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March 2011 Randy Spoon Corporate Public Relations Nike, Inc.

Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 671-6453

Nike Announces Revolution of Funning With Launch of the Nike SkyWalk


BEAVERTON, Ore. March 15, 2011 After years of testing and development, Nike is proud to reveal the latest great shoe in running and training: the Nike SkyWalk. This shoe combines the memory foam technology seen in comfort products with the support and durability of Nike running shoes to provide the user with the most comfortable running shoe experience. Designed by world renowned shoe designer Lucius Skywalker and the Nike creative team, the SkyWalk is fashioned to form to the foot of the user, accenting the natural curves of the foot. I am extremely pleased with the way this shoe turned out. Nike has a history of creating top-ofthe-line running shoes, and I wanted to continue that trend while at the same time creating a product that surpasses the technology of every other running shoe on the market, said Lucius Skywalker. Everything about this shoe is designed so it forms to the unique grooves and structure of the wearers foot. At only 10.2 ounces, the SkyWalk is one of the lightest shoes on the market, but also has unique qualities that make it the shoe of the future. It features padded memory foam in the interior which at -more-

March 2011

first will feel tight, but will soon relax according to the wearers feet to give the perfect fit for any person. Although the inside will experience the majority of the transformation, the outside of the shoe is mad of nylon-memory foam blend that will provide the outside with a unique shape. Nike, with its longstanding history of producing high quality performance footwear for any type of athlete, continues this valued tradition with the introduction of this shoe. These shoes will be available in both male and female sizes in the United States on April 29, 2011 and in the rest of the world on May 5, 2011, for a suggested retail price of $160. Two color styles will be available on these retail release days, but the shoes will be available for complete customization on NIKEiD.com on May 26, 2011. ###

March 2011 Randy Spoon Corporate Public Relations Nike, Inc. Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 671-6453

Nikes Completely Customizable SkyWalk: The Only Shoe for YOU


BEAVERTON, Ore. March 15, 2011 Nike has finally developed a shoe that pushes the phrase unique fit to w whole new level. With the release of the Nike SkyWalk, runners and athletes alike will experience a fit and feel unlike that of any other shoe. The SkyWalk is made of memory foam from the interior to the exterior, which molds to the wearers foot to provide a one-of-a-kind fit. With the introduction of this revolutionary product, the company has created a technologically-advanced shoe that forms to the wearers foot, providing a natural feel while at the same time offering the same comfort and support as any other one of Nikes shoe styles. When looking at what we wanted to deliver to our supportive customers, we wanted to create something that becomes unique to each user, said Mark Parker, CEO of Nike. With Skywalker at the helm of the design team, we were able to construct a shoe that offers the same outstanding support and comfort of any Nike shoe, while at the same time allowing the wearer to have input on the shape and fit through simply slipping the shoe on. With the release of the SkyWalk, Nike is putting strong emphasis on the natural feel of a -more-

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persons foot. Each shoe will mold itself using the memory foam technology to each of the wearers feet, making no two pair alike. The product will soon be released in the U.S. and then to the entire world. With this breakthrough technology, Nike can finally solidify the claim that so many consumers want to feel when making a purchase: the customer is always right. ###

March 2011 Randy Spoon Corporate Public Relations Nike, Inc. Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 671-6453

History of Nike Inc.


The philosophy of Nike, Inc. as a company can be summarized into a simple phrase: if you can find a way to make it better, do it. Bill Bowerman, a respected track and field coach at the University of Oregon, partnered with Philip Knight, a recent MBA graduate from Stanford and whose undergraduate degree came from Oregon, in January of 1964 to form Blue Ribbon Sports. Their mission: to buy shoes from Asia and alter them to compete with the European brands of the time. In January of 1964, the two men placed their first order of 300 pairs of shoes. Bowerman would then test the shoes by ripping them apart to make them lighter and better while Knight would sell the shoes from his car. Bowerman used the students he coached at the University of Oregon to test the different shoe types he would create. Their business had begun, but their full-time jobs were proving to be difficult to navigate around. To help better manage their growing business, Bowerman and Knight hired their first full-time employee, Jeff Johnson. Johnson created the first product brochures and other various marketing materials and managed the shipping/receiving of products, among other things. His biggest contribution came in developing the name Nike in 1971. In 1972, around their first line of footwear, they chose a -more-

March 2011

brand image from a Portland State University student named Carolyn Davidson. This brand is known today as the Swoosh, and with its inception in 1972, modern Nike was officially established. For the remainder of the 20th century, Nike grew rapidly as a company. The company signed the famous runner Steve Prefontaine as an icon and ambassador for Nike before his death in 1975. In 1980, Nike officially became a publicly traded company, but by the mid-1980s had slipped from its position as the industry leader. it was after these struggles the Nike came up with their most famous slogan to date, Just Do It. In the 1990s, Nike regained its position as the industry leader and made several key moves in gaining key endorsements from famous athletes including Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, and national soccer teams like the mens and womens U.S. teams. As Nike entered in to the 2000s, the company continued its quest for excellence and innovation to make athletes and consumers alike better. The introduction of Nike Shox was a revolution in footwear cushioning and 2002s Secret Tournament campaign has been labeled as Nikes first truly global marketing effort. Today, Nike still produces top-of-the-line footwear and other sporting materials for a larger-than-ever variety of sports ranging from football to skateboarding. ###

March 2011 Randy Spoon Corporate Public Relations Nike, Inc. Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 671-6453

Fact Sheet Company Name: Nike Product Name: Nike SkyWalk shoe Headquarters: Beaverton, Oregon Founder: Bill Bowerman, Philip Knight CEO: Mark Parker CFO: Don Blair Lead Designer: Lucius Skywalker Product Release Date: April 29, 2011 in the U.S., May 5, 2011 worldwide
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What is the design of the SkyWalk?


