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The company was founded
The first name was Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight and officially became Nike, Inc later. -
Blue Ribbon Sports opened its first retail store
Consequentially, Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS) cut ties with Onitsuka Tiger and began to create and market their own line of footwear and apparel. -
The first shoe sold to the public
The first shoe sold to the public to carry this design was a soccer shoe named Nike, which was released in the summer of 1971 -
The Swoosh was first used by Nike
Blue Ribbon Sports hired Carolyn Davidson to design their classic "swoosh" logo in 1971 for $35, the first swoosh t-shirt apparel item is created at this time as well. -
BRS introduced its first line of Nike shoes
In 1972, Blue Ribbon Sports founded their "Nike" (pronounced NI-KEY), named after the Greek Goddess of Victory, line of footwear. BRS expanded their product line to Canada in 1972, which was their first foreign market. -
Registering with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
In addition, operations were expanded to Canada, the company's first foreign market, which would be followed by Australia, in 1974. BRS opened its first U.S. plant, in Exeter, New Hampshire. The company's payroll swelled to 250, and worldwide sales neared $5 million by the end of 1974. -
BRS, Inc. officially renamed itself to Nike, Inc
In 1978 the company changed its name to Nike, Inc. The company expanded its line of products that year, adding athletic shoes for children -
Expand business
Throughout the 1980s, Nike expanded its product line to encompass many sports and regions throughout the world. -
The company's line of products
By 1982 the company's line of products included more than 200 different kinds of shoes, including the Air Force I, a basketball shoe, and its companion shoe for racquet sports, the Air Ace, the latest models in the long line of innovative shoe designs that had pushed Nike's earnings to an average annual increase of almost 100 percent -
Nike's first "Just Do It" advertisement
Wieden credits the inspiration for the slogan to "Let’s do it", the last words spoken by Gary Gilmore before he was executed. -
Nike bought company Hurley International
In February 2002, Nike bought surf apparel company Hurley International from founder Bob Hurley. -
Nike bought Converse, Inc
Nike paid US$309 million to acquire Converse Inc., makers of the iconic Chuck Taylor All Stars sneakers -
Nike acquired sports apparel supplier Umbro
On March 3, 2008, Nike acquired sports apparel supplier Umbro, known as the manufacturers of the England national football team's kit, in a deal said to be worth £285 million (about US$600 million). Other subsidiaries previously owned and subsequently sold by Nike include Bauer Hockey and Starter. -
The Nike+ Sports Band was released in stores
The original Nike+ SportBand was pretty well received when it rolled out last year, but time marches on, and Nike's now back for another go 'round with a slightly updated model, plus a few other bonuses for the runners and walkers out there -
Today the Nike is a very popular brand in the world
With its record of innovative product design and savvy promotion and an aggressive approach to containing costs and revitalizing sales, Nike appeared likely to stage an impressive comeback in the early 21st century.
