Getbig.com: American Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure
Getbig Main Boards => Gossip & Opinions => Topic started by: SF1900 on July 05, 2016, 09:51:09 AM
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Phil "The Gift"Heath, reigning and 5-time Mr. Olympia champion, has parted ways with supplement company, Gifted Nutrition. In this exclusive FLEX interview, Phil Heath explains the end of his association with Gifted Nutrition.
FLEX: What was your motivation for starting Gifted Nutrition?
PHIL HEATH: I was ready to start building my personal brand, what I envisioned as an elite health, wellness, and fitness brand. I wanted to create a company that would offer customers solid products that were tested for superior quality and taste. Other Mr. Olympias before me had started similar enterprises, and I thought I was ready to own a company that would provide me with greater financial stability after my competitive days were over.
In general, your Mr. O predecessors started their lines of products after they retired. Why not wait?
That’s true—it would’ve been a lot easier to work for another company while I’m still competing, but I wanted to take on the challenge of creating my own company. I have a business degree, and I know that starting any new business venture is extremely risky, but it was a move I thought I was ready to make. In hindsight, there might be some wisdom in waiting until retirement, when I could dedicate all my time to overseeing all aspects of the venture. What can I say? Some lessons you learn inexpensively, while others, unfortunately, can be very expensive.
What are some of the things you learned in launching Gifted?
It takes a lot to launch a supplement line! I learned how the sports nutrition industry works—from operations and financial breakdowns to product SKUs and marketing. I also learned that it is extremely difficult to create a supplement company in this over-saturated market, and that, in terms of success or failure, teamwork is a must in every aspect.
Why did you decide to leave the company you started?
Basically, I learned that the company finances had been mismanaged—by others who were in charge of day-to-day operations. Some people will say, ‘Hey, you were the President of GN for the last year—weren’t you also in charge of operations?’ But my role in the company, the job I performed by giving 100% effort toward the goal of growing Gifted, was making worldwide public appearances in support of GN, promoting GN products on multiple platforms—spreading the word wherever and whenever I could—and winning Mr. Olympia.
While I was out doing that job, there were others tasked with carrying out day-to-day financial operations, but they let me down. They let GN down. Sure, there were growing pains early on—for example, there was a manufacturer who falsely claimed they had FDA approval, and then we had to change manufacturers, which meant GN absorbed a huge loss. But finally, when there were signs of internal wrongdoing, conduct I couldn’t condone, it started to seem like there was no light at the end of the tunnel.
How much did you profit from Gifted Nutrition?
I never profited from GN. I never received a paycheck, nor was I reimbursed for my expenses. I paid for my own flights, hotels, food, and other expenses on numerous GN trips, which was contrary to my agreement with GN. To be clear, I did not finance the company, but I did pay for the company payroll twice after finding out that GN was unable to do so. In reality, I am a creditor of Gifted Nutrition.
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*yawn*
Phillippe Heath following in the footsteps of Bostin Lloyd
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*yawn*
Phillippe Heath following in the footsteps of Bostin Lloyd
Phil Cheath is moving on to bigger and better things. ??? ???
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I will be curious tinder who signs him and for how much. I would not sign him. For what? What would be the ROI? Bodybuilding is so niche and the popularity seems to be with the YouTube crowd.
He was effectively the president of the company and is blaming others for it being mismanaged. Why not admit you don't know what you're doing in addition to the market being over saturated.
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I will be curious tinder who signs him and for how much. I would not sign him. For what? What would be the ROI? Bodybuilding is so niche and the popularity seems to be with the YouTube crowd.
He was effectively the president of the company and is blaming others for it being mismanaged. Why not admit you don't know what you're doing in addition to the market being over saturated.
He should get with a shoe company and market a workout shoe. How is it that Crossfit has a shoe line from Reebok, and Phil Heath does not? Especially since the Crossfit shoes are essentially gym workout shoes. There maybe some cache in having 5X Mr. O, The Gift, with a "Count each workout like a Gift" tagline (or something like that) endorsement on the box. They could market the shoe as a gym/Crossfit shoe.
