How Nike Began

The company has roots dating back to 1964 when Phil Knight became partners with his former track coach Bill Bowerman and the two formed Blue Ribbon Sports. This company was the US distributor for the Japanese-made Tiger running shoes.

In 1971 graphic design artist Carolyn Davidson created the mark now known as the Swoosh. A few weeks after this Jeff Johnson suggests the name "Nike" for the first shoes that will bear the Swoosh mark.

The first line of Nike footwear was introduced in 1972 and this included the "Moon Shoe" that features a waffle sole. These were distributed to athletes that competed in the US Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene,Oregon.

Ilie Nastase- the Romanian tennis star- became the first star to sign an endorsement contract with Blue Ribbon Sports to wear its Nike tennis shoes in 1972.

The first major track athlete to wear Nike shoes was American record-holder Steve Prefontaine in 1973.

The best-selling training shoe in the US in 1974 was the new Waffle Trainer.

In 1977 the tag "There is no finish line" was introduced.

John McEnroe the tennis "bad boy" was signed by Nike in 1978 to an endorsement contract.

In October 1982 Nike aired its first national television ad during the New York Marathon.The first shoe to make use to the Air technology was the Air Force One basketball shoe.

Corporate revenues surpassed $1 billion for the first time in 1986.

The Nike "Just Do It" slogan was introduced in 1988 created by Dan Wieden

The first Niketown store was opened in 1990 in downtown Portland. The company opened its world headquarters just west of Portland in Washington County the same year.

In 1994 the company won Advertiser of the Year at the Cannes Film Festival.

The company signed a long-term partnership with the Brazilian national football team in 1995. They moved into English football by signing a kit deal with Arsenal.

Nike signed Tiger Woods soon after he gave up his amateur golf status in 1996. The same year the company caused controversy with its advertising campaign during the Summer Olympics in Atlanta with its slogan "You Don't Win Silver- You Lose Gold."

After pressure from lobbying groups Nike revealed in 1998 their worldwide factory locations. Phil Knight committed Nike to strict standards for the manufacturing facilities of the companies for the future.

In 1999 at the age of 88 Bill Bowerman the co-founder of Nike died.

The company had annual revenues of in excess of $12.25 billion in 2204.

These had risen to $13.74 billion in 2005 which was an increase of 12% over the previous fiscal year.

Article by Karen O'Sullivan of http://www.1stnikeshoes.com