How did the Futures program change Nike's relationship with their retailers and what impact did it have on their business model?

The Futures program fundamentally changed Nike's relationship with their retailers by shifting the risk of inventory management from Nike to the retailers. Retailers were required to make firm commitments on large and non-refundable orders six months in advance, in exchange for a 7% discount. This allowed Nike to have longer lead times, fewer shipments, and more certainty. The impact on their business model was significant as it reduced their inventory risks and provided more predictability in their supply chain.

Question was asked on:

Another big challenge came in 1973: now, we were hitting major supply problems. Everyone wanted running shoes, but the supply was uneven. How could we significantly boost our supply without taking on huge inventory risks? The big guys, Adidas and Puma, they had the same problem; but for an upstart like us, getting the numbers wrong could tip us into bankruptcy. We struggled through the summer to come up with a solution. Then, in the fall, I had an idea: we'd solve our supply problems by changing the whole relationship with our stores. We told our biggest retailers that we were launching an innovative new program called Futures—if they signed firm commitments on large and non-refundable orders, six months in advance, we'd give them a hefty 7% discount. In one step, we'd have longer lead times, fewer shipments, and more certainty. The retailers resisted, but I kept telling them that they'd better get on board because this was the way of the future. Between my bold predictions and several...

Asked on the following book summary:

resource preview

Shoe Dog - Anecdotes From Nike

The iconic Nike sporting goods company started over 50 years ago as a ‘crazy idea’ in the mind of a young runner in Oregon. Shoe Dog is Phil Knight’s ...

Download and customize hundreds of business templates for free

Preview

View all chevron_right