Nike History

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The Company Description of Its Time

What started with a handshake between two running geeks in sleepy Eugene, Oregon, is now, in the filing's own words, the world's most competitive sports and fitness company. The world headquarters is in Beaverton, Oregon; the Pacific Northwest is Nike's hometown, but the company expanded to every corner of the world, employs approximately 29,000 people at this snapshot, and defines its mission as bringing inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world. Bill Bowerman's line anchors the philosophy: if you have a body, you are an athlete, and as long as there are athletes, there will be Nike, a definition that makes every reader a member of the market.

The Family as Recorded: Bauer, Hurley, Converse and Exeter

Along the way, Nike acquired companies that extend its reach within and beyond sports, and this record preserves the family as it then stood. Nike Bauer Hockey, based in New Hampshire, manufactures and distributes hockey ice skates, apparel and equipment, plus equipment for in-line skating and street and roller hockey. Hurley International, based in California, designs and distributes action sports apparel for surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding, and youth lifestyle apparel and footwear. Converse, based in Massachusetts, designs and distributes athletic and casual footwear, apparel and accessories, and has its own profile in the C section, linked from this page.

Exeter Brands Group, based in New York, includes the Starter, Team Starter and Asphalt brand names and is the master licensee of the Shaq and Dunkman brands, devoted to athletic footwear and apparel for the value retail channel. One historical note is filed separately and dated: at one time they owned Cole Haan, however in 2012 Nike sold the Cole Haan brand to Apax Partners Worldwide LLP; Cole Haan, based in Maine, sells dress and casual footwear and accessories under the Cole Haan, g Series and Bragano names. Keeping that sale note attached matters, because directories that silently drop an ownership line leave researchers unable to date the separation.

Products and Campaigns the Filing Chooses to Name

The popular products are listed by audience. For men: the Air Max series with visible air cushioning, Nike Air Jordan, associated with Michael Jordan and known among collectors and basketball fans, and Dri-FIT apparel, moisture-wicking and breathable fabric for workouts. For women: the Air Zoom Pegasus running shoe, Nike Pro training apparel including sports bras, leggings and tops, and the Air Force 1 Sage, a modern twist on the classic silhouette. For children: the Air Max 270 junior version, the Revolution 5 running shoe, and Sportswear tracksuits. Each list mixes performance franchises with lifestyle icons, which is the brand's dual market in miniature.

Two campaigns are kept by name and year. Just Do It, launched in 1988, encourages a can-do attitude and remains one of the most enduring campaigns in the record. Dream Crazy, in 2018, featured NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick with a message of pursuing dreams regardless of adversity, stirred public discourse, and is filed as showing the company's commitment to athletes who use their platform to drive social change. The closing summary credits innovation and technology, brand authenticity and legacy, fashion blended with sport, and global cultural impact. A second Nike page sits at this folder's directory address; the official Nike website in the References carries current products.

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