Who created Nike. History of the Nike logo

The history of the Nike brand will be of interest to all running enthusiasts.

Since about the 70s of the last century, young athletes often faced a difficult choice when buying running shoes: which company to choose when buying running pairs. American "Nika" has always been among the popular brands. Starting with running shoes and spikes, the brand now accounts for 95% of the basketball shoe supply in the United States. More than 74 thousand employees work under his name in various parts of the world. The brand value is estimated at the most minimal estimates at $27 billion, which is highest price among brands in the sports industry.

Let's find out how the history of Nike began, who created it and other details of the legendary brand.

How Nike was born

The history of the Nike company dates back to the 60s. At that time, Adidas reigned in the American sports shoe market. Sneakers from local manufacturers, although they were cheaper, did not suit athletes (especially mass amateurs) with their quality. The legs got very tired in them, they practically did not soften the impact on the road surface, and did not protect against injury.

University of Oregon running coach Bill Bowerman and his student Phil Knight decided to change that. Having entered into an agreement with the Japanese Onitsuka Tiger, whose sneakers were then not much inferior to Adidas' ones, but were several times cheaper, they began selling them along the entire coast of the country. The date of birth of the Blue Ribbon Sports company they founded was 1964.

Bill Bowerman works with the sole

At first, trade was carried out from Knight's van, only in the late 60s did entrepreneurs open the first sports store, and then begin to create a network of partner outlets in different states countries. At the end of 1970, they sold goods worth 1 million. $.


Phil Knight

Independent production

The Japanese partner, having learned about the successful promotion of its products in America, decided to independently develop the American market and, on its own terms, offered to buy out BRS.

Under the threat of losing his business, Knight was able to quickly reorient himself and find a new supplier in Japan - the company Nisho Awai. At the same time, the founders of the future brand decide to start their own production. Their accumulated experience told them that they could only conquer their niche in the market by releasing products that would stand out among their competitors.

The history of Nike’s creation includes many events that influenced its further development.

Once, looking at the waffle iron standing on the table in front of him, Baurman thought that such a corrugated sole could increase the support push and at the same time make the shoes lighter. The idea was soon put into practice, and sneakers with waffle-shaped soles became the most popular model in the country, and its grooved surface became a notable feature of the brand.


Bowman's wife's waffle iron

By that time, entrepreneurs began to call their products “Nika”, and in 1978 Nike, Inc. was officially registered.


The first sneaker with a waffle sole

Sports and Nike are inseparable

As people involved in sports, Knight and Bowman, from the inception of Nike and throughout its history, have focused on the sale and manufacture of sports shoes. Understanding well how important the example of champions and famous athletes for the general public, entrepreneurs carried out individual orders for them and actively involved them in advertising their products.

The first famous athlete to actively use Niki's models was coach Bowman's student, member of the US running team, Steve Prefontaine. After him, world number one title holder Ilie Nastase, US Open-74 champion Jimmy Connors, and world marathon record holder Kenyan Henry Rono competed in the company's shoes.


Steve Prefontaine

At the 1976 Olympics, most athletes wore Nike models.

The history of the company's development is not limited only to the manufacture of branded shoes. 1979 was marked by the release of the first samples of sportswear, designed by Knight himself and his wife.

Sales expansion

Since 1975, Nike began to organize the sale of products abroad. The first country in which sneakers began to be sold en masse was Canada. Successful advertising on the sports front, an active policy to capture the market, and the increased popularity of recreational running largely contributed to the rapid growth of sales to $25 million in 1977.

Air insoles

The company's success story would be unthinkable without the appearance of NASA employee Frank Rudy within its walls. He proposed the depreciation technology he had developed. Air cushions filled with compressed gas were built into the back of the sole. His proposal was not immediately accepted, but it turned out to be revolutionary and brought the company worldwide fame and millions in profits.


Frank Rudy

A sneaker model with an air-cushioned sole called the Nike Tailwind began selling in 1979. The company called the new technology AirMax. It is used by the corporation in a popular line of products in the most varied and numerous variations.

Reorganization into a joint stock company

By 1980, Nike had already captured half of the American sports shoe market. The company is ripe to reach a new, higher level of development. Ahead was a struggle for leadership with the main competitors - the world-famous brands Adidas and Reebok.

There was a need for a public offering of shares, which would strengthen the company’s reputation and make the brand even more significant and recognizable. In addition, the organization needed large loans, and banks were more willing to issue them against securities that are quoted on the stock exchange.

Nike reorganizes into an open joint stock company and conducts an IPO. The company had 2,700 employees at that time. The history of Nike was entering a new stage of development.

Advertising strategy

Once in an interview, Phil Knight said that marketing is what all divisions of the corporation basically do. Construction and functional characteristics product is only part of the global marketing process. He identified three pillars on which the success of the organization rested:

  1. use of famous athletes in advertising;
  2. product design;
  3. the advertisement itself.

Knight's advertising strategy throughout Nike's history has been based on the use of iconic athletes. Major milestone was the signing in 1984 of a long-term contract with the best NBA basketball player Michael Jordan. Having invested millions in advertising with his participation, the Nike corporation managed to make the superstar the face of its shoe empire.

AirJordan sneakers were made for him, functionally suited to his style of play. They became extremely popular in America. The teenagers were ready to give everything for the same sneakers as “his airhead.” At the same time, all Nike products became more popular. The company's annual turnover during its cooperation with the “king of the air” increased 4.5 times to $4 billion.


Nike Air Jordan 1 White

In 1988, the now classic advertising campaign Nike under the slogan “Just do it” (Just do it). In the future, “JustDoIt” will actually become the second name of the brand and will take its place in history as one of the best slogans. The costs of promoting the slogan by 1989 will reach $45 million. Along with Jordan, tennis star Andre Agassi and baseball player Bo Jackson were involved in the collaboration.

