Matthew Ho's Blog

I know. I know. Marketing isn’t advertising. But, today’s in-class video, Art & Copy was really inspirational. Looking at advertising companies such as Wieden+Kennedy and creatives such as George Lois, really showed the power of advertisement from a much more artistic angle.

In the theme of my obsession for Nike, I decided to look more into Wieden+Kennedy. Their advertisements are truly awesome, inspirational, and just simply cool.

“Creativity is just connecting things”

– Steve Jobs

This documentary really tied marketing all together for me and put Comm 296 into perspective. None of the amazing advertisements made by Wieden+Kennedy would be possible without the marketing team of Nike. They created the brand, products, positioning, and target market that Wieden+Kennedy reaches out to. Nike creates an idea or message that they wish to manifest to the world, and Wieden+Kennedy turns that idea or message into a reality.

As mentioned in the video, true advertising is a form of art. It is “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination” that reaches out to customers and inspires them to believe in not only a product, but a brand and a way of life. Nike does this. They inspire people to get out and Just Do It

Much like Enzo Woo, I am a huge sports fanatic and have a fascination with the brand Nike has created.

For the next 5-years, Nike will be the official supplier of uniforms for the NFL . These Nike Elite 51 uniforms are looking very elite indeed, as they feature Nike’s Flywire technology, lighter materials, and a unique four way cut for increased mobility. This 5-year agreement allows Nike to devour the majority of football TV time. Nike also currently sponsors a large amount of BCS college football teams in the Pac-12, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, and powerhouse SEC.

Along with the many highly prolific athletes sponsored by Nike, this brand continues to thrive with their deadly promotional mix. Mainly in their advertising and public relations, Nike has all the foundations to truly show off their products to the world.

During the build of hype surrounding these jerseys, a major concern was tarnishing the tradition behind each NFL team’s traditional uniforms. However, Nike paid respect to the football gods by making only minor changes to the uniforms of every NFL team but the Seattle Seahawks.

This opens an enormous amount of potential for Nike to make an even greater splash on football fashionistas. Leaving open room for change in jersey style, creates opportunity to recapture jersey sales in the future. It also allows Nike to create more buzz around any new products being released. Nike is one of my generation’s promotion kings, and they have proven once again that their marketing gurus know how to position themselves as the best athletic brand known to man.

Nike’s brand will rule television time indefinitely for the next 5 years, and their products will be seen being used by some of the worlds finest athletes. To all you millions of football fans, turn on your television on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays during primetime football. Just do it. It just allows Nike’s brand to spread faster than fast.