Nike started as a company importing athletic shoes from Japan and selling them in the US. It developed the iconic swoosh logo in 1971 and changed its name to Nike in 1978. Nike grew significantly through sponsoring star athletes like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, whose partnerships in the 1980s and 1990s helped make Nike a dominant brand in basketball and golf gear. Currently, Nike focuses on both performance and fashion aspects to appeal to a wide range of consumers through product innovation, brand loyalty, global advertising, and sponsorships.