Nike is an American multinational company involved in the designing and manufacturing of sports footwear, apparel, equipment, and other accessories. Nike began as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, opening its first retail outlet in 1966 and launching the Nike shoe brand six years later. Today, Nike has stores in over 170 countries with approximately 73,000 stores. The trademark “swoosh” logo is one of the most recognizable brands in the world and has been valued at $32 billion alone. Nike is generally considered as one of the big three in sports apparel, with the other members Adidas and Reebok being its primary competitors.
Competitor | Description | Key Insights | Competitive Overlap | Differentiation |
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Adidas | A global sportswear and athletic footwear company known for its athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories. Adidas competes with Nike in the sportswear and athletic gear market. | Adidas offers a wide range of athletic apparel, shoes, and accessories, focusing on sports performance and style. | Both compete in the sportswear and athletic gear market, providing apparel, footwear, and accessories for athletes and active individuals. | Adidas’ emphasis on sports performance and its distinct design aesthetics. |
Under Armour | An American sportswear and performance apparel brand that specializes in athletic clothing, shoes, and accessories. Under Armour competes with Nike in the sportswear and athletic gear market. | Under Armour offers performance-oriented sportswear, footwear, and accessories designed for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. | Both operate in the sportswear and athletic gear market, targeting athletes and individuals seeking high-performance apparel. | Under Armour’s focus on advanced fabric technologies and innovation. |
Puma | A multinational sportswear and athletic footwear company that designs and manufactures athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories. Puma competes with Nike in the sportswear and athletic gear market. | Puma offers sportswear, athletic shoes, and accessories with a focus on sports lifestyle and fashion-forward designs. | Both compete in the sportswear and athletic gear market, providing athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories with an emphasis on style. | Puma’s sporty and fashion-forward design aesthetic. |
Reebok | An American sportswear and athletic footwear company known for its athletic shoes, clothing, and accessories. Reebok competes with Nike in the sportswear and athletic gear market. | Reebok offers athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories, emphasizing fitness and training products. | Both operate in the sportswear and athletic gear market, providing apparel, footwear, and accessories for sports and fitness enthusiasts. | Reebok’s focus on fitness and training products. |
New Balance | An American sportswear and athletic footwear company known for its athletic shoes, particularly in running and walking categories. New Balance competes with Nike in the sportswear and athletic footwear market. | New Balance specializes in athletic footwear for running, walking, and sports, with a reputation for comfort and fit. | Both compete in the athletic footwear market, especially in running and walking categories, offering shoes known for comfort and fit. | New Balance’s emphasis on comfort and its reputation for fit and support. |
ASICS | A Japanese sportswear and athletic footwear brand that focuses on running and athletic shoes, apparel, and accessories. ASICS competes with Nike in the sportswear and athletic footwear market. | ASICS offers a wide range of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories with a strong focus on running and sports performance. | Both operate in the athletic footwear market, with ASICS specializing in running shoes and sports performance gear. | ASICS’ emphasis on running technology and sports performance products. |
Fila | An Italian-South Korean sportswear and footwear brand known for its athletic and lifestyle apparel, shoes, and accessories. Fila competes with Nike in the sportswear and athletic gear market. | Fila offers athletic and lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories with a blend of sporty and retro styles. | Both compete in the sportswear and athletic gear market, providing athletic and lifestyle products with a focus on style. | Fila’s combination of sporty and retro design elements. |
Converse | An American shoe company known for its iconic Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers and casual footwear. Converse competes with Nike in the casual and lifestyle footwear market. | Converse offers a range of casual and lifestyle sneakers and footwear, including the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star. | Both operate in the casual and lifestyle footwear market, with Converse specializing in classic and iconic sneakers. | Converse’s timeless and iconic Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers. |
Columbia Sportswear | An American sportswear and outdoor apparel company known for its outdoor clothing, outerwear, and gear. Columbia Sportswear competes with Nike in the outdoor and sportswear market. | Columbia Sportswear offers outdoor apparel, outerwear, and gear designed for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers. | Both operate in the sportswear and outdoor apparel market, providing clothing and gear for outdoor activities. | Columbia Sportswear’s focus on outdoor-specific products and technologies. |
Skechers | An American lifestyle and athletic footwear company known for its casual and performance footwear styles. Skechers competes with Nike in the casual and athletic footwear market. | Skechers offers a wide range of casual and athletic footwear, emphasizing comfort and lifestyle appeal. | Both compete in the casual and athletic footwear market, targeting consumers seeking comfort and a blend of style and performance. | Skechers’ focus on comfort and lifestyle-oriented footwear. |
Adidas
Adidas was founded by Adolf Dassler in Germany in 1949, but the company now has a significant presence in the North American market.