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I doubt most of these new guys with make anything much off the supplement market, unless they venture into prohormone/grey market stimulant/research chemical stuff. No one, in the States at least, cares that champ x endorses company xyz anymore.
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He should get with a shoe company and market a workout shoe. How is it that Crossfit has a shoe line from Reebok, and Phil Heath does not? Especially since the Crossfit shoes are essentially gym workout shoes. There maybe some cache in having 5X Mr. O, The Gift, with a "Count each workout like a Gift" tagline (or something like that) endorsement on the box. They could market the shoe as a gym/Crossfit shoe.
Maybe converse? But like I said what would he bring to the table?
plus how he blamed the company when he was supposed to be in charge is not a good look!
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Signing Phil to a supplement contract will not make that supplement any more lucrative to consumers imo. With all due respect, he's proven to have an unlikable personality, fighting on social media with fans and of course the Kai situation turned fans away from him.
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Maybe converse? But like I said what would he bring to the table?
plus how he blamed the company when he was supposed to be in charge is not a good look!
I don't how he would spin it. Again, Reebok has this Crossfit line, and I don't know of one person who is "the face" of Crossfit. And of course there is the big Crossfit Games and what not. and let's face it, without bodybuilding/weightlifting, Crossfit would not exist. So Phil could spin it that he is the face of this whole genre.
True, but what if he is telling the truth? Wasn't he just the face of GN and it was actually someone else who was behind the scenes?
We just don't have that much info to go on, and what we have is not enough to make a good assessment of the situation.
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I don't how he would spin it. Again, Reebok has this Crossfit line, and I don't know of one person who is "the face" of Crossfit. And of course there is the big Crossfit Games and what not. and let's face it, without bodybuilding/weightlifting, Crossfit would not exist. So Phil could spin it that he is the face of this whole genre.
True, but what if he is telling the truth? Wasn't he just the face of GN and it was actually someone else who was behind the scenes?
We just don't have that much info to go on, and what we have is not enough to make a good assessment of the situation.
He said that he fronted payroll. Sounds like he was more than the face and financing the deal. He could be telling the truth. I think he thought that being mr Olympia would guarantee that people would run to his line but people know that's not how you get big and he's an assclown on social media. Being Mr Olympia is meaningless in the supplement game these days.
However Phil has a history of being the victim all the time so who knows?
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I can only see these guys serving as poster boys for supplements.
Maybe Phil can start another line of supplements, this time by himself.
"1"
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He said that he fronted payroll. Sounds like he was more than the face and financing the deal. He could be telling the truth. I think he thought that being mr Olympia would guarantee that people would run to his line but people know that's not how you get big and he's an assclown on social media. Being Mr Olympia is meaningless in the supplement game these days.
However Phil has a history of being the victim all the time so who knows?
X2
If he openly states he's the PRESIDENT of the company and it fails under his watch what is left to assume?
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Being Mr Olympia is meaningless in the supplement game these days.
Exactly.
The average consumer knows that ALL IFBB pros get the size they do from hormonal supplementation and that over-the-counter supplements provide few advantages if any when compared to Testosterone, HGH and Insulin.
Back in the late 80's & early 90's, many uneducated consumers thought that the pros actually used these products. They would see posters of them drinking the protein shakes and consuming creatine supplements and assumed it was the key to their overall look.
How things have changed since those days...
"1"
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Yeah, that business degree if his really paid off. ::)
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"Health, wellness and fitness"? What does Heath know about these things?
This supplement line (yawn) is his "signature line". He thought doing shit workouts, hammy appearances and injecting drugs was his "job"? Yeah, guy knows what he's doing. Oh, brother.
As well, he says he knew the fart powder scene was "over saturated". What kind of tool jumps into a pool when he knows this, makes his start-up a signature series and then considers injecting drugs and doing what millions of gym-goers do daily as some kind of personal investment in his company?
He was looking for easy cash, period, but is too retarded to have weighed the idiocy of his thinking.
