Nike was founded in 1964 and originally operated as a distributor for Japanese shoemaker Onitsuka Tiger. In 1971, it officially became Nike Inc. and was created by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. Nike's first shoes were created using a waffle iron, sparking the popular "Nike Waffle Trainer." Today, Nike has grown into one of the top sports brands in the world, with its largest store located in London costing $10.5 million to build. Nike strives to be the best sportswear company by solving customer needs in ways others cannot.