Analysis of Nike's Marketing Strategy

Target Market – a specific group of customers on whom an organization focuses its marketing efforts.

Companies today face many challenges to maintain market share and differentiate themselves from a highly competitive and ever evolving market place. Marketing is crucial to a company’s long term success. The aim of this paper is to use the “Nike - The art of selling air” case study and concepts from strategic marketing

6). This strategy is a major component of Nike’s business strategic level plan. In applying this strategy, Nike has attained a great deal of consumer insight, which it uses to offer uniquely designed premium products to the athletes. Still on product differentiation, Nike focuses more on research and development at a greater level. These unique features to Nike, have transformed the competition levels in this competitive industry, leading to a trend of a paradigm shift in the market. Most consumers opt for Nike branded sports products and apparels, at the expense of the other brand names.

Since its creation, Nike has proven itself as a popular brand and it has created niches by selling products such as footwear, apparels and various types of sports equipment. This paper will attempt to trace the product development of Nike shoes from its origins in conception and design to the manufacturing and production process located in contract factories in developing countries to advertising and marketing of Nike as a cultural commodity and finally, the retailing of the footwear around the world.

Nike’s main strategy revolves around product branding. Their brand compromises of a swoosh logo which is accompanied by a message of “just do it”. The logo was imprinted on all of their products with the message developed to express the individuality of their target group. The branding was further promoted by Nike’s relentless approach on the quality of their product as demonstrated when considering overseas business opportunities, quality must not be compromised in order to do so. This ensures consumer satisfaction and loyalty towards Nike.

The company I am presenting is Nike which was founded in 1965 by the athlete Phil Knight. Nike is a well known brand which is selling its products worldwide and has 36% of the market share.

Brands use different strategies to create competitive advantages to beat with their rivals. Some companies use “Overall Cost Leadership” to increase profit by reducing costs and increase market share by lowering price. Some companies use “Focus Strategies” to select a group of market and tailor its strategy to serve that group. The others use “Product Differentiation” as a strategy to obtain a premium price by making unique products. Nike, with its differentiation strategy, the company is continuing to separate its self from the competitors by using its superior technology and innovation. This paper mainly discusses on the company’s product differentiation and analysis how the company using this strategy to build its brand image and become a market leader in sportswear industry. A brief discuss about Nike competitive advantage which related to its broad differentiation aspect and the company product life cycle are also presented on this paper.

Nike is one of the most recognizable brands in the world. It is not only renown for its high quality athletic apparel but it is also known as one of the best manufacturers and designers for sporty fashion for both the gym and the streets. Nike is among the sole companies that took note that, “Americans are wearing yoga pants, running gear and basketball shoes not just to-and-from the gym, but also around town.” (Fortune). Active wear is suddenly chic. They noticed that Americans find that athletic gear is comfortable after all. Analysts say that the attention manufacturers are making to fabrics and new colors and styles have helped to broaden the category’s appeal. “Active wear is booming, with sales growth exceeding that of the apparel market as a whole, consumers are drawn to its comfort and versatility, and the fact that it still makes a fashion statement.” (NPD analyst Marshal Cohen). Part of Nike’s success in 2015 is because the company altered its marketing strategy, it moved away from a single-slogan approach in favor of a targeted advertising campaign. The company’s social media and Internet based marketing practices and the Nike ID personalization website that allows customers to design their own footwear is one of the few features that makes Nike stand out from the rest. All of this information is provided on ‘Nike Digital Sport’, a part of the company that makes personal performance tracking devices and software that allows the company to obtain user data.

Nike’s organizational Form reflects a conglomeration of resources, processes and people around the activities most critical to their target customers in terms of its Value Proposition. It decided therefore to concentrate in depth on the critical activities and competencies rather than increasing the breadth of its

Where different examination is more classified with environment and possibility investigation, the 4 Ps of marketing including the product, promotion, price and place are the four wheels of the vehicle on which the path of an company promoting achievement is really indigent. Nike's image pictures, the Nike name, and the trademark swoosh; make it a standout amongst the most distinctive brands on the planet. Nike's image force is one purpose behind its high incomes. Nike's quality items, faithful client base, and its great marketing procedures all add to make the shoe dominion a gigantic

Enderle, K., Hirsch, D., Micka, L., Saving, B., Shah, S., Szerwinski, T. (2000, March 14). Strategic Analysis of Nike, Inc. Retrieved on December 14, 2005, from

One important issue marketers need to realize is that it is essential to have a heavy commitment and solid customer focus and to attempt to satisfy customer wants and needs. (Kotler & Armstrong, 2012) Companies need to be able to gauge their threats and opportunities to fully understand the different roles in the marketing environment. Environmental forces, such as demographic, economic, technological, etc, can play a huge role in the marketing environment. Nike has been analyzed to give an example of the importance of understanding its marketing environment.

A comprehensive analysis, using market data and market research, allows us to assess all areas affecting Nike’s strategic direction:

Direct Marketing is the use of many media channels to communicate directly to the targeted customer. Nike sells its merchandise through retail stores and other channels. The company offers its products to retail accounts, through Nike-owned retail stores and Internet websites and through a mix of independent distributors and licensees, in virtually all countries around the world. Nike benefits a consumer will receive for purchasing certain products. Nike offers many things to their consumers. Nike participates in continuity selling. They try to keep their consumers by offering many things while a person is making a purchase.

The report is about Nike, regarding the case study. The report elaborates on the aspects including buyer behaviour, brand image, consumer decision making, and marketing research techniques applicable to Nike. 3.0 Introduction Nike is the worlds number one sports shoe company. In the US Nike dominates 35% (source: see appendices) of the sports shoe market and its products are sold in more than 140