Nike: Sweatshops and Business Ethics History What started with a handshake between two running geeks in Oregon in January 1964 are now the world 's most competitive sports and Fitness Company. Bill Bowerman the legendary University of Oregon track &field coach and Phil Knights a University of Oregon runner under Bowerman coach, found the Nike Company, named by the Greek winged goddess of victory. First the company was named Blue Ribbon Sports. The Nike athletic machine began as a small distributing outfit located in the trunk of Phil Knight 's car. From these rather unpromising beginnings, Knight 's idea grew to become the shoe and athletic company that would come to define many aspects of popular culture. Bill Bowerman 's search for …show more content…
Due to the organization of the European Union and the disbursement of the Euro some economic discomfort in participating countries may be felt. In addition to those listed above other economic changes may be felt through the increase of inflation and unemployment in Asia and the Pacific Rim, Latin America, and Russia, consequently having a negative effect on shoe sales. Furthermore the fluctuation of foreign currency and interest rates, as well as a sluggish US economy may also have negative effects on the industry. As the nature of science and technology change new advances are being made, but because of the industries competitive nature each company makes their own advances, and then copyrights them. The industry has come very far by studying the fashion, leisure, fitness and sport consumers. Slow international economies especially in countries where manufacturing occurs may decrease in international profits. In addition with the initiation of war on a global level, as well as terrorist alerts, people are generally spending less in an effort to prepare for whatever comes to pass. The Nike mission is "to bring innovation and inspiration to every athlete in the world. If you have a body, you are an athlete." As long as there are athletes, there will be Nike. Nature of the external environment surrounding the company The athletic footwear industry has experienced strong growth in
Nike was founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. The two men met when Bowerman was coaching track and field at the University of Oregon and Knight was a middle distance runner on his team. After earning an MBA from Standford, Knight returned to Oregon and approached Bowerman with an idea to bring in low priced, high-tech athletic shoes from Japan to compete in the United States athletic shoe market. With a handshake and a five hundred dollar investment by both men, Blue Ribbon Sports was born in 1964. BRS began importing shoes from Onitsuka Tiger, with Knight making sales at high school track meets and Bowerman
Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight first started Nike on January 25th, 1964 but the name started out as Blue Ribbon Sports. They worked for a Japanese shoemaker called Onitsuka Tiger as merchandisers. Eventually Bill and Phil changed the name to Nike on May 30th, 1971. The company name Nike came from the ancient Greek goddess of victory (O’Reilly).
NIKE Inc., known for its athletic shoes, apparel, and it wide variety of sporting goods is located in the state of Oregon. NIKE Inc. previously known as Blue Ribbon Sports was originated in 1964 with the idea of importing shoes from Japan and sells them locally. Once successful, the founders, Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, decided to market their own brand of athletic shoes. As a result, NIKE Inc. was established. From there, NIKE Inc. has a long history of success in producing quality, durable athletic merchandise that focuses on the athlete. In
<br>In 1958, Phil Knight, a business major a the University of Oregon, and a miler on the track team, shared with his coach, Bill Bowerman, a dissatisfaction with the clumsiness of American running shoes. They formed a company in 1964 to market a lighter and more comfortable shoe designed by Bowerman. In 1968, this company became NIKE, Inc.--- named for the Greek goddess of Victory. At first, Knight and Bowerman sold their shoes in person, at track meets across the Western US. Their company thrived through a classic combination of entrepreneurship and innovation. Bowerman 's most memorable technical breakthrough was the optimal traction of the waffle soles he invented by shaping rubber in the waffle iron in his kitchen (1972). Other essential innovations were the
The sportswear companies have to keep in mind that aging population could either result in a decrease of sales or cause change of product as waist sizes would change along with other body changes that come with age, which the company would have to adjust to. Increased diversity also affects the industry as people from different countries would be purchasing the products, thus making it harder for companies to produce the kind of garments that most people would be comfortable with. The economic environment consists of factors that affect the consumer’s income and spending patterns. If there is a drop in the economy of a country, there would definitely be a low saving rate and a higher rate of debts, making a difference in what they buy or how much they spend, which in turn affects the company’s market value. (“Josbd”, n.d) Moreover, organizations need different kind of equipment, machinery which can be a great threat to the natural environment. To ensure the damage is minimal, governments require businesses to follow certain rules and regulations in
1964 marked the creation of “Nike” which at first was called “Blue Ribbon sports”. Nike was created by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. At first
The stronger dollar has allowed to the lowering of production cost. Therefore, production in the mining industry has increased causing an excess supply. Meanwhile, demand has weakened and sales decreased in the international market.
