Nike

Before the brand Nike was born as we know it today, the company, which was founded in 1964, was called Blue Ribbon Sports. 

The founders Bill Bowerman, a “respected track and field coach”, and Philip Hampson Knight, a “talented middle-distance runner” with a MBA in finance, started the business by importing Japanese running shoes and selling them in the United States.

Bill Bowerman

The business was a success and in the years of 1971/72 Bowerman and Knight decided to end the business as distributor and start designing and manufacturing their own brand of sports shoes. 

With the help of Jeff Johnston who was responsible for the new brand name as well as marketing, advertising and design, Nike debuted its first line of running shoes in 1972. It quickly became popular due to its lightness and unique outsole, which was inspired by a waffle iron.

The marketing strategy of Nike has always been the endorsement of their product through aspiring athletes and this strategy has proven very successful. Steve Prefontaine was an outstanding middle-distance runner from Oregon and the first athlete to promote Nike’s line.

Phil Knight

In 1985 Nike landed another coup with the signing of NBA Rookie Michael Jordan and the debut of his signature shoe. The invention of a new footwear technology called Air Max – visible Nike Air bags – in 1987 and a new line of cross-training shoes in 1988 helped Nike to become the leader of athletic footwear/ apparel in the world, a position that is still held today.

After strongly focusing on soccer footwear and golf apparel in the 1990s, Nike signed the 1994 World Cup-winning Brazilian National Team and signed Tiger Woods as another outstanding athlete.
With innovations like the cushioning system Nike Shox in 2000 and other technological developments like the Nike+ tracking device, Nike keeps on creating “superior athletic products”.

Becoming the official sponsor of the Chinese National Football League in 2012, Nike expands into new markets as another challenge for the next years to come - Always with one philosophy in mind: JUST DO IT!

Source:  
Nikeinc.com