Timeline: History of Nike

1961

Nike signs a deal with onitsuka tiger

After realizing in college that germans shoes may have been the best on the market they weren't all that specialand were easily recreatable and could be improved upon. after realizing this he decides to strike a deal with a japanese company to bring their shoes to America.

Jan 25, 1964

The day Blue Ribbon Sports was founded

This was the day the company started.

Period: Jan 25, 1964 to May 30, 1971

Blue Ribbon Sports Era

This is the time before the company called themselves Nike;being Previously Named Blue Ribbon Sports.

1965

New Design

Bowerman proposed a shoe design to the tiger shoe company, a inner sole that was made out of soft sponge rubber in the forefoot and heel with a hard sponge rubber in the middle and a firm rubber outsole.
this design was a massive win for tiger and BRS hitting shelves in 1967, but this caused a displace in what was already a shaking relationship.

May 30, 1971

Nike Starts;Blue Ribbon Sports ends

This the day that they decided to start with a new name. After the split Phil Knight wanted to name it "Dimension 6" but Jeff Johnson said to name it Nike after seeing the goddess of victory in his dream. they later settled on the logo being a swoosh after reaching out to a design student nearby.

1972

Running Shoes(Birth of the Waffle Trainer)

While thinking at breakfast about how to better running shoes Coach Bowerman saw grooves in his waffles and had an idea, he used his waffle maker to try and fail, because he forgot anti-sticking agents, having it glued shut had a plan, later he re-tried his idea with a new waffle maker and pulled it off. The grooves in the waffles upside down would be amazing for running.