Further promotion of the brand

Since 1990, the company began creating a network of its own Nike Town retail stores. The first company store was opened in Portland. Its design soon made the establishment a place of pilgrimage for tourists in the city. Now a network of such stores operates throughout the world.

In 1991, Nike's sales in America reached the level of its main competitor, Reebok. The brand was promoted quite successfully in Europe, where revenue amounted to $1 billion.

Nike positions itself as a global corporation in the world of sports. In the 90s, she continued to expand her product line. NikeGolf, NikePro, Nike+, AirJordan, NikeSkateboarding series, subsidiary brands ColeHaan, Hurley International and Converse appear.


ColeHaan series shoes

Nike in Russia

Nike has been present on the Russian market since 1993. The promotion of the product on Russian soil is carried out by the subsidiary company Nike LLC. In total, there are more than 100 stores throughout the country selling exclusively products of this brand.

Where did the brand name come from?

The original name of the brand comes from the name Nick and is borrowed from ancient Greek mythology. This was the name of the winged goddess of victory.

The official history of the Nike brand states that the name was proposed by the first employee of the company, Jeff Johnson. The founders couldn't agree on a name, so Jeff was called in to help. The name of the product had to be printed on the boxes in the morning. By morning, Johnson had a name for the new brand.


Jeff Johnson

Birth of a logo

The history of the logo is very prosaic. The legendary swoosh (“swoosh” or “flying with a whistle”) was invented and designed by Portland University student and future advertiser Caroline Davidson. Fate brought them together with Knight during classes in accounting which he taught as a teacher. She worked as a freelancer and Phil asked her to come up with an emblem that he could put on the side of his sneakers. The businessman paid her $35 for the work.


The evolution of the Nike logo

The image resembles the silhouette of the wing of the goddess Nike and has always been associated by the creators with positive thinking, a healthy and energetic lifestyle, a symbol of leadership in the sports industry.

In 1983, already being the head joint stock company Nike, Mr. Knight gave Davidson a statuette of a goddess with diamonds, as well as a stake in the corporation.

Nike today and tomorrow

Nowadays, the American corporation Nike Inc. is one of the leaders in the international market of sports shoes, clothing and accessories.

The Nike brand is known to millions of people around the world, and is considered by many to be a global symbol of sports. The company became famous for its unexpected and original innovative proposals.

She was the first to create a social network on the Internet entirely dedicated to basketball. A unique opportunity has been created for fans to design their own sneakers on the company website. You can order your original model from the manufacturer directly on the website.

The AirMax line continues to be improved. Another model that captures the imagination of fans of the brand is HyperAdapt - self-lacing sneakers.


Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 'Sport Royal'

The Nike+ system has been implemented, allowing runners to monitor their runs using a sensor built into the sneakers. It was the fruit of cooperation with the IT industry giant Apple.


Model Nike+

Financial indicators

Behind last years The corporation's financial performance is constantly growing. The main parameter - revenue - over 5 years grew by 35.9% and amounted to financial year(as of May 31, 2017) $34.4 billion.

Sales in Europe, including Russia, as well as the Middle East and Africa, increased by 10% and reached $4.05 billion. With each report, the brand value increases, assessed by experts of various portals. Thus, according to Interbrand, over the past five years it has risen in price by 35.9%.

Management

Bowerman gradually retired in the 70s, selling his shares piecemeal to various employees of the firm. He died in 1999.

Phil Knight ceased to be president of the corporation in 2004, remaining the head of the board of directors. In 2016, he left this post as well.

In June of the same year, the board of directors was headed by Mark Parker, who is both president and CEO of Nike. The success of the organization in the last five years is largely associated with his name.


Mark Parker

The corporation's main office is located in Beaverton, Oregon. Now the complex consists of 7 modern buildings, each of which is named after legendary athletes.


Nike's largest headquarters building

Nike Incorporation's mission is to encourage as many people as possible to play sports and to make these activities fun for every athlete. In the field of sports and fitness, the company should be number one in the world.

Reebok operates factories in Russia, and all Puma is produced in Asia.

Sportswear brands have moved their production to countries with low cost labor force© flickr.com

Most American and European sportswear brands have moved their production to countries with cheap labor. Even some Ukrainian and Russian enterprises, registering a brand abroad, in China.

The history of this great German brand can begin with the birth of its founder, Adolf Dassler. After World War I, the Dasslers decided to organize their own business, namely a shoe-making workshop. By 1925, Adi, as an avid football player, made his first pair of shoes with spikes. A local blacksmith forged it for him, and thus the first boots were born. They turned out to be so comfortable that they began to be produced at the factory along with slippers.

In the late 40s, after the death of the head of the family, the brothers quarreled and divided the company. They divided the factories, each brother got one, and agreed not to use the old name and logo of Dassler shoes. Adi decided to name his brand Addas, and Rudi - Ruda, but soon their names changed to Adidas and Puma, respectively. The Dassler brand was successfully forgotten.

Columbia

Columbia Sportswear Company - An American company produces and sells outdoor clothing.

The company was founded by second-wave German emigrants with Jewish roots - Paul and Marie Lamfr. The Columbia company was founded in 1937 in Portland and was engaged in the sale of hats. The name Colombia Hat Company appeared in honor of the river of the same name, which flowed near the place of residence of the Lamfrom family.

The hats that Colombia sold were of poor quality, so Paul decided to start his own production, namely, sewing shirts and other simple work clothes. Later, the founders' daughter made a fishing jacket with many pockets. This was the first jacket in the company's product range, and its sales brought some fame to the factory.

Nike Inc. is an American company, a world-famous manufacturer of sporting goods. Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, USA. The company was founded in 1964 by student Phil Knight. He was a middle distance runner for the University of Oregon. In those years, athletes had virtually no choice in sports shoes. Adidas was expensive, about $30, and regular American sneakers cost $5, but they hurt my feet.

