One Stunning Stat That Shows How Nike Changed The Shoe Industry Forever (2024)

When Nike was founded in 1964, just 4% of U.S. footwear was imported.

Five decades later, that figure has skyrocketed to 98%, and Nike has likely played a role in driving it up.

Now one of the world's biggest retailers of athletic shoes, Nike manufactures a vast majority of its footwear and apparel outside the U.S.

The company's founder, Phil Knight, came up with the idea of outsourcing manufacturing jobs to cut costs while attending Stanford Business School in the early 1960s, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Reuters

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The company now has 68 factories in the U.S., representing just 9% of its manufacturing facilities. Those U.S.-based factories employ just1% of its total workforce, or13,922 employees.

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Becoming an early adopter of outsourcing has helped propel Nike into one of the biggest athletic footwear and apparel companies in the world.

But the practice has also made Nike a symbol of abusive labor practices, after reports of unsafe conditions at many of its foreign factories began emerging in the 1990s.

In a May 1998 speech, then-CEO Phil Knight was forced to admit that Nike had "become synonymous with slave wages, forced overtime, and arbitrary abuse."

The company has since established a new set of working standards, as well as a vigorous new auditing system to monitor labor practices in its factories and restore consumer faith in its brand.

One Stunning Stat That Shows How Nike Changed The Shoe Industry Forever (2024)

FAQs

One Stunning Stat That Shows How Nike Changed The Shoe Industry Forever? ›

One Stunning Stat That Shows How Nike Changed The Shoe Industry Forever. When Nike was founded in 1964, just 4% of U.S. footwear was imported. Five decades later, that figure has skyrocketed to 98%, and Nike has likely played a role in driving it up.

What has Nike done to improve? ›

Nike has also made sustainability a priority and has implemented environmentally friendly practices in its supply chain and manufacturing processes. In terms of expanding its global reach, Nike has opened new stores and expanded its e-commerce presence in key markets around the world.

What was the turning point of Nike? ›

The launch of the Air Jordan line in 1985 marked a turning point for the company in the basketball shoe market. "Just Do It" Campaign (1988): Nike's famous "Just Do It" marketing campaign was launched in 1988. The slogan became a cultural phenomenon and is still closely associated with the brand today.

How did Nike shoes became popular? ›

The popularity of Air Jordans coincided with the rise of hip-hop artists in the 1980s, who were known for both their music and their clothing. With a deep bench of classic sneakers and its broad newer offerings and collaborations with athletes and designers, Nike was able to expand its reach.

What is Nike most successful product? ›

The Air Force 1 is Nike's most popular product of all time, including all sports apparel.

How has Nike changed the industry? ›

Today Nike is the world's leading innovator in athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories. Along the way, Nike helped the world's best athletes win races, games and championships. And the athletes helped Nike design and market the products and brand that changed the face of sports.

What are Nike's greatest innovations? ›

Innovations like the Nike Flywire support system, Lunarlite foam cushioning, Hyperdunk basketball shoe, new generations of Free footwear, and the new Trainer 1 shoe continue to set the standard for the industry.

What are 5 facts about Nike? ›

Read on for 6 Nike facts.
  • Nike's Slogan: Inspired by a Murderer. Nike's slogan, “Just Do It”, has a sinister story behind it. ...
  • The Great Shoe Spill of 1990. ...
  • Beatles Lawsuit Against Nike. ...
  • The Story of the Swoosh Logo. ...
  • Nike and Adidas Competed for Michael Jordan. ...
  • Nike's Sustainability Initiative - Reuse a Shoe Program.
Sep 8, 2021

What does Nike stand for? ›

The company was named after the Greek goddess of victory, Nike (Νίκη). Apart from its own brand, Nike market its products under Nike Pro, Nike+, Nike Golf, Nike Blazers, Air Jordan, Air Max and other as well as subsidiaries including brands Jordan, Hurley Int.

Who was Nike's first athlete? ›

Fusing innovation with inspiration is essential." "Nike's first signature athlete was welterweight wrestler, Wayne Wells. The 5' 8" Texas native had an accomplished career, winning a gold medal in Munich in 1972 while working closely with Nike footwear designers on his signature, high-top wresting boot.

What was Nike's original name? ›

The company was founded on January 25, 1964, as "Blue Ribbon Sports", by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight, and officially became Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1971.

Why is Nike so iconic? ›

Visual impact and brand consistency

Nike's recognizable branding is a main contributor to its brand identity and success: the famous swoosh, the sleek design, and the bold colors. All of these visual elements create an impactful style that consumers have grown to love and trust.

Does Nike own Converse? ›

Founded by Marquis Mills Converse in 1908 as the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in Malden, Massachusetts, it has been acquired by several companies before becoming a subsidiary of Nike, Inc. in 2003. February 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts, U.S. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Why was Nike Just Do It so successful? ›

The slogan was short, catchy, and easy to remember, making it perfect for print and TV advertising. But beyond that, it tapped into something deeper in the psyche of consumers. Nike's campaign was about more than just selling shoes and sportswear.

Who owns Nike? ›

The top shareholders of Nike are Phil Knight, Mark Parker, Andrew Campion, Swoosh LLC, Vanguard Group Inc., and BlackRock Inc. (BLK).

Who is the competitor of Nike? ›

Nike competitors include Skechers U.S.A., adidas, New Balance, ASICS America and Steve Madden. Nike ranks 1st in Overall Culture Score on Comparably vs its competitors.

What positive things has Nike done? ›

Nike diverts 99% of all footwear manufacturing waste from landfills. Nike diverts more than 1 billion plastic bottles annually from landfills to create yarns for new jerseys and uppers for Flyknit shoes. The Reuse-A-Shoe and Nike Grind programmes convert waste into new products, playgrounds, running tracks and courts.

How has Nike improved productivity? ›

Supply Chain Transformation

As Nike themselves put it in a recent blog post, “Using AI and machine learning, Nike is leveraging technology to forward-position the products that consumers love most and deliver faster, more precisely, and without compromising sustainability.”

What is Nike doing to improve working conditions? ›

Nike sweatshops and its brand image

Nike was initially slow to respond in the '90s—but under increasing pressure, it eventually made some changes by improving its monitoring efforts, raising the minimum age of workers, and increasing factory audits. Since then, the brand has earned plaudits for many of its efforts.

How has technology improved Nike? ›

As technology advanced, Nike integrated smart fabrics and sustainable materials into its products. This not only improved performance but also reduced the brand's environmental impact.

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