Before venturing into the world of high-quality gym equipment, Graeme’s career began in a more traditional manner. This started with a university education and a professional services career - moving his way up the corporate ladder, eventually taking on the demands of a COO role in a busy NFP. Fitness and lifting have always been a huge part of his life and like many, a way to de-stress from the rigours of the working day.
In 2009, he and his wife, Paula created Little Bloke Fitness, a company that combined their corporate skills and love of fitness to bring some work life balance and give them more time with their young family. Graeme helped run the company as a sideline to his full-time job until 2016, when- after successfully completing a Senior Executive MBA at Melbourne Business School and the Foundations of Directorship and Company Directors course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he left the corporate world to concentrate solely on growing the business.
His strong entrepreneurial drive was evident from the inception, taking his love and knowledge of both fitness and business to hone his talent for gym fitouts, equipment research and development. This, in combination with building the business model from scratch and designing and manufacturing their own brands of gym equipment – 1RM and 360 Strength - saw him transition the company to a highly successful online and B&M enterprise that today offers over 700 pieces of top-quality, bespoke, branded equipment, as well as access to thousands of others.
The range includes cutting-edge gym machines, benches, dumbbells, racks, rigs… In short, everything that’s essential for both home and commercial gym fitouts.
Like most small business owners, Graeme works across all areas of the business, but spends the bulk of his time in:
- Strategic and operational management
- Product development
- Sourcing and innovation
- Technology and e-commerce management
- Marketing and web presence
- Leadership and team management
- Risk and compliance
- Business growth
He’s deeply passionate about product development, often refining designs to enhance quality, or introduce innovation. You’ll frequently find him analysing product drawings, or in long conversations, always seeking ways to improve.
He is a member of the following institutions:
- Graduate / Full Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders
- Professional Member of the The Research Society
- Professional Member of the Australian Association for Institutional Research
Fitness Tips from Graeme
- Prioritise Form Over KG – Focusing on proper technique instead of KG is so important to preventing injuries and ensuring maximum muscle engagement. Males in particular. Toxic masculinity has no place in the gym — lifting smart is far more impressive than lifting recklessly just for numbers. Strength is about discipline, not ego.
- Progressive Overload is Key – Gradually increasing weight, reps, or intensity is essential for continuous strength gains (along with correct form). Consistency and patience lead to long-term results.
- Equipment Matters - The right barbell, rack, or machine enhances performance and safety – and make lifting more enjoyable. Who doesn’t love deadlifting with a good quality barbell. Poor quality equipment, or the wrong equipment can unsafe, and demotivating. Invest in quality gear designed to withstand heavy use and provide optimal biomechanics.
- Recovery Fuels Growth - Lifting is only a part of the puzzle. Prioritise rest, nutrition, and mobility work to maximise gains and longevity in training.
Get to Know Graeme
What began as a personal passion has grown into a successful business, where Graeme’s passion for fitness allows him the privilege of working in a field that he loves.
As the owner of Little Bloke Fitness, he’s constantly on the move, whether it’s fine-tuning product designs, offering expert advice to customers, or working in the day-to-day operations of the business. His commitment to quality and fitness is evident in every aspect of the company.
When not working, Graeme can be found in the gym, watching his kids play basketball or football, or riding his ratty old 1990 BMW motorbike.
Follow Graeme on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/graemebryant/