The fart powder business has jumped the shark. Everyone with half a brain knows what's what.
Phil now has a "narrow" window of opportunity. Poor guy might have to, gulp, one day get a real job!
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:D
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"Health, wellness and fitness"? What does Heath know about these things?
This supplement line (yawn) is his "signature line". He thought doing shit workouts, hammy appearances and injecting drugs was his "job"? Yeah, guy knows what he's doing. Oh, brother.
As well, he says he knew the fart powder scene was "over saturated". What kind of tool jumps into a pool when he knows this, makes his start-up a signature series and then considers injecting drugs and doing what millions of gym-goers do daily as some kind of personal investment in his company?
He was looking for easy cash, period, but is too retarded to have weighed the idiocy of his thinking.
The fart powder business has jumped the shark. Everyone with half a brain knows what's what.
Phil now has a "narrow" window of opportunity. Poor guy might have to, gulp, one day get a real job!
Delusion of Grandeur. I think he really believed that him being Mr. Olympia would guarantee a fat paycheck from a supplement line. However I knew things were off when the line wasn't on bodybuilding.com.
Don't be surprised if you hear more business bad news from this guy. I don't think he has the smartest people around him *coughs*
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sounds like somebody got fired
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Melvin could just step in, fix the books, and re-sell for a quick mil. I'm sure I'm way behind him already on that though.
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f
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Exactly.
The average consumer knows that ALL IFBB pros get the size they do from hormonal supplementation and that over-the-counter supplements provide few advantages if any when compared to Testosterone, HGH and Insulin.
Back in the late 80's & early 90's, many uneducated consumers thought that the pros actually used these products. They would see posters of them drinking the protein shakes and consuming creatine supplements and assumed it was the key to their overall look.
How things have changed since those days...
"1"
the target audience for supplements is teenagers and other naive people who havent figured out the deal
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:D
he should post his arms that's all we really wanna see boys
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He should get with a shoe company and market a workout shoe.How is it that Crossfit has a shoe line from Reebok, and Phil Heath does not? Especially since the Crossfit shoes are essentially gym workout shoes. There maybe some cache in having 5X Mr. O, The Gift, with a "Count each workout like a Gift" tagline (or something like that) endorsement on the box. They could market the shoe as a gym/Crossfit shoe.
He's GOT a shoe line. We even discussed it here on another thread. The shoes come in three styles and cost $189-$215:
http://www.mhillshoes.com (http://www.mhillshoes.com)
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Diabetic neck
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Diabetic neck
That's Mr. Cock Neck to you, sir.
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:D
Kai still has him beat when it comes to nostril sweep.
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He's GOT a shoe line. We even discussed it here on another thread. The shoes come in three styles and cost $189-$215:
http://www.mhillshoes.com (http://www.mhillshoes.com)
yeah...I know. The problem with them is, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and UnderArmour already got the basketball genre on lock. Plus, the colors---the gold needs to be toned down.
Whereas the workout shoes are up Phil's alley, the Crossfit shoes sell like hot cakes. And it would be good marketing to have Phil show up at the Crossfit games or at a Crossfit Expo.
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yeah...I know. The problem with them is, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, and UnderArmour already got the basketball genre on lock. Plus, the colors---the gold needs to be toned down.
Whereas the workout shoes are up Phil's alley, the Crossfit shoes sell like hot cakes. And it would be good marketing to have Phil show up at the Crossfit games or at a Crossfit Expo.
Idk Parker. Crossfitters think Bodybuilders are jokes even though a lot of them have tried their hands at both...so for him to show up at the crossfit games could go south. I mean if he wanted to do a training shoe that could work but the way he "trains" isn't exactly the most inspiring.
I do wonder why he's not going for more mainstream appeal.
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Delusion of Grandeur. I think he really believed that him being Mr. Olympia would guarantee a fat paycheck from a supplement line. However I knew things were off when the line wasn't on bodybuilding.com.
