The Early Days

nike first shoe

The first shoe came to play by use of Bowerman's waffle iron. He used this for creating the sole design and it helped to make the grooves seen in the early shoes. This became the first commercially used shoe made by Nike and although it was a variation of the "Moon Shoe" it gained the name "the Nike Waffle Racer". This shoe was given to athletes at US track events and would quickly set Nike off to the path of fame. By the late 70s, Nike had expanded enough to begin partnerships with John Brown and Partners, which was a advertising company based out of Seattle. This is where Nike would create its first motto, "There is No Finish Line". By 1980, 50% of the market shares in the US shoe market went straight to Nike. It wouldn't take long before Nike products were widely loved and worn by many athletes around the world. The 90s and 2000s also held many great things for Nike but more on that later. In fact, Knight could not predict just how quickly Nike would rise to fame as it severely exceeded his expectations.

The Founder's Words

“And those who urge entrepreneurs to never give up? Charlatans. Sometimes you have to give up. Sometimes knowing when to give up, when to try something else, is genius. Giving up doesn’t mean stopping. Don’t ever stop. Luck plays a big role. Yes, I’d like to publicly acknowledge the power of luck. Athletes get lucky, poets get lucky, businesses get lucky. Hard work is critical, a good team is essential, brains and determination are invaluable, but luck may decide the outcome. Some people might not call it luck. They might call it Tao, or Logos, or Jñāna, or Dharma. Or Spirit. Or God. Put” ― Phil Knight, Shoe Dog

Knight

More on Nike

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Pop Culture

Discover Nike's influence on Pop Culture throughout the years.

Celebrity Collaborations

Nike's most popular celebrity crossovers.

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