What challenges did Phil Knight face while building Nike and how did he overcome them?

Phil Knight faced numerous challenges while building Nike. Initially, he had to sell shoes out of the back of his car, which was not an ideal business model. He also faced the challenge of establishing a new brand in a market dominated by established players. Additionally, he had to manage the logistics of getting the shoes made in Japan and shipped to Oregon. Despite these challenges, Knight was able to overcome them through perseverance, innovation, and a strong belief in his product. He built relationships with key people who helped him along the way and was able to grow his company from a small operation selling shoes out of his car to a global sporting goods company.

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Today, the company that started as a 'crazy idea' in the head of a young running enthusiast in Oregon has become Nike, Inc., an iconic sporting goods company, selling shoes and clothes in thousands of stores worldwide and employing over 68,000 people. In its early days, the company was called Blue Ribbon, and comprised nothing more that Phil Knight trying to sell running shoes out of the back of his car. Called Tigers, the shoes were made at a factory in Japan, shipped out to Oregon in batches, and sold one pair at a time. The story of how Blue Ribbon became Nike, of the people Knight met along the way and the trials and tribulations they all faced, is both a personal tale of succeeding against the odds, and a case study in how to follow your dream to create something unique.

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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...

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