To remedy the situation, Phil Knight came up with a brilliant scheme: order sneakers from Asian countries and sell them on the American market. At first, the company was called Blue Ribbon Sports and did not officially exist. The sneakers were sold literally from hand, or rather from Knight's minivan. He simply stopped on the street and started trading. During the year of its existence, the company sold $8,000 worth of sneakers. Later, the Nike logo was invented.

Nike became widely known for its "waffle" sole, which made the shoe lighter and gave it a little more propulsion while running. It was this invention that brought Nike to the forefront.

The history of Puma begins simultaneously with the history of Adidas, since the founders of the brands are brothers. (see Adidas history). Rudolf founded his own company, Puma, in 1948. . In 1960, the world saw the company's new logo, an image of the beloved member of the cat family - the puma.

For many years the company worked exclusively for athletes. By the early 90s, Puma found itself on the verge of bankruptcy. Consumers viewed the brand as imitative and expressionless. The new management set a new goal - to make the Puma brand the most creative and desirable. Central to the revival was the decision to develop shoes and apparel aimed at niche segments such as snowboarders, racing fans and yoga enthusiasts.

Reebok is an international sportswear and accessories company. The headquarters is located in the Boston suburb of Canton (Massachusetts). It is currently a subsidiary of Adidas.

The reason for the founding of the British company Reebok was the logical desire of English athletes to run faster. So in 1890, Joseph William Foster made the first running shoe with spikes. Until 1895, Foster was engaged in handcrafting shoes for top-level athletes.

In 1958, two of Foster's grandchildren founded a new company and named it after the African gazelle - Reebok. By 1981, Reebok's sales revenue reached $1.5 million, but Reebok's greatest success was in next year. Reebok introduces the first sports shoe specifically for women - a fitness sneaker called the FreestyleTM.

The material uses information from open sources, manufacturing companies, finance.tochka.net sources

How one of the most famous signs in the world was created for $35

To bookmarks

Today, the swoosh that represents Nike does not need any additional introduction - it is recognizable to everyone. Given this, it is difficult to imagine that the logo was once absent altogether. However, from 1963, when amateur runner Phil Knight took the first steps towards a future empire, a full 8 years passed before the creation of the emblem. The student selling Japanese sneakers out of the trunk of his car probably had no idea that his humble company would one day become one of the most exciting sports brands in the world.

The beginning of the way

The choice of direction was not accidental for Phil Knight. The young man was actively involved in sports, improved his skills and was interested in developments in this area. The issue of the lack of affordable sports shoes was as pressing for him as it was for others. The market was occupied either by expensive foreign brands like Adidas, or by cheap shoes that were not distinguished by quality and comfort. Knight seriously thought about finding alternatives, and without thinking twice, he turned to Japan - the industry of this country was one of the objects of his interest at the university. The student’s idea was to supply inexpensive Japanese sneakers to the United States, which would become available to a wide audience.

In 1962, Phil Knight went to Japan and entered into an agreement with a local company, and a year later he began selling the first batch in his homeland. At that time, his business was conventionally called Blue Ribbon Sports, which the entrepreneur did not think too much about. At first, Knight advertised the shoes with an athlete he knew, but soon a wave of interest in the product began to grow. Good profit and the response from customers led the team to think about their own production. An additional argument in favor of this was the growing public fashion for healthy image life. However, to found a new company, a more concise name and a memorable logo were required.

The birth of the “swoosh”

The idea for the name "Nike" came from Knight's colleague Jeff Johnson, who had a dream about the Greek goddess Nike one night. Her image was one of the reference points for the birth of the emblem. Knight met the future creator of the legendary logo, designer Carolyn Davidson, at the University of Portland. He periodically resorted to her services during the early stages of business development, and in 1971 he entrusted the student with a more important mission - creating a company logo. Among his requirements for the future emblem, Knight outlined its dynamism, good visual perception on shoes, and difference from other well-known brands.

“The check mark” was not Davidson’s first idea – the girl created several sketches at once. According to legend, being dissatisfied with her work, the designer irritably scribbled on a piece of paper, as a result of which the “swoosh” appeared. One way or another, the shareholders gave their preference to this option. Phil Knight himself received the image rather coldly, saying that this was not the limit of his dreams. Carolyn Davidson was paid only $35 for the work.

How surprised the founder of the company must have been if he had learned that years later he would get a tattoo with the symbol that made him famous throughout the world. And the logo designer will receive a precious ring with a swoosh and 500 shares of the company as a reward - a huge, albeit belated, bonus. The exact amount of shares is still unknown, but today it exceeds a million dollars. Remembering this story, fans of the company often joke that freelancers should not be afraid to take on low-paying orders. Who knows how everything will turn out...

Semantic message

The newly-minted symbol initially received different interpretations. According to Carolyn Davidson herself, the line depicts the wing of the goddess Nike, who gave the brand its name. IN Ancient Greece Nika symbolized victory and also patronized athletes. Shareholders initially saw a ribbon in the logo. However, the company started with the creation of sneakers, which means the goal was to associate the logo with running, speed, and energy.

The name "swoosh", now known throughout the world, transmits sound at high speed (wind whistle). It has become a symbol of eternal and continuous movement. At the same time, the check mark, together with the slogan “Just do it” that appeared later, was intended to stimulate athletes to action, new achievements and achievements. Nike is one of the few companies whose logo has its own, unique name that is not associated with anything else.

