2. ABOUT NIKE
Nike began as Blue Ribbon Sports on January 25, 1964, launching with a $500
investment from each of its two founding partners, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman.
Phil Knight was a middle-distance track and field competitor at the University of
Oregon, and Bill Bowerman was his coach. Bowerman's reputation and renown
were top notch. The two men started Blue Ribbon Sports as distributors of shoes
manufactured by the Onitsuka company in Japan. Their first retail operation
opened as a BRS store in Santa Monica, California in 1966. Then Bowerman
conceived the idea of a grooved pattern on shoes' soles that would create a
superior grip on a track. It's been said that his inspiration was his wife's waffle
iron, which reportedly did not survive his initial experiments
3. MISSION STAEMENT
Nike's mission statement is to "bring inspiration and innovation to every
athlete* in the world." Note the asterisk after "athlete." This was reportedly
added by co-founder Bill Bowerman, who explained that "if you have a body,
you are an athlete." In other words, Nike's goal is to inspire you whether
you're Tom Brady, a hobbyist sprinter or just want to wear its gear as you go
about your daily errands.
4. VISION STATEMENT
To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world .This was the
vision set for the company by Bill Bowerman (co –founder of NIKE),he claims
that if you have a body you’re an athlete.
