Sporting Goods

Nike Corporate Office

Nike was founded in 1964 by University of Oregon track athlete Philip Knight and his coach, Bill Bowerman. The company was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports and began as a distributor for Asics.

In 1966, BRS opened its first retail outlet in Santa Monica, California.

In 1971, the company began selling its own line of footwear. The shoes had a distinctive swoosh on the side. The swoosh was trademarked in 1974.

In 1978, the company became Nike, Inc.

By 1980, the company had attained a 50% share of the athletic shoe market. The company went public.

In 1988, the company acquired Cole Haan. Cole Haan was sold in 2013.

In 1994, Bauer Hockey was acquired.

In 2002, the company acquired the Hurley Surf Company.

In 2003, Converse was acquired, followed by Starter and Umbro in 2004. Umbro was eventually sold in 2012.

In 2004, Phil Knight retired as CEO. He was replaced by William Perez.

In September 2018, Nike chose Colin Kaepernick to be the face of Nike in their advertising campaigns, despite protests and threats of a boycott.

The company has been hit with another boycott from conservatives after its decision to not sell the Betsy Ross flag shoe after Kaepernick suggested that the flag was a symbol of racism since slavery was legal when that flag design was made.

Today, Nike is one of the largest suppliers of athletic footwear and apparel in the world. In 2017, the company had annual revenue of $34.35 billion

Nike

Nike was founded in 1964 by University of Oregon track athlete Philip Knight and his coach, Bill Bowerman. The company was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports and began as a distributor for Asics.

In 1966, BRS opened its first retail outlet in Santa Monica, California.

History

In 1971, the company began selling its own line of footwear. The shoes had a distinctive swoosh on the side. The swoosh was trademarked in 1974.

In 1978, the company became Nike, Inc.

By 1980, the company had attained a 50% share of the athletic shoe market. The company went public.

In 1988, the company acquired Cole Haan. Cole Haan was sold in 2013.

In 1994, Bauer Hockey was acquired.

In 2002, the company acquired the Hurley Surf Company.

In 2003, Converse was acquired, followed by Starter and Umbro in 2004. Umbro was eventually sold in 2012.

In 2004, Phil Knight retired as CEO. He was replaced by William Perez.

In September 2018, Nike chose Colin Kaepernick to be the face of Nike in their advertising campaigns, despite protests and threats of a boycott.

Today, Nike is one of the largest suppliers of athletic footwear and apparel in the world. In 2017, the company had annual revenue of $34.35 billion

Sports Authority Corporate Office

The Sports Authority opened its first store in 1987 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1990, the company was acquired by Kmart.

By 1995, there were 136 stores in 26 states.

In 2003, Sports Authority merged with Gart Sports. Gart Sports was founded in 1928 and had nearly 200 locations at the time of the merger. All Gart Sports locations were renamed to Sports Authority.

In 2006, the company was purchased by Leonard Green & Partners in a leveraged buyout.

Today, the company operates over 450 stores in the United States. The company websites is operated by GSI Commerce.

Sports Authority

The Sports Authority opened its first store in 1987 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1990, the company was acquired by Kmart.

By 1995, there were 136 stores in 26 states.

In 2003, Sports Authority merged with Gart Sports. Gart Sports was founded in 1928 and had nearly 200 locations at the time of the merger. All Gart Sports locations were renamed to Sports Authority.

History

In 2006, the company was purchased by Leonard Green & Partners in a leveraged buyout.

Today, the company operates over 450 stores in the United States. The company websites is operated by GSI Commerce.

Cabela’s Corporate Office

Cabela’s was founded in 1961 by Richard N. Cabela as a mail order company.

In 1963, Cabela’s mailed their first catalog.

In 1970, the first location was opened in Sidney, Nebraska.

During the 80s, the company expanded their product offerings, including new products such as Gore-Tex and Leatherman.

In 1991, the company opened its first signature showroom in Sidney.

In 2004, Cabela’s went public and has expanded its retail store locations since that time.

Today, there are 35 Cabela’s showrooms in the US and 3 in Canada. Cabela’s corporate office is still located in Sidney, NE.

