Some heavy lifting pays off for siblings
IMAGINE a specialised shirt with shoulder padding that minimises damage to your muscles and bones while you are working out.
That’s now become a reality after new gym clothing company Obsessed Gymwear was started by Townsville brother and sister team Nathan and Shannon Bill.
They are taking advantage of the fitness craze sweeping the country and the business is already making waves in the highly competitive activewear market.
The products are manufactured in Brisbane and are made from bamboo fabric including the new “squat shirt”.
“Nathan came up with the idea for the squat shirt in the gym while training and from there he got it patented four years ago,” Shannon said.
“That has paid off as we have already been approached by companies to buy the rights to it and investors looking to invest, which we declined for now.”
They still have day jobs — Nathan works at a mine and Shannon is with the Queensland Police Service — but their focus is increasingly shifting to the business.
She said starting the business was a “trial and error process”.
“We have had so many set- backs and nearly gave up several times but we have learnt to look for the positive in every situation now,” Shannon said.
The duo grew up in what Shannon described as a “very business- focused family”.
“Our dad is a financial planner and our mum owns Lenard’s at Kmart and The Avenues,” she said.
“Nathan went to Ignatius Park and I went to Cathedral for school.”
Now based in Brisbane, Shannon said other companies were looking to Obsessed to find out the secret to their success.
“A few company owners have asked us how we have had so much traction and grown so rapidly in 12 weeks,” she said.
“Many say it is luck but they don’t see the countless hours put in behind the scenes to start a company.
“We have so much more to come. It has been so hectic with how fast it has grown but we aren’t slowing down any time soon.
“We have created more than just a clothing brand.
“Obsessed is more of a family that people want to be a part of.
“We look after our brand reps like family and have regular catch ups with all of them.
“Even though they live all over Australia we fly them all to Brisbane so they can be a part of it because we are about helping them as much as they are helping us grow.”