Nike a global fashion and sport icon to the world is branded as one of if not the best athletic company in the world. Nike produces athletic gear for every sport imaginable. They are known as well for there one of a kind products but as well as the brand that the best athletics wear and advertise for. The founders of Nike Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman meet when Bill Bowerman was the training coach for Phil Knight when he ran track for Oregon. It was there at the University of Oregon where Bill Bowerman always looked for ways to amplify the track shoe to enhance a student’s performance but was unsuccessful. Phil Knight who later went to study at Stanford followed the same mindset of creating a shoe himself. Knight alternated his decision
Around the world, Nike has become synonymous with running shoes. The Nike brand can be recognized by the mere sight of the notorious swoosh or their famous “Just Do It” slogan. However, Nike has been associated with child labor, poor working conditions, and extremely low wages. Nike has set out to change this association and to convey an image of progress and awareness. Nevertheless, some wonder if Nike’s intention is to change its impression on its customers or to better the lives of the workers. The image of Nike as an American company greatly contrasts how Nike began and expanded. Phil Knight established Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, which sold speciality running shoes in Japan. Shortly after the company started marketing in the United States,
Nike has a mission statement that lets everyone know what the main objective is. “To bring inspiration and innovation to ever *athlete in the world.” Founder Bill Bowerman defined athlete the following way: “*If you have a body, you are an athlete.”(Mission statement, Nike.com) That definition is the heart of Nike’s business model and has been the center point to their vision. They are saying that everyone in the world is athlete and they want to inspire and innovate every type of demographic. Nike’s view has been a critical to their spectacular growth to be a major global
Phil Knight and his track-and-field coach Bill Bowerman found one of the world’s well-known sports brand, Nike in 1964. With the beginning of Nike first “office” being the laundry room of Knight’s family home it has now become the biggest sports and fitness company in the world with international recognition. The vision statement of Nike as an organization was to think ahead in the long term and not to simply focus and be content with the present as described by Tom Clarke, chief executive of Nike.
Nike was found by Bill Bowerman, the legendary University of Oregon track & field coach together with Phil Knight, a University of Oregon business student and middle-distance runner under Bowerman. At the beginning Nike was found in January 1964 with the name of Blue Ribbon Sport (BRS). The first-year sales totaled was $ 8.000. In 1972, Nike was introduced by BRS as the new brand of athletic footwear, the name was for the Greek winged goddess of victory. The Nike's mission is "To bring Inspirations and innovation to every athlete* in the world. *If you have a body, you are an athlete". The asterisk quote is taken from Bill Bowerman which was the legendary track and field coach for the University of Oregon and the
Nike Inc. was founded by track athlete Phil Knight and his coach Bill Bowerman in January 1964. The company use to be called Blue Ribbon Sports. In 1971 they changed the name to Nike after their partnership with a Japanese company ended. Now Nike Inc. controls more than half of athletic shoe market in the United States. In addition, they sell their products in more than 180 countries around the world.
Nike began as Phil Knight’s semester-long project to develop a small business, which included a marketing plan. This project was part of Phil Knight’s MBA course at Stanford University in the early 1960s. Phil Knight had been a runner at the University of Oregon in the late 1950s. His idea for his project was to develop high quality running shoes. He thought that high quality/low cost products could be produced in Japan and then shipped to the United States to be sold at a profit. His professor thought that Knight’s idea was interesting, but not much more than a project.
Nike began as an enterprise in Oregon with its founder, sports enthusiast Phil Knight. In 1962, Nike started under the name Blue Ribbon Sports. During this time, the athletic shoe industry was dominated by the Adidas and Puma companies. Knight recognized there was segment of serious athletes that had specialized needs that were not being addressed by the major companies.