Don't be surprised if you hear more business bad news from this guy. I don't think he has the smartest people around him *coughs*
He got fat paychecks for years from two other supplement companies before becoming (and as) Mr. Olympia): Met-Rx and MuscleTech.
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His supplement line of the future will be called "Over The Line" Nutrition...
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Idk Parker. Crossfitters think Bodybuilders are jokes even though a lot of them have tried their hands at both...so for him to show up at the crossfit games could go south. I mean if he wanted to do a training shoe that could work but the way he "trains" isn't exactly the most inspiring.
I do wonder why he's not going for more mainstream appeal.
X2
Crossfitters think they are above the rest of the fitness industry, especially bodybuilders (although this is true for all the segments of gym culture. We're all cliquey). I'd love for Phil to show up just to see how he's received.
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He got fat paychecks for years from two other supplement companies before becoming (and as) Mr. Olympia): Met-Rx and MuscleTech.
That was before the supplement game changed. Who would pay nearly a million dollars to a guy when there's not going to be much ROI.
Is ANYBODY making the kind of money they were shelling out? I knew folks who were sponsored and making quite a bit from their sponsorships but all got dropped for people with high social media accounts who would just work for free protein powders or fat burners. Now I heard these companies have gotten cheaper and you don't even get free product anymore. You have to sell a certain amount to get a discount.
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That was before the supplement game changed. Who would pay nearly a million dollars to a guy when there's not going to be much ROI.
Is ANYBODY making the kind of money they were shelling out? I knew folks who were sponsored and making quite a bit from their sponsorships but all got dropped for people with high social media accounts who would just work for free protein powders or fat burners. Now I heard these companies have gotten cheaper and you don't even get free product anymore. You have to sell a certain amount to get a discount.
And when was that? His gig with MuscleTech ended about 3 or 4 years ago. Lots of people had high social media accounts (including Heath).
CT Fletcher was with MusclePharm for about a year. Now, he's with iSatori (for how long, only time will tell). Kali Muscle got a trial run with Russian Bear for all of three months. Then I believe he got someone to help him with his Hyphy Mud brew.
Rich Piana....how long was he with Mutant, a year or two? Then he and Mutant parted. Now, they have an established IFBB pro in Johnnie Jackson.
So it appears these social media/YouTube guys tend to fizzle out after a while; whereas the IFBB pros tend to have more staying power.
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And when was that? His gig with MuscleTech ended about 3 or 4 years ago. Lots of people had high social media accounts (including Heath).
CT Fletcher was with MusclePharm for about a year. Now, he's with iSatori (for how long, only time will tell). Kali Muscle got a trial run with Russian Bear for all of three months. Then I believe he got someone to help him with his Hyphy Mud brew.
Rich Piana....how long was he with Mutant, a year or two? Then he and Mutant parted. Now, they have an established IFBB pro in Johnnie Jackson.
So it appears these social media/YouTube guys tend to fizzle out after a while; whereas the IFBB pros tend to have more staying power.
The Youtube/Social Media guys have a short shelf life because many of them are frauds and are boring. How many selfies and inspirational messages can one post?
Things have changed drastically in the past 3-4 years. Social media marketing is continuously changing which is why you're always seeing the turnover.
Idk...My thing would be his ROI...what can he give me in return. Nobody outside of bodybuilding knows or cares who Mr.Olympia is. Why should I pay him big bucks?
That's why I would start trying to get some mainstream exposure.
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The Youtube/Social Media guys have a short shelf life because many of them are frauds and are boring. How many selfies and inspirational messages can one post?
Things have changed drastically in the past 3-4 years. Social media marketing is continuously changing which is why you're always seeing the turnover.
Idk...My thing would be his ROI...what can he give me in return. Nobody outside of bodybuilding knows or cares who Mr.Olympia is. Why should I pay him big bucks?
Nobody outside of bodybuilding knows who the other guys are either. The ROI would be at the seminars, guest posings, and (as strange as it may seem) the magazines. Other companies have tried going the cheap route (as mentioned earlier) with less-than-stellar results.
