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Mark Bell, creator of the slingshot recently spent $253k to get his products IPF approved. Let’s talk about it.
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42 comments
When you're a rich douchebag who can do what he wants but can only land a 3/10 for a wife
I think it's crap that it cost a quarter million to have your equipment approved. I don't know if the market's big enough to make that profitable or not (I'm sure Mark Bell has more of an idea than I do, seeing as I don't make or sell PL gear). BUt that's on the IPF, not Bell.
IPF doing business with a drug user lol. I swear bodybuilding, powerlifting have turned into sports where having money gets you ahead of the competition.
Well first you say ipf is strict on equipment. False they are strict on paying a fee for a name. That’s all approved means is you paid them. Mark did it for two reasons I’m sure. One to be one of three companies doing it. Sbd. Titan and him and I’m sure titan and sbd don’t pay that much. And two to tell the ipf to fuck off because they still took his money.
The difference is that Mark never competed in the IPF. Ed on the other hand did and got caught.
"Oh my god mark bell said it was to give back to the community when it was really just to turn a profit" its called marketing. Does it really matter? Point is the shits approved
Just thinking about IPF lifters who will now buy his stuff isn't really how it works.
Having pro lifters use his stuff is more advertising. More eyes on his products making them a more recognisable brand. More likely new people in the sport are to buy his stuff and keep buying it. These new lifters might not be IPF lifters, powerlifters or even regular gym goers. IPF approval can be seen as a badge of quality. To any not in the know people they might think "if the governing body of the sport approves it, it must be good" even if they don't ever want to compete.
Adverts aren't telling you to buy the stuff, they're conditioning you to recognise brands and gravitate towards what you recognise when presented with a selection.
It's investing
Mark Bell is a huge advocate for powerlifting though, so it to me it makes sense.
It's not just IPF lifters (international level) who could now wear his products. The local fed that I compete in under the IPF also imposes IPF approved gear. NOT SPEC (like USAPL), but APPROVED. I'm sure there are many other local level federations that do the same. So, now you have the smaller, more densely packed local federations that are growing faster than the elite, international competitors. Factor in that the IPF is expanding their affiliate associations world wide, and with powerlifting popularity increasing exponentially each year, that now means that A LOT of novice lifters are entering into the market. If (and this is a BIG if) Mark Bell does not make a profit in the initial 4 years of the contract, but he renews his contract for another 4 years after that, I can guarantee he will make a profit in that second contract renewal. What about if the IPF and powerlifting eventually make it onto the Olympic stage? Growth from that will be massive.
The fact that his products are now IPF approved means that more casual lifters will buy his products I think, it's selling point. I don't think he has done it to make money off IPF lifters, but to sell more overall to anyone.
Nick only if you knew how much money there is to be made from a business point of view. This was a good move the power lifting community is growing fast and there is a boom in the power lifting market as new PL athletes are emerging inspiring people to power lift.
He used to be a nice guy now he's annoying asf
It's "free" advertising. Adds to his brands credibility.
I think non ipf lifters could buy this as well bc of the promo..
its called business ? wjats the problem
I'd say he's giving back because of those who have already purchased his gear can now compete in it.
It's not just IPF(Worlds), USAPL Nationals, sometimes Regionals and sometimes State level competitions require IPF Approved equipment.
State Chairs will push IPF gear and lifters are forced to purchase new equipment because they didn't know Slingshot products aren't allowed.
Me personally, I love EliteFTS and Metal Products.
He’s just honest and open about his usage, wouldn’t say he’s necessarily a proponent. Much better than some person who denies their use being in business with the IPF. Bell’s and the IPF’s views don’t have to align for them to do business.
It's not just about IPF lifters buying it. It's about advertising 🙄
Sometimes I sit and read comments and some ppl have funny comments
Money Talks in every Industry…..
But Congrats to Marc Bell for making a Big Deal!!!!
dickhead
Would have bought a lot of hookers and blow.
Seems strange l agree, its almost like he wanted the approval at any cost, regardless of it was going to be a profitable return.. That leads me to believe that there may be more to this than meets the eye because l tend to think the Bell brothers are fairly savvy businessmen
Good vid bro
It's basically a sponsorship without calling it a sponsorship. Getting it approved gets the gear on competitive powerlifters, which then gets seen by every average bro who would go out and buy it.
This dude is turning into one of the most unlikable people in fitness. Constantly brags about money and fucking his wife like a 14 year old that just got laid for the first time and is a cocky prick that acts like he's the most alpha in the world because of how hard he trains when the guy is on an insane amount of gear.
So you don't think its possible that a minimum of 2500 people will go to his site over the next few years and spend 100 bucks?
I feel like mark bell products are overpriced Chinese made crap. I honestly used couple of his knee sleeves and they busted in half.
Everyone stop fighting, Mark is a shrewd businessman. He knows that he'll recoup his spending in the long run. More importantly he'll cockblock SBD and take a share of their sells which they've been enjoying unchallenged for all these years. But, he might loose when it comes to quality of his product, anyone who has worn these two brands knows that SBD's quality is far superior to the Slingshot brand, and that's a fact.
products are shit and break after few uses. Stick with quality SBD gear
You also get a lot of exposure. Not only ppl in the IPF who compete buy his gear, but also a lot of fans who watch IPF lifters. They will buy his gear too if they see their favourite lifters wear it.
So this is typical business. He is going to need to sell his products to make money like anyone else, but he can flash that he is IPF approved which helps, I guess, the actual selling. He is also fortunate in having a successful Youtube channel. He's still got to do the work, but also has to accept the aggravation for growing his business. Really nothing new here. The big money is to get into licensing and pull a Trump.
Phil just applied to have a belly sling patent he made to support pregnant women and new edge bodybuilding bellies.
power lifting is a joke.
$253k spent to sell $2,530 worth of merchandise lol. I don’t think I’d ever see anyone in my gym with the nerve to strap one of those things onto their arms.
A lot of non competitive people would think it's cool using IPF approved products.
I still think Mark Bell is a good person, he has done overwhelmingly good things for the strength community in the last 12 years. These days it seems he is more about image in relation to his business though, for better or worse. In a sense I cant blame him, a business that isnt growing is dying, and he understands that. But the days of humble smelly and the powercast are behind us.
The slingshot is such a dumbass cheat tool anyway. Thats like hanging your squat bar on bands to take weight off at the bottom. Why the hell would a competitive lifter use something that lame to train?
There's got to be more to this story. I can't imagine any business making such a deal. Perhaps he's getting some sort of kickback or free advertising or something more.
IPF sounds like a bunch of nazi.
best of luck but I have to agree with Nick I cant imagine Mark will earn back the amount of money he invested especially being his products are not exclusive and is not permanent just a few years .. but who knows maybe he just might from a global sales standpoint as the ifbb athletes will serve to a degree as an advertising source and all the people that never heard of MB or know of his products now will so opportunity for growth there. It does not hurt to also know that your product is approved by a sporting company.
I think Mark Bell might plan to create contracts with certain lifters that would target not only the lifters but tap into the audience of those lifters. High risk high reward