Further development of the symbol

Despite the fact that shoes with the image went on sale almost immediately after its creation, the symbol officially became a trademark only in 1995. The simple and laconic “swoosh” turned out to be one of the most enduring logos in history. Over the decades, it has remained virtually unchanged, apart from minor adjustments. In the original version, the Swoosh had a black outline and internal transparency, with the name "Nike" written over the top in a flowing handwritten font. After 7 years, the logo was finalized: the “swoosh” slightly changed its curve, was slightly blurred and became black. The inscription “Nike” was placed above the design, and its font became more restrained and symmetrical.

Subsequently, the logo was subject to only very minor changes. A few years later, the font and symbol were slightly stretched and they began to use white on a black background. And in 1995, the main event in the history of the logo happened - it lost the “Nike” explanation, remaining just a tick. By that time, the emblem had become so popular and recognizable that there was no longer any need to refer to the company. It remains so to this day - hardly anyone, seeing the famous “Swoosh” on sportswear and shoes, will not be able to recognize the brand associated with it.

Nike logo today

Despite the fact that the company never managed to surpass Adidas in popularity among football players, Nike still gained the title of the No. 1 sports brand in the world. And the “swoosh” is today recognized as the most recognizable logo among buyers and athletes. It can be seen not only on sneakers, but also on shorts, T-shirts, jackets, caps, and sports equipment. From time to time, the company holds promotions and releases products with various words and abbreviations above the “swoosh” - where the “Nike” inscription used to be located. The traditional font is retained.

The symbol appealed to many sports stars, with whom the brand continues to collaborate to this day. Athletes win prizes and set new world records while wearing Nike clothing and shoes. Choosing idols promotes loyalty and trust among customers who instantly recognize the “tick.” The history of the “swoosh” is proof that even the simplest and most uncomplicated image can eventually gain worldwide fame and recognition.

Brand: Nike

Tagline:- Just do it (English) Just Do It)

Industry: Production of sporting goods

Products: Clothes, shoes, accessories

Owner company :Nike, Inc.

Year of foundation: 1964

Headquarters: USA

Performance indicators

Nike Inc financials

Gross profit

Net profit

Asset value

Equity

Number of employees

Total shareholders equity

2017 34,350 15,312 4,240 23,259 12,407 74,4
2018 36,397 15,956 1,933 22,536 9,812 73,1

Nike brand value according to company estimates

Interbrand, $ billion

Millward Brown Optimor, $ billion

Brand Finance, $ billion

Since 1993, Delta-Sport has been the exclusive distributor of Nike on the Russian market, but since 2004 Nike decided to abandon its services and conquer the market on its own. In Russia, the company is represented by Nike LLC, which supplies Nike products for sale through retail chains of partner companies (the largest of them is Sportmaster).

history of the company

The company was originally founded in 1965 by student Phil Knight, a middle-distance runner for the University of Oregon, and his coach Bill Bowerman. Then it was called Blue Ribbon Sports and specialized in ordering sneakers in Asian countries and then selling them on the American market. Having invested $500 in the business, they purchase 300 pairs of sneakers from the famous Japanese company Onitsuka Tiger. The company's first self-developed product was a sneaker based on a waffle-shaped sole design that Bowerman had learned from a waffle iron.

Bill Bowerman (William Jay Bowerman)

Phil Knight

IN In 1966, the company opened its first retail store. In 1971, the Nike trademark first appeared - football boots were released under this name. In 1978, Blue Ribbon Sports was officially renamed Nike, Inc.

The name comes from the ancient Greek spirit of victory Nicky, not from the English word that would read “nike”. Ignorance of this fact led to the widespread spread in the Russian-speaking environment of the incorrect transcription of “Nike”, which was even used in the name of the company’s official representative in Russia.

On October 23, 2007, the company bought the Umbro brand, a manufacturer of sportswear and footwear, for $580 million.

$44 million is what Nike reportedly paid the Indian cricket team in 2009 under a five-year sponsorship contract. Nike puts 13,000 models of shoes and clothing on sale every quarter.

In 2010 Nike signed an 8-year sponsorship contract with Maria Sharapova for $70 million.

Brand history

The history of Nike is inextricably linked with the name of Phil Knight. The author of the Nike myth is Phil Knight. He was a mediocre middle-distance runner at the University of Oregon, and over the years, with a net worth of more than $3.8 billion, he became the sixth richest American. Metamorphosis Explained is a business he started with his athletic trainer Bill Bowerman in 1964.

American-made sports shoes then cost only 5 USD, but their quality left much to be desired. Many athletes returned from the tracks with bloody calluses on their feet. German shoes were of much higher quality, but they cost six times more - 30 USD.

Knight-Bowerman's idea was simple: high-quality shoes could be designed in the USA, manufactured in Asia and sold in America for more low prices than the popular West German sneakers. While earning an MBA from Stanford in the 1960s, Knight took classes in Frank Shallenberger's class. The task at the next seminar was a business development strategy for a small private company, including a marketing plan. According to Nike legend, it was at this marketing seminar that Knight came up with the concept for the company.

Japan was chosen as the Asian manufacturer because labor there was much cheaper than in America. In 1963, Knight traveled to Japan. In the Land of the Rising Sun, he entered into an agreement with the Onitsuka factory to sell high-quality Japanese Tigers sneakers in the United States. Returning to America, the 26-year-old businessman began selling Japanese shoes out of the back of his truck near the treadmills. Their project, the progenitor of Nike, was called Blue Ribbon Sports. The company's name was born during negotiations with the Japanese, where Knight represented himself on behalf of a defunct American sneaker distributor, Blue Ribbon Sports, interested in selling Japanese shoes within the United States.

By 1964, Knight had sold $8,000 worth of sneakers and sent an order for a new batch. Bowerman and Knight worked as a team, but they soon hired sales manager Jeff Johnson.

In 1965, Bowerman and Knight changed the name of their company, naming it after greek goddess Nicky's victory. The new name of the company - Nike, according to legend, was invented by Jeff Johnson, who saw the winged goddess of victory Nike in a dream.