Winning shows getting press at the seminars and the magazines still have some merit. That, coupled with social media, appears to be the key to longevity and that return on investment.
MHP dropped a lot of bodybuilders in favor of professional strongmen. That doesn't seem to have worked out all that well.
MuscleTech was down to one bodybuilder, who ended up becoming a tranny. Boy, that had to be a PR nightmare.
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Nobody outside of bodybuilding knows who the other guys are either. The ROI would be at the seminars, guest posings, and (as strange as it may seem) the magazines. Other companies have tried going the cheap route (as mentioned earlier) with less-than-stellar results.
Winning shows getting press at the seminars and the magazines still have some merit. That, coupled with social media, appears to be the key to longevity and that return on investment.
MHP dropped a lot of bodybuilders in favor of professional strongmen. That doesn't seem to have worked out all that well.
MuscleTech was down to one bodybuilder, who ended up becoming a tranny. Boy, that had to be a PR nightmare.
Yikes.
Well would the company see ROI. Do people even read the magazines anymore. I personally stopped about 5 years ago for good...and the last time I was in the grocery store those mags were awfully thin. You can get up to the minute advice and coverage online these days.
But with the youtube/social media people, these young folks who are into the "fitness culture" know who they are. They may not know who the bodybuilders are but they know these social media people. Dana Linn Bailey's line was about 3 hours long..no joke. I realize she used to compete but she was one of the exceptions.
The last few expos I went to I didn't know who half the people were but that was because they were all of these social media people I've never heard of. At the Olympia, I really only knew the old school Bodybuilding crowd and some of the newer people. They had the bigger crowds. Poor Ronnie was stuck in a corner of the expo. You could just walk right up to him and talk to him. Jay had a pretty big crowd.
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A company is better off having someone with mainstream name recognition like Brock Lesnar as an endorser, rather than any current bodybuilder. Joe Public doesn't even know who Phil Heath is.
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Yikes.
Well would the company see ROI. Do people even read the magazines anymore. I personally stopped about 5 years ago for good...and the last time I was in the grocery store those mags were awfully thin. You can get up to the minute advice and coverage online these days.
I read them. But, I'm miffed at FLEX because they're skimming off the content, if you have a subscription. The last three issues I've found that the issues I get by subscription has fewer articles than that, sold in stores. That's with their 2-year subscription for $25 routine.
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, one FLEX was as thick at nearly three of them are today.
The value of magazines to me is that I can always go back and look up many items about certain supplements and training that aren't online, because either the info has been scrubbed of the supplement company/magazine is out of print (i.e. MuscleMag). IronMan magazine today is straight garbage, compared to the old ones.
But with the youtube/social media people, these young folks who are into the "fitness culture" know who they are. They may not know who the bodybuilders are but they know these social media people. Dana Linn Bailey's line was about 3 hours long..no joke. I realize she used to compete but she was one of the exceptions.
The last few expos I went to I didn't know who half the people were but that was because they were all of these social media people I've never heard of. At the Olympia, I really only knew the old school Bodybuilding crowd and some of the newer people. They had the bigger crowds. Poor Ronnie was stuck in a corner of the expo. You could just walk right up to him and talk to him. Jay had a pretty big crowd.
I get it with the young people. But, many tend to be fickle. Again, look at the short supplement shelf life of Fletcher, Piana, Kali Muscle, et. al.
Ronnie is a shell of his former self, due to all his injuries. Sad to say, beat-up Ronnie isn't going to draw today as he did a decade ago.
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A company is better off having someone with mainstream name recognition like Brock Lesnar as an endorser, rather than any current bodybuilder. Joe Public doesn't even know who Phil Heath is.
Not necessarily.
MuscleTech used Lesnar in 2003 and 2004, during his first WWE run (when he left, Batista took his place). Lesnar endorsed Dymatize when he went to UFC.
Shannon Sharpe used to endorse EAS. But, that didn't last long.
BSN did the same with Triple H for a year or two. Eventually, it was back to Ronnie; later it was Dallas McCarver; now it's Flex Lewis.
