The athletic footwear industry is a highly competitive environment where the top four manufacturers hold over 70% of the market share. The barriers to entry into the industry are comparatively low, as anyone with new creative design ideas can produce and market their product, but the success of smaller companies is oftentimes shaky. Brand loyalty, ample capital, and broad based sourcing create an environment where the bigger companies such as Nike and Reebok have little trouble maintaining market share. Nike enjoys the largest share, with 42.3% of the nearly $8 billion market in the year 2000. Reebok was second with 11.9%, Adidas had 10.8%, and New Balance had 9.6% of the market. The remaining 25% must be divided among the numerous smaller companies fighting for a shot at survival.
NIKE Corporation
NIKE Corporation was incorporated in 1968. NIKE has primarily been in the business of designing, developing, and marketing athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories. NIKE Corporation is a well managed company in an attractive industry, the company has a strong brand image, and they are effectively capturing the value created from their investment. NIKE is dependent upon high technology in their effort to stay ahead of their competitors and produce products. acts and machines that actually make the shoes. Its success had been fueled by the use of low wage labor in developing countries, accompanied by highly acclaimed marketing strategies and advertising campaigns.
Key factors that influence success of NIKE
If a company is able to establish brand awareness, they will have a significant advantage in grabbing consumer's attention and, therefore, market share. In today's society where consumers have significantly less time to shop and compare, brand awarene ...