In 1971, Portland University design student Caroline Davidson designed a logo for an unknown company for a modest fee of $35. Twelve years later, in 1983, Phil Knight invited her to a restaurant and presented her with a gold ring, in addition to the emblem invented by Caroline, decorated with a diamond, and also added to his gift an envelope with a certain amount of company shares. This was a fair reward for the sign, the mere presence of which on sports shoes increases their consumer appeal several times. This logo, familiar to everyone today and symbolizing the wing of the goddess, was called SWOOSH, which can very roughly be translated into Russian as “flying with a whistle.”

Fitness revolution and jogging fashion of the early 70s. stimulated rapid business development. By 1969, Knight had already sold $1 million worth of sneakers. But the company's net income was small.

In 1975, Bill Bowerman came up with an idea that would become a turning point in the history of Nike. At breakfast, looking at his wife's waffle iron, he decided that if he made the sole of his sneakers grooved, this would, on the one hand, improve the push, and on the other, reduce the weight of the shoe. Soon he fitted the “waffle” sole to sports slippers and invited track and field athletes to try it out. This ingenious invention instantly made Nike an industry leader with a market share of 50% (1979). And after Adidas was left behind in 1980, Nike had only one competitor left - Reebok. Until Michael Jordan came along.

In 1988, a campaign featuring baseball star Bo Jackson debuted. Three videos showed Jackson running, biking and playing basketball. The videos ended with the phrase: “Bo knows.” The next clip played on the coincidence of the names of Bo Jackson and Bo Diddley, a famous musician. The headline of the message was that "Bo doesn't know Diddley."

However, the company did not have to enjoy the laurels of the winner for long. In 1998, Nike's popularity was falling, as it simply became unfashionable to wear what thousands of people around them were wearing. But this was not a surprise for Nike, which was fully armed. In 1998, Knight introduced a new line of products - ACG - "all-weather accessories." In addition, Nike restructured part of its business into separate groups: Nike Golf, Jordan Brand, Nike Hockey, Nike ACG, etc. appeared.

In 1999, Nike copes with troubles. The Internet is being successfully mastered. The company acquires a considerable number of web addresses.

In January 2000, a 30-second video appeared on television featuring track and field sprinter Marion Jones running through the streets to escape a maniac with a chainsaw. The video ends abruptly, sending viewers to whatever.nike.com for the rest of the story. On the electronic page, visitors were provided unique opportunity watch a TV spot in Apple QuickTime and come up with the ending yourself. The best options were broadcast there, on the Internet.

In May 2018, Nation News reported that Nike had developed a conveyor belt that pulls the foot into the shoe.

As noted in Nike's patent application, a small motorized conveyor belt is built into the insole or sole of the shoe. As soon as a person places the forefoot into the shoe, it automatically starts and pulls the foot into the shoe.

The source of energy for the shoe conveyor was a battery that can be charged not only from the mains, but also while running in these shoes due to the piezoelectric effect.

At the moment, Nike has not officially announced plans to create such sneakers, so far only a patent application is known.

In December 2017, a sports hijab went on sale - an element of clothing produced by Nike has no analogues.

Jeff Johnson, who was tasked with coming up with a name for the new company within 24 hours, dreamed of the ancient Greek goddess Nike. This is how the name Nike was born.

Knight's first investment in his company was $500. And Phil’s first counter was the trunk of his car.

Knight himself accidentally came up with the slogan for his company. He hung up the phone after listening to a version he didn't like and said "Just do it!"

Bill Bowerman put a rubber strip into a waffle iron to make fun of his wife. The waffle sole became the company's first independent product, and to this day it is considered the most optimal option for sports shoes.

Michael Jordan's sneakers, which collaborated with the company, were black and red, but such colors were banned in the NBA. He was fined one thousand dollars for each game in them, but Jordan continued to play in Nike shoes. The scandal with the basketball player's sneakers was good for the company.

In 2008, the Russian Central Election Commission agreed with Nike on the main logo of the presidential company of the Russian Federation, which was very similar to the legendary “swoosh”.

The name comes from the name of the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, and not from the English word, which would read "nike". Ignorance of this fact led to the widespread spread in the Russian-speaking environment of the incorrect transcription of “Nike”, which was even used in the name of the company’s official representative in Russia.

Nike has been criticized for contracting with factories in countries such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico. The activist group Vietnam Labor Watch has documented that factories with which Nike worked were violating Vietnam's minimum wage and overtime laws as early as late 1996, although Nike says it has abandoned such practices.

The site's observer studied the history of the company, which built a legendary sports brand over 50 years.

The sports industry, like any other, has many peculiarities, and usually the outside observer only sees the tip of the iceberg, while the key differences go much deeper. For many, sport is, first of all, interesting matches, competitions with an unexpected outcome, support for favorites and hatred of opponents. But this is only the external part of the industry. The success of athletes depends not only on their efforts, but also on the equipment that allows them to gain an advantage over those who do not have it.

It is quite possible that Nike founders Phil Knight and Bill Bourman were guided by this idea when they began creating famous brand. Phil was a varsity runner, and Bill coached the local team for many years. Both of them felt the lack of good equipment for competitions affordable price. In fact, the only serious brand in this area at that time was Adidas, but, unfortunately, their sports shoes were too expensive. The products of local companies were not suitable for professional sports.

One day, Knight again wondered where to get high-quality sneakers, and realized that this was a free niche. Some sources say that the idea came to him during a seminar at Stanford Business School. As a result, Knight came up with his own model - purchasing suitable shoes in Asia and reselling them in the USA. To start a business, money was needed, and Knight turned to a man who also knew firsthand about the problems with sports shoes - Bill Bourman. Together they came up with a name for the company - Blue Ribbon Sports.

