0-3 Months: The Early Days of Nike
The Humble Beginnings
In the early days of 1964, University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman and his former University of Oregon student Phil Knight founded Blue Ribbon Sports, which would later become the sports giant we know today as Nike. The company operated as a distributor for the Japanese shoe maker Onitsuka Tiger, selling their shoes out of the trunk of Knight's car at local track meets.
The Birth of Nike
On May 25, 1964, Bowerman and Knight officially founded Blue Ribbon Sports, with an initial investment of $500 each. The company's first sale took place on June 18, 1964, when Knight sold Onitsuka Tiger shoes at the San Francisco State University track meet.
The Early Struggles
In the first three months of operation, Blue Ribbon Sports faced numerous challenges. One of the main obstacles was the difficulty in getting Onitsuka Tiger to supply them with sufficient stock. Additionally, the company struggled to find a consistent and reliable source of funding.
The Game-Changer
However, a turning point came in July 1964 when Bowerman, frustrated with the quality of Onitsuka Tiger's shoes, decided to take matters into his own hands. He poured liquid rubber into his wife's waffle iron, creating the iconic "Waffle Sole" that would become synonymous with Nike.
The First Big Break
On August 13, 1964, University of Oregon athlete Steve Prefontaine, who would later become a close friend and ambassador for the brand, wore the Waffle Sole shoes at the NCAA championships.Prefontaine's impressive performance helped to generate buzz around the innovative new design, marking the beginning of Blue Ribbon Sports' rise to success.
As the company continued to grow, Knight and Bowerman's vision for a sportswear brand that would inspire and empower athletes around the world began to take shape. And although Blue Ribbon Sports would not officially become Nike until 1971, the seeds of innovation and perseverance sown in those early days would lay the foundation for the global sports powerhouse we know today.
