From Garage Startup to Global Fitness: A Q&A With Tim French

At Fitness Superstore, customers often ask how it all started, what drives our mission, and where we see the future of fitness heading. To answer those questions directly, we sat down with our founder, Tim French, to share his story and insights.

From launching Fitness Superstore out of a garage in 2003 to building French Fitness into a trusted commercial brand, Tim’s journey blends entrepreneurship, innovation, and a passion for making high-quality fitness equipment accessible to everyone.

This Q&A highlights the most common questions Tim has been asked, about his background, his vision, and the two brands he’s built to serve both home and commercial customers.

Getting to Know Tim French

Q1: What first sparked your passion for fitness and how did that lead you into the business of fitness equipment specifically?

Entrepreneurship came first for me. My dad owned a Baskin Robbins, a coffee shop, and made investments, so I grew up around business. In high school, I was selling random things on eBay. By 2003, I was selling Bowflex machines out of my parents’ garage, and that turned into Fitness Superstore. 

The fitness side came later — over time I started training myself, three days a week, at CrossFit gyms, Orange Theory, and fitness centers. So really, I built the business first, and fitness became part of my life along the way.

Q2: What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?

It’s in my blood. Watching my dad showed me that you can create something of your own, and I always had that drive. Entrepreneurship meant freedom to innovate, to solve problems, and to make high-quality fitness equipment accessible to more people.

Q3: You’ve built two distinct brands in the same industry. What was the vision behind creating both French Fitness & Fitness Superstore?

Fitness Superstore started with remanufacturing — taking high-end commercial machines and rebuilding them to like-new condition. But customers wanted complete gyms, and with remanufactured inventory, it was impossible to stock everything consistently. That’s why I launched French Fitness: to complement Fitness Superstore, so we could always offer a full lineup of equipment, control quality, and build a new standard of commercial-grade gear at mid-market prices.

Q4: What does your own home gym look like? Is it a mix of French Fitness & Fitness Superstore?

At home I keep it simple — a French Fitness Dual Adjustable Pulley in black, an MAB30 bench, RIT24 rubber flooring, plus some bands and dumbbells. I mostly do physical therapy–style workouts there. Personally, I prefer competitive group training, so I usually work out at gyms on my commute home.

Q5: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about health and wellness besides equipment?

Consistency is everything. It doesn’t matter if you have the latest technology or the simplest gear — showing up and building habits is what creates long-term results.

Q6: What’s the most exciting piece of new technology or innovation in fitness equipment that you’re excited about right now?

The most exciting trend has been the overall growth in fitness interest and how cardio equipment has advanced with smart tech and tracking. Strength equipment hasn’t changed much — it’s still steel, cables, and plates — the main shifts have been aesthetic, like rectangular to oval tubing and silver frames giving way to black.

Building Fitness Superstore

Q1: What does refurbished and remanufactured mean?

Refurbished can mean a quick clean-up or tune-up. Remanufactured is what we do at Fitness Superstore. We strip machines down to the frame, sandblast and powder coat, replace upholstery, bearings, belts, electronics, and rebuild every component. Then we fully test it and warranty it. The end result is a machine that looks and performs like new, often better than new .

Q2: How does Fitness Superstore’s process of remanufacturing equipment ensure it’s truly ‘like new’ or even better?

Our process is essentially rebuilding from the ground up. Frames are refinished, mechanical and electrical systems are replaced or rebuilt, and every piece is inspected by our technicians. Because every unit is hand-checked, our remanufactured machines often exceed mass-produced new machines in quality control. That’s why we can back them with up to five years of warranty.

Q3: What are some myths about buying refurbished gym equipment that you want to debunk?

The myth is that it’s just “used equipment.” In reality, remanufactured machines are completely rebuilt. A treadmill from us has been torn down and rebuilt top to bottom. That’s a world apart from buying a used treadmill off Craigslist with hidden wear and no warranty.