In 1974, a new important stage in the company's development began. Nike opens production in the USA and employs up to 250 people. In the same year, the promotion of the brand to the markets of other countries began, the first being nearby Canada. Nike is starting to get a lot of press, primarily because of its aggressive campaign to capture the market. At the end of the year, sales reached $5 million, but what was much more important was that the brand became truly recognizable.

When the company first launched itself in earnest, its leaders recognized several key features of the market in which they were about to operate. First, new models should be produced in advance of important sporting events. Secondly, everyone loves athletes - if one of the stars puts on Nike sneakers, then they will become a dream for many fans who want to be like their idol. Third: sports can be fashionable, this will allow achieving a high level of sales.

The company demonstrated the first two principles before the 1976 Olympics: during track and field competitions, most athletes wore Nike ridged shoes. Soon after the Olympics, the third rule also worked: running became a popular way to keep fit, which brought the company a huge number of new customers. They all looked up to their idols, who wore Nike. This was reflected in the company's revenue, which reached $25 million in 1977.

Great demand for the brand's sports shoes leads to expansion of production. Nike is opening several new factories in the United States and is also expanding production lines in Asia.

In 1978, integration into other countries of the world was achieved, and it was achieved quite easily: the brand’s shoes sold well in Europe. The start of sales in the Asian market, which had not previously caused any positive reactions among experts, brings the company great profits.

At this time, an important event for the history of sports brands happened: Nike entered into an advertising contract with one of the best tennis players of that time, John McEnroe. Since then, such contracts have become a common practice for promoting the company's products. In the same year, a line of children's shoes went on sale. In addition, Nike managed to take advantage of the problems of its main competitor Adidas and capture about 50% of the US market.

Another thing happens in the late 1970s an important event - former employee NASA Frank Rudy developed the Nike Air cushioning. The idea did not immediately appeal to sports brands, and many, including Nike, abandoned this idea. As a result, Frank still managed to convince the company's management, although he had previously gone through almost all the major competitors and did not receive consent from them.

This was one of Nike's first product improvements. The next few changes affected the appearance of the models, and the later famous designer Tinker Hatfield was especially successful in this.

In the early 1980s, the company went public and used the money it made from the stock to increase sales of the brand. The main destination was Europe and one of the most popular sports - football. The reason for the reorientation to the European market was the decline in the popularity of running in the United States. It should be noted that the company was still late in changing the line, which ultimately led to a decrease in profits.

It was difficult for the brand to achieve success in this direction: Adidas and Puma had strong positions in Europe. Nike used a proven strategy to promote itself through prominent athletes. In 1982, a contract was signed with the then champion of England, the Aston Villa club.

In the US, the brand has also begun to focus on other sports. Nike was primarily interested in basketball. In the early 1980s, the company's product range began to increase significantly. Previously, Nike created mainly running shoes, but now it has begun to create sports uniforms, tennis rackets, boots and much more. In addition, the company moved away from the concept of creating equipment mainly for men and introduced several women's lines.

The change in course still did not save the company from the decline in sales, which began in 1983 and affected not only the US market, but also Europe, where the brand’s position was also vulnerable. Many cite the reason that Knight handed over control of the company to the vice president of marketing, who had no experience leading such giants. As a result, Knight had to become CEO again in 1985.

In 1984, the company, already established in basketball, signed a contract with one of the most famous players - Michael Jordan. A model of Air Jordan shoes was developed especially for the athlete, which he had to wear during all matches. The league considered the sneakers too bright and banned Jordan from wearing them on the court, but the athlete continued to play in Air Jordan every game, paying fines of $1,000 per game and drawing attention to the brand.

The company continued to make losses in 1985. It became clear that the time had come for drastic changes - a reduction in output and staff layoffs began. The company, on the one hand, reduced its product lines, and on the other, increased marketing costs in order to establish the usual level of sales.

In 1986, sales finally began to grow and reached $1 billion, largely due to changes in the line of women's products, which included casual wear, and the introduction of a line of budget sports shoes called Street Socks. Despite the successes, layoffs did not stop, and over six months, about 10% of the staff was cut.

In 1987, the company was still trying to catch up with competitors who had managed to get ahead during the crisis. The brand's main opponent in the United States was Reebok, which managed to snatch a percentage of the basketball direction from its competitor. During this period, a new model of AirMax sneakers with Visible Air technology was released, in which the air chamber was specially made visible.

In 1988, to make up for lost time, the company released the previously announced new version Air Jordan III, which was highlighted due to its excellent appearance from Tanker Hatfield, sports design guru. In the same year, the brand’s famous advertising campaign with the slogan “Just Do It” begins. By the way, there is a legend on this score that the slogan was taken from Gary Gilmore, a murderer sentenced to death in 1977, who shouted “Let's do it” a few minutes before execution." Dan Weiden, representative of the advertising agency Weiden & Kennedy , suggested an option with the word “Just”, and the brand’s leaders liked this idea so much that they agreed without further hesitation.

Another version says that the famous phrase was borrowed from the American humanist Jerry Rubin. If you wish, you can find several more options, but all sources agree on one thing: the slogan was created by the advertising agency Weiden & Kennedy. In the future, “Just Do It” will actually become the second name of the brand and will be recognized as one of the best slogans in history. Phil Knight would later emphasize that he always lived by the motto “Just Do It”: it was with this approach that he founded Nike.

In 1988, the brand's profits increased by $100 million. Nike began an active campaign aimed at promoting its own slogan. By 1989, costs would reach $45 million. This campaign is still cited as an example of aggressive brand promotion. Nike did not skimp on the costs of its organization, collaborating with stars such as Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi and Bo Jackson.

