Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Nike Shoes History
Ever heard of Nike? Who hasn't?
You might be surprised to know that one of the world's dominant shoe, sports equipment and clothing brands was aptly named after the Greek goddess of victory -- and that the inspiration for the name struck during a dream.
It began in 1964 with a casual agreement and a handshake between University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, a middle-distance runner. The pair formed Blue Ribbon Sports and began importing Japanese brand Onitsuka Tiger running shoes, known today as ASICs, for sale in the U.S.
In 1967, Knight and Bowerman made the handshake deal formal and incorporated as BRS Inc. Jeff Johnson signed on in 1965 as the company's first full-time salesperson and opened Blue Ribbon Sports' first retail outlet the following year. In 1971, Johnson made an incalculable contribution to the company: One night, he dreamed of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, and suggested the name to his bosses. The company used the moniker for its first footwear product to feature the "Swoosh" mark -- a soccer cleat called the Nike, whose name beat out Knight's suggestion that they call it the Dimension 6.
The Swoosh trademark was created by a graphic-design student from Portland State University named Carolyn Davidson. She got $35 for her creation.
When tees featuring a lower-case "nike" script logo designed by Davidson hit stores that year, folks unfamiliar with the name asked, "Who's Mike?" when they spotted the shirts.
In 1977, former aerospace engineer Frank Rudy teamed with Nike to create the first Air-Sole units -- durable bags filled with pressurized gas that compressed under impact, then sprang back. The result was Nike Air cushioning, which hit stores in 1979.
In 1980, Nike went public.
The year 1984 saw the signing of basketball megastar Michael Jordan to an endorsement contract, followed by the 1985 release of his signature shoe, the Air Jordan. Originally, the NBA banned this new shoe because it didn't match the league's dress code, but the ban simply served to give the design a higher profile and extensive publicity.
Nike revenues topped $1 billion for the first time in 1986. The rest, as they say, is history.
In 1999, Bill Bowerman, Nike's co-founder, died at age 88. The company bought bankrupt rival Converse for $305 million in 2003. In 2004, Phil Knight stepped down as CEO and president of Nike, but he continues as chairman. Headquartered in Beaverton, Ore., Nike remains one of the largest and most successful companies operating today.
You might be surprised to know that one of the world's dominant shoe, sports equipment and clothing brands was aptly named after the Greek goddess of victory -- and that the inspiration for the name struck during a dream.
It began in 1964 with a casual agreement and a handshake between University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, a middle-distance runner. The pair formed Blue Ribbon Sports and began importing Japanese brand Onitsuka Tiger running shoes, known today as ASICs, for sale in the U.S.
In 1967, Knight and Bowerman made the handshake deal formal and incorporated as BRS Inc. Jeff Johnson signed on in 1965 as the company's first full-time salesperson and opened Blue Ribbon Sports' first retail outlet the following year. In 1971, Johnson made an incalculable contribution to the company: One night, he dreamed of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory, and suggested the name to his bosses. The company used the moniker for its first footwear product to feature the "Swoosh" mark -- a soccer cleat called the Nike, whose name beat out Knight's suggestion that they call it the Dimension 6.
The Swoosh trademark was created by a graphic-design student from Portland State University named Carolyn Davidson. She got $35 for her creation.
Expanding the Nike Brand
Looking to expand the line, Bowerman began experimenting with the concept of athletic shoes with rubber spikes. By pouring a liquid rubber compound into his wife's waffle iron, Bowerman created an innovative running-shoe sole. The company unveiled Nike "Moon Shoes" featuring the Waffle sole for athletes competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., in 1972. A succession of shoes, many based on the waffle outsole, followed. Some of the most famous are the Waffle Racer, Air Force One and Air Max 97.When tees featuring a lower-case "nike" script logo designed by Davidson hit stores that year, folks unfamiliar with the name asked, "Who's Mike?" when they spotted the shirts.
Elite Sponsors: Athletes in Nike Shoes
A growing number of elite athletes competed in Nike footwear. Runner Mark Covert was the first athlete to wear Nike shoes across a finish line. Nike shoes got their first endorsement by a professional athlete when Romanian tennis personality Ilie Nastase signed on to wear Nikes on the court.In 1977, former aerospace engineer Frank Rudy teamed with Nike to create the first Air-Sole units -- durable bags filled with pressurized gas that compressed under impact, then sprang back. The result was Nike Air cushioning, which hit stores in 1979.
