ARTICLES

1984: The Cities Campaign spreads to eight more major U.S. cities. Under the five-ringed Olympic symbol, Carl Lewis captures four gold medals, and Joan Benoit triumphs in the first women抯 Olympic marathon. In all, 58 NIKE-supported athletes from around the globe take home 65 medals. With 4,100 employees in various locations, the company purchases land in Beaverton as the future site of NIKE抯 corporate headquarters. International sales take off, increasing 70 percent to $158 million dollars in FY ?4. Overall FY revenues reach $919.8 million.

1985: Chicago Bulls basketball rookie Michael Jordan endorses NIKE line of AIR JORDAN court shoes and specialized apparel. John McEnroe, dressed in his own exclusively designed NIKE garb, takes his tennis wear on a promotional "Tour Through America" and around the world. A New Products division is formed to handle the launching of innovative products, such as the Sock Racer, precursor to Dynamic-Fit technology. Reduced earnings cause a "belt tightening" to bring down general administration costs and reduction in inventory. Employees total 4,200.

1986: Revenues top the landmark billion-dollar mark, reaching $1.07 billion. NIKE charges into the tradition-bound sport of golf and changes the focus to one centered on performance athletic shoes. A high-quality line of tennis wear under the Wimbledon trademark is introduced. Michael Jordan, the scoring champ of the NBA and the league抯 most dynamic player, remains the centerpiece of NIKE Basketball as the second generation of shoes under the AIR JORDAN label is introduced.

1987: Revenues dip to $877 million, but NIKE-AIR shoes successfully re-establish NIKE as the technological leader in the industry. The Air Max shoe, giving athletes their first look at NIKE-AIR cushioning, is introduced by the controversial "Revolution" ad campaign. Priscilla Welch, at age 42, is the first female finisher of the 1987 New York Marathon. She is also the first athlete to win a major victory in the new performance NIKE INTERNATIONAL Apparel. The Air Pegasus, a NIKE classic in its fourth generation, sells its 5 millionth pair. Walking takes off from an athletic base. Cross-Training emerges as the natural evolution of the fitness revolution, led by the Air Cross Trainer High shoe ?cushioned enough for running and stable enough for court sports and aerobics. Internationally, the Soviet tennis endorsement agreement offers the chance to introduce NIKE products throughout the USSR.

1988: NIKE-AIR technology continues to be big news in sports and fitness. One of the most significant developments at NIKE since AIR-SOLE cushioning, the Footbridge stability device, successfully achieves the goal of streamlining stability shoes. The Air Stab is the first model to combine the Footbridge device with the AIR-SOLE cushioning. The result is the most stable, lightweight running shoe on the market. The third generation of AIR JORDAN shoes and apparel is launched with a personality ad campaign featuring the Mars Blackmon character. As a rookie, LA Raider Bo Jackson emerges as the third-leading rusher after playing in only half the season抯 NFL games. This achievement comes after a stint with baseball抯 Kansas City Royals. NIKE also breaks new ground with the acquisition of Cole-Haan. Revenues climb from $877 million to $1.2 billion.

1989:The Just Do It campaign experiences unprecedented success going into its second year. Tied to the Just Do It theme are the highly acclaimed "Bo Knows" commercials. NIKE continues to build sales through athlete endorsements and the "collections" approach to sales. The Andre Agassi denim tennis short and the latest AIR JORDAN basketball shoe are two reasons NIKE抯 net income reaches a high of $167 million in 1989. Introduction of the ACG and AQUA GEAR collections, and SIDE 1 and i.e. brands, all spur growth and diversity. The end of the year sees NIKE begin to relocate to the new World Campus in Beaverton, Oregon.

1990: NIKE-AIR technology lifts NIKE to a position of preeminence ?the No. 1 sports and fitness company in the world. Success of the "Bo Knows" ad campaign continues with "Family Reunion" ?part of a $100 million advertising expenditure. The CROSS TRAINING Collection moves to the No. 2 position behind basketball. The burgeoning international market helps NIKE surpass $2 billion in consolidated revenue. Employees of NIKE, Inc. number 5,300 worldwide, including the staff at Tetra Plastics, acquired by NIKE to assure exclusive supply of one of the key products used to make AIR-SOLE units. The doors open to the NIKE World Campus, located in Beaverton, Oregon. The Campus sits on 74 acres and offers 570,000 square feet of breathtaking work space throughout seven buildings. Each building is named after a special athlete, such as Mike Schmidt, who retires in 1990 after 19 years of excellence for the Philadelphia Phillies ... and for NIKE. As the year ends, 180 Air technology sits poised for takeoff, launching yet another decade of innovation.

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