https://jezebel.com/simone-biles-left-nike-so-now-were-all-leaving-nike-1846747436
Pretty telling quotes from Biles to the WSJ:
“I feel like they also support me, not just as an athlete, but just as an individual outside of the gym and the change that I want to create, which is so refreshing,”
“I also feel like Athleta is committed to diversity and inclusion, of all women, backgrounds, ages, sizes, abilities, and races.”
@1fze...you are 100% correct.
People get all emotional when an athlete leaves Nike. In reality these are always business deals and sometimes it makes a lot of sense to “lose” an athlete. Smaller brands will promise the stars and the moon to athletes but at the end of the day those smaller brands often don’t have the clout or marketing chops to elevate athletes’ profiles. Anyone remember Athleta’s last big athlete marketing campaign? Yeah I don’t either. Nor do I care.
In addition once a prominent athlete is associated with Nike that image sort of sticks in people’s heads. Two years from now if you stop a random person on the street and ask them “Which sports brand is Simon Biles associated with” I’ll guarantee 90% of people will say “Nike”. Because that’s who she was with when her profile became elevated in the public eye.
Aside from all that I don’t think marketing with athletes is as relevant in 2021 as it was even 10 years ago. Younger people are more cynical these days and better understand that paid endorsements are exactly that. Aside from product validation, which is still important, younger people understand that endorsements are a mostly inauthentic undertaking. They’re also more inclined to follow “influencers” in general who may or may not be athletes. It isn’t 1980 anymore. Or even 2010.
Besides with all the money Nike saves from not renewing athletes it can devote that money to the latest “What’s Woke This Week!” campaign. That is the goal, right??
Let's replace her with John Daly. Just Drink It.
That's a lot of corporate doublepseak and buzzwords to say the following:
If Nike is giving up on sports marketing to sell increasingly ugly looking shoes directly to sneakerheads you may as well fire everyone and hire West Coast Joe to run everything.
LeBron is toxic? Sure, he speaks his mind but he's a saint compared to Jordan, Armstrong, and Woods. When have you heard of LeBron getting in trouble for cheating, gambling, drugs, domestic vi–––––e, etc.? You must be a Republican...
this "Plus. With Athletes constantly making “statements” about everything it the world it’s becoming toxic to have them on the contract."
can somebody say lebron?
Well, if you have friends at Sports Marketing, or if you just check a few recent articles – Nike massively slashes SM’s budgets. And the reason is simple – our main consumer group no longer care about “elite” athletes. Stories of common people are more captivating, real and heart–touching. Just check Nike main Instagram stories – they all about these hidden talents. Sportsmen no longer sell Sport.
Plus. With Athletes constantly making “statements” about everything it the world it’s becoming toxic to have them on the contract.
Simone will go to her, probably, last Olympics. The majority of her medals she won with Nike. It’s the right time for her to leave and go for a leisure brand, rather than Nike. You can sign so many young and talented around the world for the money you spent on her.
With Kobe – my guess is that the widow wanted quite a huge sum for prolonging the deal. Nike decided that it can spent it on other causes that we’ve announced recently. Whoever signs now with the Estate – can’t replicate what Nike did together with Kobe. He is always in our hearts and the minds of our consumers and fans.
So. Stop seeing only bad in every decision the brand makes.
Athletes retire, contracts get expired, and consumer tastes change. Brand adopts to the new reality. And will for sure sign more young and talented.
Good for her! Nike did Alyson Felix and other female athletes super dirty. Go Simone, rooting for you!!
At the rate athletes are fleeing Nike they're going to start replacing those banners around WHQ with pictures of boomers mowing their lawns in busted a** Monarchs.
Nike is being exposed. Athletes are realizing Nike is incapable of giving them the best and brightest to work with. They're realizing Nike doesn't trust them to lead, especially when it comes to areas that Nike still needs to work on.
Does anyone honestly think Nike is capable of another Jordan or Woods? It's sad that when we have top tier athletes who are so savvy and Nike just keeps failing them because they think they know better.
She finally saw Nike for what it is....an unethical, fraudulent, hypocritical organization that cares nothing for people – athletes and employees. All they care about is $. I hope all other athletes soon realize this and dump this company.