In 1980, Nike went public.
The year 1984 saw the signing of basketball megastar Michael Jordan to an endorsement contract, followed by the 1985 release of his signature shoe, the Air Jordan. Originally, the NBA banned this new shoe because it didn't match the league's dress code, but the ban simply served to give the design a higher profile and extensive publicity.
Nike revenues topped $1 billion for the first time in 1986. The rest, as they say, is history.
Superstar Follow-Up
Nike followed up on its footwear fame by dressing athletes from head to toe, introducing apparel collections for tennis and basketball, which were popularized respectively by superstars John McEnroe and Michael Jordan. In 1988, Nike's "Just Do It" slogan was introduced, and it remains one of the most recognizable and successful commercial taglines. In 1990, the first NikeTown store opened in Portland, Ore. The company signed golfing phenom Tiger Woods in 1996.In 1999, Bill Bowerman, Nike's co-founder, died at age 88. The company bought bankrupt rival Converse for $305 million in 2003. In 2004, Phil Knight stepped down as CEO and president of Nike, but he continues as chairman. Headquartered in Beaverton, Ore., Nike remains one of the largest and most successful companies operating today.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Is Nike Shoes Everyone’s First Choice?
It is well known that Nike shoes are popular and best-sellling in the world. When buying shoes, it is obvious choice that you should consider Nike. This company has gained a great reputation as a manufacturer of quality shoes and indeed its shoes are one of the best in the market
. Whether you are looking shoes for American football, basketball, tennis, football and baseball, there is surely a type of shoes that is appropriate for you.
Nike shoes have all the features that a person should be looking for. With stylish design and the use of durable materials, this ensures that you will be getting a great quality product that you will be able to use for a long time. With its steady innovations such as the Air Zoom Yorker Nike is determined to stay at the front in terms of technology.
Furthermore, with the advent of the Nike ID, you can order shoes that are custom made according to your colors and specifications and all this delivered at the front of your doors. This type of service make Nike a must consider brand when buying shoes.
Nike footwear can also be purchased almost everywhere. There are a lot of distributors and retailers that stock all type of Nike sneakers and should be readily available for you. Still if you cannot get your hand on a pair of Nike footwear, you could consider buying them online from a lot of sites that stock these fantastic shoes.
Given that, Nike footwear are not that expensive you should take time before choosing the shoes that you will be purchasing. First, try to look for the piece of technology that you are looking for in the shoes. You can do this by going online and reading some reviews or you just can visit the nearby Nike stores and seek some piece of advice from the seller.
Compare as with any other shoes, you should buy Nikes that fit your feet and not just one that you consider stylish. What is the use of purchasing a shoe that will make you have nightmares as soon as you wear them? Nike shoes have so many advantages that how can you be not attracted by them.
Editor: vivio tang
Article source:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Consider-Buying-Nike-Shoes?&id=965423
. Whether you are looking shoes for American football, basketball, tennis, football and baseball, there is surely a type of shoes that is appropriate for you.
Nike shoes have all the features that a person should be looking for. With stylish design and the use of durable materials, this ensures that you will be getting a great quality product that you will be able to use for a long time. With its steady innovations such as the Air Zoom Yorker Nike is determined to stay at the front in terms of technology.
Furthermore, with the advent of the Nike ID, you can order shoes that are custom made according to your colors and specifications and all this delivered at the front of your doors. This type of service make Nike a must consider brand when buying shoes.
Nike footwear can also be purchased almost everywhere. There are a lot of distributors and retailers that stock all type of Nike sneakers and should be readily available for you. Still if you cannot get your hand on a pair of Nike footwear, you could consider buying them online from a lot of sites that stock these fantastic shoes.
Given that, Nike footwear are not that expensive you should take time before choosing the shoes that you will be purchasing. First, try to look for the piece of technology that you are looking for in the shoes. You can do this by going online and reading some reviews or you just can visit the nearby Nike stores and seek some piece of advice from the seller.
Compare as with any other shoes, you should buy Nikes that fit your feet and not just one that you consider stylish. What is the use of purchasing a shoe that will make you have nightmares as soon as you wear them? Nike shoes have so many advantages that how can you be not attracted by them.
Editor: vivio tang
Article source:
http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Consider-Buying-Nike-Shoes?&id=965423
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
