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The Success Story of Phil Knight and Nike

The Success Story of Phil Knight and Nike

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Phil Knight’s name is synonymous with innovation, determination, and the transformation of sports apparel. From humble beginnings in Portland, Oregon, Knight’s path to success is a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence.

Early Life and Education

The Success Story of Phil Knight and Nike

Image Source: gsb.stanford.edu

Born on February 24, 1938, in Portland, Oregon, Knight was raised in a family that instilled in him the values of hard work and perseverance. His passion for sports, particularly track and field, blossomed during his formative years. Knight’s academic journey led him to the University of Oregon and later to Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he honed his entrepreneurial skills.

The Birth of Nike

In 1964, armed with a bold vision and a $50 loan from his father, Knight co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports (BRS) with his former track coach, Bill Bowerman. Initially serving as a distributor for Japanese shoe company Onitsuka Tiger, BRS laid the groundwork for what would become Nike. Knight’s relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation propelled BRS to unprecedented success.

As BRS continued to grow, Knight recognized the need for a brand identity that reflected its ethos of performance and innovation. In 1971, inspired by the Greek goddess of victory, Nike was born. The iconic Swoosh logo, designed for a mere $35, would become one of the most recognizable symbols in the world.

Under Knight’s leadership, Nike expanded its product line to include apparel and accessories, revolutionizing the sports apparel industry. With innovative marketing campaigns and strategic partnerships with top athletes, Nike solidified its position as a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel.

Knight’s journey was not without its challenges. From fierce competition to controversies surrounding labor practices, Nike faced its fair share of obstacles. However, Knight’s unwavering commitment to integrity and innovation allowed the company to weather the storms and emerge stronger than ever.

Legacy and Philanthropy

As Knight transitioned from CEO to Chairman of Nike, his focus shifted to philanthropy and giving back to the community. Through the Knight Foundation and other charitable initiatives, he continues to support education, healthcare, and environmental conservation efforts around the world.

Also Read: The Success Story of NoBroker

Phil Knight’s journey from a small startup in Oregon to the helm of a global empire is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and innovation. His legacy as a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist will continue to inspire generations to come.

Nike Makes Use of Augmented Reality and AI to Build a New Shoe Measuring Feature

News, Tech News / By

According to the researches, 60% of the people worldwide wear the wrong shoe size, and even it has been almost a hundred years since the shoe size measuring tool, ‘Brannock Device’, was invented, many of the people have not used it to measure their real shoe size.

nike shoe measuring feature
Image Source: theverge.com

To fight with the struggle people go through while trying out their shoes and finding the right shoe size for them, the biggest sport shoe manufacturers, Nike, has developed a new AI-powered feature to measure the shoe size. The company had been working towards mixing technology with its products and has been exploring the augmented reality for quite some time now. And, finally, it has brought a shoe size measuring feature, ‘Nike Fit’, to its official app, with the help of AI.

The
company was secretly testing the feature, at three of its U.S.
stores, in Pasadena, Seattle, and Dallas. The company founded out
that all the different shoes from the Nike fit the customers
differently, as make and the material of those shoes are different.

The company has announced that all its stores will now have this new feature on the Nike app, which will help the customers to scan their foot and choose the right size shoes of every type, whether it is an Air Max, Jordans, Air Force Ones, or even a soccer cleat.

Use
of this new feature in the stores will reduce a lot of extra work
that the salesperson has to do in order to find the correct shoe size
for the customers. In the retails, the customers will have to stand
on a mat, and the salesperson will scan the foot size with the help
of an iTouch device. After measuring the foot size, the app will
provide all the options of shoes for the customer to choose from.

People can also use the feature on the app at their home. The process of measuring the foot is quite simple. After opening the mobile app, along with the select size option under a product, you will see a new option, for measuring the shoe size. As soon as you click on the option, the camera of the phone will open, and you will be asked to stand alongside a wall and scan your foot from the top. You will now have to click the button in between, and the right shoe size will render on your screen.

The new feature will make use of AI and the scientific data, to measure the shoe size of a customer. Using at least 13 data points out of 32 data points, the app is capable of efficiently measuring the correct shoe size for the customers. The launch of such technology has ignited the scope for measuring apps for other things, too. Like, while ordering online, people are often confused over their shoe or clothes’ size. But if this type of technology will be available on every online website, it will be easier for people to buy things without thinking much.