Gymshark prepares for key London store debut next month

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Sep 8, 2022

Gymshark is going big with its first foray into physical retail. The successful digital ‘fitness community and apparel brand’ is set to open its first ever flagship store on London’s Regent Street on 1 October.

“Despite many forecasting the death of the high street and bricks & mortar in retail, we don’t buy into that. We’re bullish on its future and we are determined to prove it,” the company said ahead of the expansive (18,000 sq ft) debut.

Gymshark said it was “lifting the lid on what our community can expect from the store and what they can get up to”, noting the venture “will live long in the memory for all those that come to visit”. 

While Gymshark’s key focus is on selling “merch and apparel” it has a much wider offer. Some of the key features will include The Sweat Room, an interchangeable sweat studio offering a rotating programme of classes for its community from 7am to close. The space also doubles up as a stage for bigger events.

It will offer around 30 classes a week and five community sessions, gifted to its charity partners, four Open Gym sessions and a Sunday Brunch event with a guest professional each week.

Then there’s The Pro Bench, an area where its experts will impart “stellar fitness advice to the conditioning community”. Anyone will be able to book 25-minute complimentary appointments with an in-store professional on disciplines ranging from personal training to advice to mindset.

The Hub is a space that can “mould, change and evolve” to host podcasts, panels, workshops, screenings, live streaming, Sunday Brunch Clubs and more.

“It is designed to speak to different communities, whether hyper local, domestic and international and will cover off a variety of topics, staying ahead of our community’s interests and predicting future trends in conversation”, said Gymshark.

It will host Community, Customers, Schools/Universities, Press, Athletes, Guest Speakers, hosting anywhere up to 30 people – with ability to grow into the flexible retail space for events of 100.

Finally, cafe brand Joe and The Juice is given space to serve hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, protein shakes and exclusive products.

Ben Francis, founder and CEO of Gymshark, said: “The team have done an absolutely incredible job creating a store like no other and the experiences are going to be unbelievable. But what I’m most excited about, especially after the past couple of years, is that we get to hang out with our amazing community on a daily basis. I cannot wait.”