In 1990, an accident occurred that caused a serious public outcry: teenagers killed their peer in order to take Nike shoes from him. Many began to criticize the company for being too aggressive in promoting the brand, which led to the tragedy. But this situation attracted even more attention to the company's products, and sales continued to grow. In the same year, materials began to appear in the press that Nike was using child labour, - and the company had to refute these accusations.

At the same time, Nike acquired Tetra Plastics, a company that produced plastic sole strips. Thanks to excellent sales of shoes with Nike Air technology, the brand has become a leader in the field of sports and fitness. Many analysts agree that the company will soon achieve total dominance in its field. The same year, the Niketown brand store opened. Revenue is also growing, reaching $2 billion.

In 1991, Nike finally managed to catch up with its main competitor in the US market, Reebok. The brand’s position in the European market also became much more stable, where sales reached $1 billion. At the same time, the company still could not achieve leadership, but only kept pace with its competitors. The desire of sports brands to gain control of the European market is perfectly demonstrated by the commercials on MTV Europe, which run almost non-stop.

In the American market, the company's position is strengthened thanks to a lucrative agreement with the Chicago Bulls basketball team, which became champions three times from 1991 to 1993. This record increased the popularity of the brand. In 1991, a new shoe model of the Nike Air Max 180 brand went on sale. The advertising campaign for these sneakers was headed by another star basketball player, Charles Barkley. Despite this approach to promotion, the Air Max 180 did not immediately become popular due to the limited number of colors of the model.

In 1992, Nike celebrates its anniversary. The company's revenues hit $3.4 billion. Phil Knight, at an official event in honor of the holiday, announced a plan to turn the company into the world's largest brand, using the old slogan: this is not the end. Nike announces the opening of new brand stores around the world and the release of revolutionary products and, of course, invests in advertising.

In the same year, a new Niketown appears. At the pretentious opening, the company's management announced that it would become a kind of Disneyland for all lovers of a sports lifestyle. The brand continues to promote the idea that sports and Nike are one and the same. Anyone who loves sports should come to Niketown sooner or later.

At the same time, one of the most important events in the history of sports business takes place. The US basketball team, led by Jordan, won the Olympics, but refused to wear a special winner's uniform for the awards, because most of the team members signed a contract with Nike and could not wear competitors' products. This came as a shock to the sports world: no one expected that equipment manufacturers now control everything in sports.

In 1993, three more Niketowns opened in the United States. The company continued its work in basketball, extending contracts with Jordan and Barkley, as well as reaching agreements with several new stars. The new agreements had a real impact on the life of the athlete, in particular, they determined which events he should appear at. Increasingly, publications began to appear in the media that sport has become a business.

In addition, the brand is starting a series sporting events- Nike Step. At the end of the year, Phil Knight was unexpectedly declared the most influential person in sports. For the first time in history, this title was given to a sports equipment manufacturer rather than a player or club president.


Until the mid-1990s, the company's position became increasingly stronger. In 1995, Nike achieved dominance in the American market, finally defeating Reebok. In Europe, sales reached $3 billion. The company does not stop there and continues to expand its product line. In 1994, Nike acquired one of the leading developers of hockey equipment, Canstar, which was eventually renamed Bauer Hockey. In 1995, the brand invested in the future by signing a contract with a young golfer who would later contribute much to the history of this sport - Tiger Woods.

The trend of revenue growth continued, and in 1997 the company set a revenue record of $9.19 billion. However, most of it was provided by the American market, and the company received a total of about $2 billion from Asia and Europe. The company became too dependent on the US market: any changes the tastes of the brand's dominant audience - teenagers - led to a decrease in sales. The first bell sounded in 1998, when third-quarter profits fell to a record low over the past decade and a half. One of the main reasons was the crisis in Asia, where sales also decreased. The company carried out a partial restructuring and began, as in the mid-1980s, to reduce product lines and the number of employees. Before 1999, about 5% of the staff was fired.

The situation was aggravated by public protests against Nike's approach to organizing labor in Asia: it came to open actions and boycotts of goods. In an attempt to rectify the situation, Nike decided to amend contracts with employees of the company's factories, made information about working conditions in production facilities publicly available, and agreed to conduct an inspection with independent experts. However, this problem has not yet been completely resolved, and from time to time Nike is again drawn into scandals related to poor working conditions.

An attempt was also made to return the brand to public popularity: the campaign to create playgrounds and distribute equipment in poor neighborhoods and third world countries became widespread.

Nike management concluded the reason for the decline in sales: the brand did not pay attention in time to the growing popularity of extreme sports. The company began producing a corresponding line of products, which, as usual, featured an original design.

In 1999, Nike began to work on the Internet - primarily through great videos. In the future, viral videos will become one of the brand’s calling cards. At the same time, online sales also started. This year, Nike's action in Yugoslavia during the famous conflict was loud: the company placed peacekeeping messages on billboards in Belgrade.

In 2000, Nike introduced new Shox technology - it was the world's first mechanical shock absorption system in shoes. The company had the technology back in the late 1980s, but it was only used for the first time now.

Gradually, all these innovations allowed the company to restore its revenue level, and in 2001 a new revenue record was set, amounting to $10 billion. In the early 2000s, the company introduced several high-profile advertising videos. Just look at the video with Marion Jones, who won three gold medals at the Olympics in 2000 - in the video she was running away from a maniac. The video ended at the most interesting point, and each viewer could propose his own ending on the Nike website, and the best ideas were published. In the same year, the face of the brand changed: the place of Jordan, who retired from the sport, was taken by Tiger Woods, who received a contract worth $100 million.

The audience was delighted ads"The Cage", in which twenty of the world's most famous football players competed in a mysterious football tournament. The video is still considered one of the best in history. Integration into the football industry did not end there: in 2002, Nike completed a deal with Manchester United worth $486 million, which strengthened the Red Devils' position as the richest club in the world at that time.

