OTHER BRANDS CONTEST - CONGRATS TO NT-SHIRT WINNER: oo718oo

In my opinion, Adidas and Converse etc. need to work at focusing on one aspect of their shoe at a time. Once they are superior at that certain aspect of the shoe, they can move on to the next. For example, marketing is an immense part of why Jordan/Nike was and is the GOAT of shoes. Over and over (especially during basketball season) I see ads/commercials for Jordans. Adidas and Converse are lagging in that aspect and it's something they need to improve I think. The 2nd part of why J/N are beloved is because of the PLAYER they are marketing. It seems like they have ONE major athlete promoting their brand in every sport. For basketball, majorly its Lebron James, For football, its mainly LaDainian Tomlinson, For Golf its obviously Tiger Woods. If you look at Adidas they are promoting FIVE for one sport, basketball. In my opinion, it's hard to keep track of all the athletes in the FIVE, which is now SIX with the addition of Dwight Howard. Converse is doing pretty good at that part because they are focusing mainly on Dwayne Wade. The 3rd aspect that makes J/N what it is, is simple. What brand pops into your head when thinking about going to get a pair of kicks for the new season? It's Jordan or Nike. The fact that Nike and Jordan have that mental advantage is a major part of why they are big also. So for Adidas, Converse and Reebok to become as famed as Nike is, they need those three aspects. Then maybe someday, Adidas will be under ADIDAS, not just Other Brands

My advice for an up and coming company would be to find your niche, and dominate it. Nike's such a big corporation now that trying to attack in every demographic would be suicide in investment costs. However, the Swoosh can still be beat if you focus on one particular segment of the market - i.e. casual/lifestyle shoes.


Start with a shoe that has a distinct silhouette, amazing quality and comfort, and a recognizable logo, you can begin to build your brand name. I would try to come in with two different lines within the same brand. One would come in at around $50 retail - with basic colorways and a silhouette that's casual but clean. Have a white based shoe, a black based shoe, and one in the signature colors of the brand. The idea is to get people to wear this shoe with anything to anywhere. Try to have as low of a production cost as you can, without having to sacrifice quality and comfort, and as wide of a distribution as possible. This will be your bread and butter that will keep your company alive. Volume of sales is key, as well as selling through quickly.


The second line within your brand would come in at around $100 to $150 or so at retail, with a different logo and look than the first. This is your status symbol shoe, that you want to stand out. I'd come with some wilder colorways here, but keep it tasteful. Perhaps a flashy material or pop color, coupled with a different kind of cushioning - something to make the performance of the shoe be the premium counterpart to its more proletarian sibling. These are the moneyball in the 3 point shootout - each scores twice as much as regular - stands out more, is made of quality material, and is ridiculously comfortable. A more limited number would be produced - to make sure each colorway disappears quickly from the shelves. That fact doesn't need to be advertised, it could just happen naturally due to production. Distribute more pairs to the places that sold more volume, but the average store should get only one or two per size of each particular makeup. You want people to have to chase these shoes.


You could apply the same two line concept to say, basketball shoes, skateboard shoes, or runners - with the same principles behind it - a line with a wide reach, and a line that has more cachet. The basic line will pay the bills and the premium one will build your prestige. Just remember that the distinct silhouette, recognizable logo, and wide distribution channels are key. You could toss a few pairs of the premium line to influencers (especially in the media - fashion magazine editors and writers) to build some hype. I would also take the general sneaker in the signature colors and have some giveaways as well - on the radio, on the website, at schools or large corporations, at the supermarket or mall. Everyone loves free stuff. Soon your line will have buzz as more and more people hear about it. Then you'll expand your brand worldwide. Just don't forget to let me buy some stock at insider prices when you first go public.

do what nike did in the 80's when they invested everything on jordan as they were getting destroyed by converse and adidas.

find a player, put all your chips on him, and hope that his talent will sell you countless pairs.
F/S or trade: DS Circa x Brooklyn Project 2 sz 12. trade for heat 9.5 or 10

Question: What can 'OTHER' FOOTWEAR BRANDS do to break Nike/Jordan Brand's dominance in the industry?

Answer: Pray





AIM - djshabby2004 -best way to reach me

1. Other Footwear brands can use collaborations with various tv shows/movies/clothing companies just like nike has done to gain an interest in their target audience. For example, I am not a reebok fan at all, but I am a fan of Voltron. The Reebok x Voltron collaboration caught my attention and got me interested in purchasing their sneakers.

2. Other companies can also continue to use celebrity endorsements, not just athlete endorsements, to market their apparel to their target audience. Music is a very influential way to market your item.
Endorse various artists of different genres, and even get them to mention the name of the footwear company in their songs for example: Nelly's "Air Force Ones" or The Pack's song about Vans. If the artists has a huge fan base, maybe the fans will begin to buy the shoes that the artist in question is wearing.