Like Nike, Adidas enjoys several high-profile sponsorships as part of an aggressive marketing strategy.
The company also owns brands such as Reebok and TaylorMade and controls the training technology platform Runtastic.
In an increasingly green world, Adidas has many strengths.
Favoring research and development into sustainability, the company also uses organic cotton in its plastic-free products.
Reebok
Although Reebok is wholly owned by Adidas, the company functions as an independent entity.
The company has a reputation for innovation in sports footwear design, releasing products such as Reebok Zig, Reebok Gym, and Reebok Pump.
It also has long-standing associations with professional sports, including football and cricket.
Reebok has also invested heavily in creating a consistent ambiance across its international stores.
This has created a brand identity that consumers associate with comfort, fashion, and trend-setting.
Asics
Asics is a Japanese company founded in 1949 that now has almost 900 stores in 33 countries.
While Asics sells in the USA and the UK, it has a focus on the Asian and Australasian markets where it has been a mainstay for decades.
The core focus of Asics is research and development, with a company vision of “creating quality lifestyle through intelligent sports technology”.
Indeed, it has a dedicated facility where innovation is driving products that promote healthy and fulfilling lifestyles for consumers.
Nike founder Phil Knight once applied to be a sales agent for Asics USA.
However, the relationship between Nike and Asics has deteriorated over the years with several litigation suits.
Under Armour
Under Armour was founded in the USA in 1995 by Kevin Plank.
Originally, Plank designed comfortable and lightweight sports apparel using innovative fabrics that dried quickly.
The Under Armour moisture-wicking system was so successful that Nike, Adidas, and Reebok would soon release their own versions.
Today, the company has quickly grown to offer a complete line of clothing, with 300 manufacturing facilities and 41 offices worldwide.
Although Under Armour is a young company, it ranks fourth for global shoe sales. It also ranks as the fifth most valuable sports brand.
Like the major players, it has secured several high-profile endorsements and affiliations securing deals with Major League Baseball, NBA, and PGA golf stars.
Key takeaways:
- Nike is one of the big three of sports apparel. The other two members are Adidas and Reebok.
- Adidas is well placed to take advantage of the green revolution with a focus on sustainability and organic cotton clothing.
- Relatively newcomer Under Armour is attracting attention in the sports apparel market because of its innovative moisture-wicking sportswear. The company has also moved quickly to secure several high-profile endorsements.
Key Competitors of Nike:
- Adidas:
- Founded in Germany in 1949, Adidas has a significant presence in the global sports apparel market.
- Engages in aggressive marketing and enjoys high-profile sponsorships.
- Owns brands such as Reebok, TaylorMade, and Runtastic.
- Focuses on sustainability and uses organic cotton in plastic-free products.
- Reebok:
- Asics:
- Founded in Japan in 1949, Asics operates nearly 900 stores in 33 countries.
- Focuses on the Asian and Australasian markets, emphasizing research and development for intelligent sports technology.
- Dedicated innovation facility for creating products that promote healthy lifestyles.
- Previously had a relationship with Nike founder Phil Knight but has faced litigation suits over the years.
- Under Armour:
- Founded in the USA in 1995 by Kevin Plank.
- Initially known for moisture-wicking sports apparel with innovative fabrics.
- Offers a complete line of clothing and ranks fourth for global shoe sales.
- Secures high-profile endorsements and affiliations with major sports leagues and athletes.
Related to Nike
Competitors Case Studies
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