Q4: What type of buyer gets the most value out of shopping at Fitness Superstore? Is it a beginner, garage gym owner, etc.?

Everyone benefits. Home users and garage gyms save thousands while getting commercial durability. Commercial gyms expand faster because they can buy three remanufactured machines for the price of one new. And beginners get a safer, more reliable experience than they’d ever get with entry-level equipment.

The Vision Behind French Fitness

Q1: For those who don’t know, how would you describe French Fitness?

French Fitness is our in-house brand of new, commercial-grade gym equipment. It’s designed to match the performance of the best global brands, but priced at a mid-range level. We cover everything from racks and strength lines to cardio, flooring, and accessories — all backed by long warranties and personal service.

Q2: With so many places to buy new equipment online, why should someone choose French Fitness?

Because we combine quality, confidence, and value. Our gear comes with a 10-year parts and 1-year labor warranty, assembled in the USA, priced well below the big names, and supported by our customer-first culture. Add in customization and showroom access, and it’s a package that most brands can’t match.

Q3: You’re helping people invest in what is often a major purchase. What are the key benefits of buying new?

The biggest advantage of buying French Fitness new is confidence. Every new purchase comes with our 10-year parts and 1-year labor guarantee, plus seamless ordering and delivery. We’re so confident in our quality that we stand behind it longer than almost anyone in the industry.

Q4: What is one piece of equipment from French Fitness you would tell every serious gym-goer to buy and why?

For an all-in-one system, I’d recommend the FSR90 or FSR100. For high-use gyms, hotels, or commercial facilities, our Tahoe and FFB Black strength lines are my favorites — they’re versatile, durable, and built to handle heavy traffic.

Q5: Why did you create French Fitness?

French Fitness was created to solve a problem. With remanufactured alone, it was impossible to stock every piece consistently. French Fitness let us control inventory, stock everything, and then obsess over quality control until our products matched top-tier standards. Today, I’m proud to say we offer top-tier quality at mid-tier prices.

Two Brands, One Vision: Accessible, High-Quality Fitness Equipment

Q1: How do French Fitness & Fitness Superstore work together?

They complement each other. Fitness Superstore offers unbeatable value by remanufacturing commercial-grade machines. French Fitness provides brand-new, customizable equipment with industry-leading warranties. Together, they give customers the best of both worlds.

Q2: When a customer comes to you unsure of whether to buy new or refurbished, what are the key questions you ask them to help guide that decision?

I ask about budget, space, and goals. If savings are the priority, Fitness Superstore remanufactured is usually the answer. If they want brand-new with full warranties and customization, French Fitness is the right choice.

Q3: Where do you see the future of fitness heading in the next 5–10 years, and how are both brands preparing for that?

Short term, I’m preparing for tariffs and supply chain risks by overstocking inventory. Long term, I’m focused on building our brand presence through our website, social media, video, and writing — showing the world who we are and why we’re a trusted resource. Fitness demand will only keep increasing, because nothing — not even AI — can replace working out. Our goal is to be the go-to resource for anyone who needs gym equipment, whether that’s a home buyer, hotel, police department, government facility, or commercial health club.

Q4: How do you help customers see fitness equipment as a long-term investment in their health rather than just a large expense?

I remind them that this isn’t just equipment — it’s an investment in their health, strength, and longevity. A single piece of quality equipment can deliver value for decades. The cost up front is small compared to the payoff in quality of life.

Summing Up

Listening to Tim’s journey makes one thing clear: Fitness Superstore and French Fitness were built with customers in mind. 

From rebuilding commercial machines to like-new condition, to launching a brand that delivers new, commercial-grade equipment at mid-market prices, both companies reflect his drive to make fitness more accessible without sacrificing quality.

As Tim reminds us, consistency in health and fitness matters more than any single piece of equipment. But having reliable, durable machines helps turn that consistency into lasting results. 

Whether you’re looking for the best new gear or the best value on remanufactured equipment, you’ll find the right fit with French Fitness and Fitness Superstore.