Nike Timeline

  • Phil Knight and Will Bowerman

    They both contribute $500 towards the company called "Blue Ribbon Sports" - later becoming Nike
  • Import

    They start to import cheap running shoes from japan and sell them by post for profit in the USA
  • Outlet

    The first BRS outlet is opens in California
  • Sole

    The 'waffle' sole for running shoes was inventend and the trainers quickly became the best selling shoes in the USA
  • Swoosh

    For only $35 the now globally famous 'swoosh' Nike symbol is created by a graphic design student
  • Nike

    Whilst asleep the employee of BRS dreams of the greek god Nike and proposes it as the company's new name it is accepted
  • John McEnroe

    One of the first celebrities sportsmen signs a deal with Nike
  • Air-sole

    The Air-Sole is invented, and once again, Nike revelutionised the world of training shoes
  • Public Limited Company

    Nike becomes a public limited company and starts to sell shares to members of the public who want to invest in Nike
  • Air-Jordan

    Michael Jordan agrees to endorse his own line of Nike trainers to be known as "Air-Jordan"
  • Nike's revenues top $1 billion

  • Marketing Department

    Nike's marketing department came up with tthe "JUST DO IT" slogan.