In October of 2016, Bass Pro Shops purchased Cabela’s for $5.5 billion. This is the 5th largest merger in the history of the US.

It is unknown at this time if all Cabela’s stores will be rebranded as Bass Pro Shops. Cabela’s credit card holders, however, will be able to use their cards at Bass Pro Shops.

Cabela's

Cabela’s was founded in 1961 by Richard N. Cabela as a mail order company.

In 1963, Cabela’s mailed their first catalog.

In 1970, the first location was opened in Sidney, Nebraska.

History

During the 80s, the company expanded their product offerings, including new products such as Gore-Tex and Leatherman.

In 1991, the company opened its first signature showroom in Sidney.

In 2004, Cabela’s went public and has expanded its retail store locations since that time.

Today, there are 35 Cabela’s showrooms in the US and 3 in Canada. Cabela’s corporate office is still located in Sidney, NE.

In October of 2016, Bass Pro Shops purchased Cabela’s for $5.5 billion. This is the 5th largest merger in the history of the US.

It is unknown at this time if all Cabela’s stores will be rebranded as Bass Pro Shops. Cabela’s credit card holders, however, will be able to use their cards at Bass Pro Shops.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Corporate Office

In 1948, Richard, “Dick” Stack was working for an army surplus store. The owner asked young 18-year-old Dick if he had any ideas for other items that they could add to their inventory. Dick said that the thought fishing supplies (bait and tackle) would sell well. The store owner laughed and said that Dick would never be a merchant.

Disappointed, Dick told his grandmother this story. “Go for your dreams”, she told her grandson and handed him $300 of her own savings. Dick used the money to buy some stock and open a small storefront.

In the mid-1950s, the store began selling general sports merchandise. In the early 60s, the first Dick’s Sporting Goods store was opened.

Under the supervision of the man who would “never be a good merchant”, the store flourished and a second location was opened in Vestal, New York.

Dick Stack retired in 1984 and his son Eddie, the current CEO, took over the business. Edward Stack has served as chairman and chief executive officer of his father’s company since 1984, having started with the company full-time in 1977, and gradually working his way up in a variety of positions, including store clerk, merchandise manager, store manager and president.

The chain expanded quickly under Eddie. They began opening more stores across Upstate New York in the 1990s.

In 1994, the Dick’s Sporting Goods corporate office was moved from Binghamton, NY to Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.

In early February 2018, Dick’s put out a press release which acknowledged that, in November 2017, it was responsible for the sale of a shotgun to the perpetrator of the Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida, shooting. Although it was not the gun that was used in that shooting, the company stated that “on so many levels that the systems in place are not effective to protect our kids and our citizens”, Dick’s announced the immediate end of all sales of assault-style type rifles. The company had done this previously in 2012 but claims it will not reverse its stance on the issue this time around. Dick’s also said it would no longer sell high capacity magazines, nor would they sell guns to people under the age of 21. This move cost the company at least a quarter of a billion dollars, according to the CEO.

CEO Ed Stack also stated in an October 2019 interview that the company destroyed nearly $5 million dollars worth of assault-style weapons they had in stock, rather than return them to the manufacturers for credit, thus preventing them from ever being used.

He also slammed Senate leader Mitch McConnell for not allowing a vote on universal background checks for firearms.

Today, the company operates over 610 stores in 42 US states. In 2016, the company had annual revenue of $7.92 billion. The company is publicly traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol DKS.

Dick's Sporting Goods

History

In the mid-1950s, the store began selling general sports merchandise. In the early 60s, the first Dick’s Sporting Goods store was opened.

Under the supervision of the man who would “never be a good merchant”, the store flourished and a second location was opened in Vestal, New York.

The chain expanded quickly under Eddie. They began opening more stores across Upstate New York in the 1990s.

In 1994, the Dick’s Sporting Goods corporate office was moved from Binghamton, NY to Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.

He also slammed Senate leader Mitch McConnell for not allowing a vote on universal background checks for firearms.

Today, the company operates over 610 stores in 42 US states. In 2016, the company had annual revenue of $7.92 billion. The company is publicly traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol DKS.