Which company was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports?
Quick answer
Nike was originally founded as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 by runner Phil Knight and his University of Oregon track coach, Bill Bowerman. At first, it imported and sold Onitsuka Tiger running shoes from Japan. It launched its own Nike brand in 1971 and officially became Nike, Inc. in 1978.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1964, as Blue Ribbon Sports
- Founders
- Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman
- Headquarters
- Beaverton, Oregon
- Named after
- Nike, Greek goddess of victory
From the trunk of a car
Knight started by selling shoes out of the trunk of his car at track meets. Each founder put in $500. When the partnership with Onitsuka ended in the early 1970s, the company launched its own shoes.
The name and the Swoosh
| Element | Story |
|---|---|
| Name | Employee Jeff Johnson suggested Nike after dreaming of the Greek winged goddess of victory |
| Logo | Graphic design student Carolyn Davidson created the Swoosh in 1971 for $35; Nike later gave her shares in the company |
| Slogan | “Just Do It” launched in 1988 |
The waffle iron shoe
Bill Bowerman wanted lighter shoes with better grip. In 1971, he poured rubber into his wife’s waffle iron to make a new kind of sole. The resulting Waffle Trainer became a hit, and the damaged waffle iron is now a piece of company history.
Big moments
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1984 | Signs rookie Michael Jordan; the Air Jordan line launches in 1985 |
| 1987 | Air Max introduces a visible air cushion |
| 1990s | Signs Tiger Woods and expands into many sports |
Today, Nike is the world’s largest sportswear company.
Shoe Dog
Phil Knight told the story in his 2016 memoir Shoe Dog, and the film Air (2023) dramatized the signing of Michael Jordan.
Other companies with different original names
Many famous brands began with other names; see what Amazon was originally called and Google’s original name.
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