3. Another great marketing scheme is to advertise not only on television, but on the internet. Buy ad space on popular websites like myspace, and facebook so the ads may reach even those outside the target audience.

Once the 'Other' Footwear company builds a reliable fanbase over the years, they can break Nike/Jordan's dominance by learning what their loyal consumers like and don't like, want and don't want.

1.THESE







THEY CAN MAKE LOOK A LIKES FOR CHEAPER ........AND COME OUT WIT THE SAME CRAZY COLORWAYS NIKE/JORDAN ARE COMING OUT WITH.AND THEM HOPZ SHOES ARE ANOTHER WAY ...THE SHOES HAS SOME TECH PUT IN TO IT LOOK AT IT HAS SOME FEATURES FROM T-MAC'S SHOE EX:MEDAIL THING AND THE CUT ANKLE COLLAR

Listen to NikeTalk ( formerly shoeWUfreak

The way to break the dominance that Jordan/Nike has in the industury is to make shoe that appeals to the public and not just to Niketalkers because some people don't care if the shoes are air jordans or Kobes. If it looks good it will sell. You will need a signature logo that will appeal to people and looks good. The nike swoosh makes nikes design even better. If there was no nike swoosh on some of their shoes they look like garbage i.e. the air jordan 1 with the jumpman replacing the swoosh. Technology has to be very good and a good shoe that is comfy to do whatever you want to do whether its play sports or just to chill. Looks are most important for the shoes to be honest. Before all this niketalking and Jordan brand, I didn't know about Jordan shoes or nikes. I just bought shoes that i liked and was in the price range of $14.99-$50 whether it was adidas or avias because they look good and price was what my mom liked. When I got to middle school everyone was wearing jordans and nikes. I saw the Jordan 1s (which i didn't know they were jordans back then) and wanted them because they looked real good and I wanted to fit in with my peers (peer pressure). I started using the money I saved up and buying shoes that people knew about and were "cool" like timberlands, nikes, and Jordans just to impress this girl I liked back then who wore all the newest Jordans. I even wore Jordans that didn't fit me and gave my foot blisters and aches all just to fit in. Every Jordan I saw back then look hot and made me want to buy them even before I knew Jordans were hip and knowing about the I,II,III, IV, etc. The point of my story is that if your trying to appeal to the kids then your going to have to make your shoe one of the cool brands like Nike, Timberland, or Jordan. You got to get people to start wearing them and you have to advertise to make the shoes cool. If you advertise a shoe that is Hot and comfy then it will sell if the price is right. So to beat them you got to make shoes that pops out, looks sleek, and is a clean design that appeals to everyone at a good price. Remember if your shoes look good, are comfy, and you do some advertising then your company will soon out do Nike and Jordan.

They quit biting off of jordan and nike to start with and try to draw inspirations from different things besides whatever is made popular by nike and jordan

they need a combo of design, technology (air soles or something of that nature), carbon fiber plates, etc. marketing and advertising and not the cheap corny ones...they need something up to par with nike. having a famous name or face with the product helps too but that alone wont do it (i.e. iverson, wades) need TECHNOLOGY in the shoes.
FOR SALE: Jordan XI Concords (SERIOUS HEAT) and ADIDAS A3 Structure Basketball Shoes! Check it out!! Size 10.

Ordered kicks from Kaysshoes.com and I used code 116 to recieve $5.50 OFF my purchase! Use that coupon code to save too!

I've thought about this for a few time...I believe the only way to beat Nike/Jordan dominance would be to have at least 5-6 or more brands strong enough to bring part of the attention.
I think one brand alone can't steal nike's top spot.

Imagine coming to a store and having a few more brands to choose from...each one with differnt style and his own soul.
For a customers it will be the best option.

My idea is probably confirmed from actual nike strategy which is to BUY competitors brands (Converse, Umbro...) so that the will have control of the whole market and put own their rules in terms of style and marketing.

Ciaooo
Pietro

so who won?

who won?

Winners will be announced sometime today. Staff votes needed to be tallied up.

I don't know yet if members who entered after the deadline are still eligible. I'll inform you guys later on...
Niketalkin' since December 15th, 1999!

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oo71o has won the Nike Forum Contest, by NikeTalk Staff vote. The Staff felt that oo71o's response was simple and to the point, and that it deals more with product improvement over marketing.

The contest winner can email Steez for their free NT-Shirt. Please email him your Full Name/Shipping Address, Free T-shirt Size, and the Contest you won, along with your NikeTalk screenname to: steez@niketalk.com

Thanks to everyone who contributed and posted!

Word? It sounds like a bunch of suggestions to improve Nike, not compete with them. Ah well. Congrats dude!
"So many times it happens too fast.
You trade your passion for glory.

Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past.
You must fight just to keep them alive."

an essay contest is about people's opinions
and opinions are like armpits
everyone has two stinky one's
and on that day i had the stinkiest.
werd to stinky sullivan.

Well that made for a pretty damn entertaining acceptance speech.