Ultimate Nutrition used to have John Cena for a bit. Eventually, he got replaced with Markus Ruhl. Now, Dexter Jackson is their main guy.
Mainstream stars are only used short term. At the end of the day, the bodybuilders still move the product.
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Phil should have stuck with a company sponsoring him. Being Mr.O he would have got a good deal and running his own company would take time.
He probably saw Ronnie and Dorian doing well and thought he was better than them. People liked them.
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X2
Crossfitters think they are above the rest of the fitness industry, especially bodybuilders (although this is true for all the segments of gym culture. We're all cliquey). I'd love for Phil to show up just to see how he's received.
Not a fan of crossfit at all, but everybody is above bodybuilders in the fitness industry.........
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Didn't he talk trash about the previous suplement company that endorsed him?
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Phil should have stuck with a company sponsoring him. Being Mr.O he would have got a good deal and running his own company would take time.
He probably saw Ronnie and Dorian doing well and thought he was better than them. People liked them.
Someone should have mentioned to him that cursing people out on social media regularly (and not just once in. While) isn't a smart business move.
Ok and another question; Gifted Nutrition had a HUGE presence at the Olympia. Hell they had a STAGE at the expo! How does that work? Was that a sham too?
Damn the Olympia is going to be dramatic as hell because guaranteed if levrone looks anything better than dog doo Phil will be getting booed all night.
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Someone should have mentioned to him that cursing people out on social media regularly (and not just once in. While) isn't a smart business move.
Ok and another question; Gifted Nutrition had a HUGE presence at the Olympia. Hell they had a STAGE at the expo! How does that work? Was that a sham too?
Damn the Olympia is going to be dramatic as hell because guaranteed if levrone looks anything better than dog doo Phil will be getting booed all night.
I've mentioned this here before but Gifted Nutrition was an Olympia sponsor at least one year I'm certain of. Can you imagine, The 2016 NBA finals sponsored by a company Lebron James owns? How does that work?
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Guess Phil won't be wearing this anymore:
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Not necessarily.
MuscleTech used Lesnar in 2003 and 2004, during his first WWE run (when he left, Batista took his place). Lesnar endorsed Dymatize when he went to UFC.
Shannon Sharpe used to endorse EAS. But, that didn't last long.
BSN did the same with Triple H for a year or two. Eventually, it was back to Ronnie; later it was Dallas McCarver; now it's Flex Lewis.
Ultimate Nutrition used to have John Cena for a bit. Eventually, he got replaced with Markus Ruhl. Now, Dexter Jackson is their main guy.
Mainstream stars are only used short term. At the end of the day, the bodybuilders still move the product.
Gotta wear their shirt:
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Not necessarily.
MuscleTech used Lesnar in 2003 and 2004, during his first WWE run (when he left, Batista took his place). Lesnar endorsed Dymatize when he went to UFC.
Shannon Sharpe used to endorse EAS. But, that didn't last long.
BSN did the same with Triple H for a year or two. Eventually, it was back to Ronnie; later it was Dallas McCarver; now it's Flex Lewis.
Ultimate Nutrition used to have John Cena for a bit. Eventually, he got replaced with Markus Ruhl. Now, Dexter Jackson is their main guy.
Mainstream stars are only used short term. At the end of the day, the bodybuilders still move the product.
this
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I've mentioned this here before but Gifted Nutrition was an Olympia sponsor at least one year I'm certain of. Can you imagine, The 2016 NBA finals sponsored by a company Lebron James owns? How does that work?
Doesn't matter - bodybuilding isn't a legitimate sport or even competition.
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I've mentioned this here before but Gifted Nutrition was an Olympia sponsor at least one year I'm certain of. Can you imagine, The 2016 NBA finals sponsored by a company Lebron James owns? How does that work?
I can't remember if they sponsored last year but I do know at the expo they had a STAGE.
The Olympia expo people wanted to charge regular booth owners for ad space this year which is why I know people who are not going