The Nike SkyWalk is a revolutionary new shoe that uses memory foam technology to form a unique mold around the wearers feet. This design shapes the shoe to match each users unique foot structure, offering a fit unlike that of any other running shoe.

How much will the Nike SkyWalk cost?


The Nike SkyWalk will be offered at a suggested retail price of $160.

In what colors will the shoe be made available?


During the U.S. release, there will be two color styles offered for each gender. The first style for males will be offered in powder blue/charcoal and the second style in a red/black combination. Female shoe color schemes will be pink/gun metal gray and white/purple. On May 26, 2011, the SkyWalk will be available on NIKEiD.com and will have completely customizable color schemes. ###

March 2011 Randy Spoon Corporate Public Relations Nike, Inc. Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 671-6453

Biography of the Nike Chairman of the Board of Directors and former Chief Executive Officer (CFO): Philip Knight
Philip Knight, once the president and CEO of Nike, Inc., was also the companys co-founder along with Bill Bowerman, and is now the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the company. Knight and Bowerman started Blue Ribbon Sports with a simple handshake and a $500 deposit from each of them, and turned it into Nike, Inc., the most recognizable sports brand in the world. Knight, now 71 years old, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for a multi-billion dollar company. Knight was born on February 24, 1938 in Portland, Oregon, where he attended Cleveland High School. After high school, Knight decided to continue his education at the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he earned a degree in journalism in 1959. While attending the University of Oregon, Knight was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, as well as a member of the track and field team under his future partner, Bill Bowerman. Upon returning home from one year of active duty in the Army, he enrolled at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where hear earned a Masters of Business Administration. Even more important than the MBA was the formation of an idea in Knights mind that athletic shoes from Asia could be altered so they could provide competition to the European brands that -more-

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dominated sports during that era. Knight was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 for his contributions to the school. Knight served as the president of Nike from 1968 to 1990 and from June 2000 to 2004. Before he was the president of Nike, he was a public accountant with Price Water House and Coopers & Lybrand. He also served as an Assistant Professor of Business Administration at Portland State University. In his years since stepping down from president of Nike, Knight has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to both the University of Oregon and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He also has pledged money to his alma mater Cleveland High School to help with new recreational facilities. Today, knight resides in his home state of Oregon, and is still involved with Nike as the Chairman of the Board. Source: http://bluebook.state.or.us/notable/notknight.htm ###

March 2011 Randy Spoon Corporate Public Relations Nike, Inc. Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 671-6453

News Story Ideas for the Media


Nike introduces SkyWalk, the only form-fitting shoes to-date New Nike shoe promises natural feel and comfort Nike SkyWalk: A new definition to UNIQUE FIT Revolutionize the way you run: Nike SkyWalk

Picture Possibilities for Publication


NIKE SKYWALK: REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY YOU RUN (SWOOSH) Full page magazine ad showing different people holding up their unique SkyWalk shoe Model of the SkyWalk, showing the technology inside and out with description ###

March 2011 Randy Spoon Corporate Public Relations Nike, Inc. Beaverton, OR 97005 (503) 671-6453

Media List and Methods of Contact


1. Sports Illustrated Contact: Robe Kligman, National Ad Director Email: rob_kligman@timeinc.com Tel: (212) 522-6489 2. Runners World Magazine/Website Contact: Paul Collins, Advertising Director and Christine Sadlier, Online Advertising Director Email: paul.collins@rodale.com/Christine.sadlier@rodale.com Tel: (212) 808-1631/(212) 573-0341 3. ultraRUNNING Contact: Lisa Henson, Business Manager, Subscriptions, Ad Sales Email: lisah@ultrarunning.com 4. ESPN the Magazine Contact: Steven Binder, VP Publishing Director and Sales Tel: (212) 456-1918

March 2011

5. Facebook.com Users will be encouraged to write testimonials about the Nike SkyWalk, as well as post pictures of the unique shape their shoes have taken. 6. Twitter.com The Twitter page will put more focus on famous athletes using the Nike SkyWalk. The page will also send updates about upcoming promotions for the shoes as well as discounts and other events. 7. Time Magazine Contact: Richard Zoglin, Senior Editor Email: Richard_zoglin@timemagazine.com Tel: (212) 522-3578 8. Womens Health Magazine Contact: Jay Ehrlich, Editorial Director Email: WHOnline@womenshealthmag.com 9. Mens Fitness Magazine Email: www.amaericanmediainc.com Tel: (212) 545-4800 10. CBS Sports Television Network Contact: Justin Johnson, West Coast Sales Manager Email: jjohnson@cbs.com Tel: (415) 344-2000

March 2011

11. FitnessMagazine.com Contact: Quentin Walz, National Advertising Director Email: interactivesales@meredith.com Tel: (866) 781-6405 12. Exercise & Health Magazine Contact: Michael Catarevas, Editor Email: Michaelc@harris.com Tel: (212) 807-7100 13. Trail Runner Magazine Contact: Michael Benge, Editor Email: mbenge@bigstonepub.com Tel: (970) 704-1442 14. Athlinks.com Contact: Andrew Neugebauer, National Advertiser Email: Andrew@athlinks.com Tel: (888) 632-0896 ext. 703 15. Mens Health Magazine Contact: Jack Essig, Publisher Email: jack.essig@rodale.com Tel: (212) 573-0244

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