At this time, the company began to actively increase production capacity by absorbing competitors. In 2003, Converse, the manufacturer of the famous sneaker model, was acquired. The deal cost Nike $305 million.

The same year, the company signs a contract with LeBron James, presenting him as the new Michael Jordan. A new model of the company's Air Max 3 sneakers appears, which were positioned as the first running model. AM3 has become quite popular - largely due to its sophisticated minimalist design.

In 2004, the world was shocked by the news that the company's permanent president, Phil Knight, was resigning from his post. His son Matthew was supposed to take the place of head of Nike, but he died in an accident, and William Perez became the new head of the company.

In the same year, a new stage of the campaign begins against poor working conditions at Nike factories in Indonesia and Vietnam. Information has surfaced that 50 thousand workers in Indonesia earn as much in a year as brand officials earn in a month. The company had to work hard to reassure the public. Still, quarterly revenue rose 25% this year, Nike's best ever.

In 2005, the company introduced a new model of Nike Free 5.0 sneakers, which caused criticism due to the fact that they quickly wore out during active training. In the future, shoes in this series will be significantly improved.

In the same year, another important event took place - Reebok, broken during a long struggle with Nike, became part of Adidas, and now both of the company's main competitors began to oppose it together. However, Nike's position looked unshakable: the company controlled 32% of the global sportswear market, which was almost twice as much as its competitors.

The same year, “Ronaldinho: A Touch of Gold” appeared, in which the famous football player hits the crossbar four times without allowing the ball to touch the ground. This video received the Silver Lion at the Cannes Advertising Festival.

In 2006, William Perez was removed from his post as head of the company by Mark Parker. The main reason was that Perez did not fully understand the brand. Parker, unlike his predecessor, had worked at the company since the early 1980s, and Nike's history was made before his eyes. The reshuffle played a fateful role in the further development of the brand. Parker proved to be a talented CEO: he made the changes that were needed to strengthen Nike's dominant position in the market. One of them was an almost complete transition to our own points of sale instead of the widespread use of official distributors.

At the same time, a new model of Air Max 360 sneakers was released, the main feature of which was the elimination of foam in the sole. This time the design was entrusted to the young designer Martin Lotti.

Another important event took place this year - Nike+iPod, developed jointly with Apple, was presented to the public. The device was positioned as a way to listen to music and play sports without unnecessary worries. Thanks to an accelerometer built into Nike shoes and a special receiver connected to an iPod, it recorded all the necessary information: pace, distance, lost calories. It could be used while jogging and even during aerobics.

Many argue that the friendship of the brands was not limited to the joint release of goods and Mark Parker, in the early stages of his presidency, often consulted with Steve Jobs. In the future, the giants will reach new level cooperation and Tim Cook will even join the board of directors of Nike.

In 2007, tensions between Adidas and Nike rise again. The German concern rebranded Reebok and prepared to attack its competitor. However, this was not so easy to do: Nike had almost complete control over basketball (95% of the direction), in addition, thanks to an effective approach to design and innovation, the company had strong positions in the production of sports shoes. To build even more capacity, Nike acquired British sports equipment manufacturer Umbro in 2007. So the company was going to advance Adidas in football, where the German giant still had leadership.

The deal was officially completed in 2008, as a result of which Nike's revenue exceeded $18 billion. Thus, the American brand increased its lead over Adidas. Nike+iPod Gym was introduced in September of this year. At the same time, the company noted an increase in sales in China, which led brand executives to believe that it could easily achieve dominance in this market. In the end, it turns out that they were hasty in their conclusions, and Nike will have to significantly change their operating model in order to conquer the Chinese market.

In 2010, the company’s “Write the Future” campaign starts on social networks. The video made for her becomes one of the most popular on the Internet, and some media outlets will later call it cursed, because most of its participants failed the tournament. During the campaign, fans were asked to vote for the player who would change the world and send a message. The campaign is considered one of the best examples of using social media for viral marketing.

In 2010, the FIFA World Cup was held in South Africa, for which Nike developed a series of boots. At the company's initiative, some football players' uniforms were made from recycled plastic bottles collected in Asian countries - this is how Nike tried to demonstrate its careful attitude to nature. In the same year the brand signs new contract with the Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo, the deal amount is $8.5 million per year.

In 2011, another advertising campaign for The Chosen brand was launched, the purpose of which was to promote extreme sports among young people. Social networks have again become the main platform. The campaign began with a countdown indicator until the video was released online. Two weeks before it, a 33-second teaser appeared online. The video itself was filmed in Bali, Indonesia and New York. Simultaneously with the promotional video, a film appeared on the Internet with a story about how its filming took place. In addition, a competition was held in which participants were invited to make their own video about extreme sports.

In the same year, a campaign was held in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to present the new Vapor Flash running jacket - light reflection technology allowed it to literally glow in the dark. 50 athletes wearing these jackets moved around Vienna at night and constantly transmitted their location to the website. Everyone was invited to take a photo of one of them along with the number on their jacket and receive a reward of €10 thousand. Needless to say, the action created a real sensation.

In 2011, a commercial was shot to promote the new Zoom Kobe Bryant VI sneaker model. As usual, the company did not skimp on costs: the video was shot by the famous director Robert Rodriguez. The final product, in the form of a trailer for the film “Black Mamba,” in which Bryant played a basketball player fighting off hordes of enemies led by Bruce Willis, was received with delight by the audience.

In 2012, another common product between Nike and Apple appeared - Fuelband, a sports bracelet that can be synchronized with any Apple gadget. It was presented as a device that tracks the burning of every calorie, after which it sends the data to the selected gadget. The giants were sued for this bracelet: the plaintiffs noticed that the advertising was not true, the product did not track all the calories burned during exercise. As a result, the companies agreed to pay all victims $15 in cash or $25 in the form of a gift card.

In the same year on Twitter there was

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