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Nike's Strengths
There are several important factors that help to distinguish Nike from its competition in the athletic footwear and apparel industries. None are more important than Nike's emphasis on technological innovations in both product design and manufacturing. Nike has maintained its lead in this critical field, through a commitment to innovation and constant research in conjunction with some of the world's greatest athletes. The process of innovation begins with the type of people Nike employs. Nike's designers have a solid background in engineering which gives them and advantage over other designers who may emphasize style over functional performance. The designers are driven to be the best in the business. This devotion allows them the freedom to explore radical design that other athletic apparel companies like Reebok, Fila or Adidas seem to overlook in favor of fashionable trendy products. A good example of this is the case of the original Air insole design. In 1977 Frank Rudy, a NASA engineer had an idea to use air in athletic shoes to reduce the impact. Nike was the only company that saw the wisdom of Rudy's design idea, and brought the concept to the market. The idea was revolutionary in the athletic footwear marketplace and Nike reaped the reward of its forward thinking. The technology itself sophisticated, consisting of little bags filled with pressurized gases that responded to the movements of the athlete's feet. When the athlete moved the air bags responded to the movement, cushioning the athlete and absorbing a great deal of the shock that had previously been transmitted through the wearer's leg. The net results were that athletes could train longer in more comfort, and reduce injury ...