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Nike, a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel, was originally established as Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS) on January 25, 1964, by Phil Knight, a track athlete from the University of Oregon, and his coach Bill Bowerman. Initially operating in Eugene, Oregon, BRS distributed Japanese Onitsuka Tiger shoes, mostly sold at track meets from Knight's car.
Bowerman, renowned for his innovations, created the first pair of Nike shoes for Otis Davis, an Olympic gold medalist and student-athlete he coached. In 1971, Bowerman's experimentation with his wife's waffle iron led to the development of a new shoe sole, which contributed to the design of the "Moon Shoe" in 1972 and the "Waffle Trainer" in 1974, aiding in the rapid growth of BRS/Nike.
As tensions with Onitsuka Tiger grew, BRS prepared to launch its own footwear line. Jeff Johnson, a BRS employee, coined the name "Nike," and the iconic Swoosh, designed by Carolyn Davidson, was first used in 1971. By 1980, Nike had captured 50% of the U.S. athletic shoe market and went public in December of the same year.
Throughout the 1980s, Nike expanded globally, introducing products for various sports. In 1990, Nike moved to its World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, and opened its first retail store, Niketown, in downtown Portland.
In recent years, there have been significant leadership changes. Phil Knight stepped down as chairman in 2016. In 2018, CEO Mark Parker announced the retirement of brand president Trevor Edwards. John Donahoe succeeded Parker as CEO in January 2020. Additionally, Nike ceased direct sales through Amazon in November 2019, opting for more direct customer relationships.
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