Nike vs Adidas: Difference and Comparison

In embellishing fashion and aesthetics, style is categorised based on the brands that manufacture the particular products, followed by the ongoing trend.

And in these times of being entirely classy and bougie, we can never forget about two of the most renowned brands, Adidas and Nike.

Key Takeaways

  1. Nike and Adidas are two of the most prominent sportswear companies globally, with Nike being American and Adidas being German.
  2. Nike focuses on innovation and design, while Adidas focuses on comfort and performance.
  3. Nike has a broader range of products and a larger market share than Adidas, but Adidas has a more significant presence in soccer and other team sports.

Nike vs Adidas

Nike is an American brand that was founded in 1964 by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. It is a global brand worn by celebrities, athletes and musical artists. The brand is recognised by a “swoosh” or a “tick mark” which is its official logo. Adidas is a German brand founded in 1949 by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler. The logo of Adidas resembles a “trefoil” or three stripes.

Nike vs Adidas

Nike is an American transnational company immersed in the composition, expansion, production and global commerce of footwear, clothing, accessories and equipment. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, in the metropolitan area, it is the world’s massive supplier of athletic necessities.

Adidas, or Adidas AG, is a German global company engaged in designing and producing apparel, shoes, sportswear, and toiletries, headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Adidas own outstanding stocks of companies such as Reebok, the Adidas Group, 8.33% of the German football club Bayern Munich, and Runtastic, an Austrian fitness technology company.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonNikeAdidas
OriginBeaverton, Oregon,
United States of America
Herzogenaurach,
Germany
Established in the year25 January 196418 August 1949
FoundersBill Bowerman
Phil Knight
Adolf Dassler
Rudolf Dassler
ProductsAthletic footwear, apparel, sports equipmentApparel, footwear, sportswear, sports equipment, toiletries
Number of Employees75,400 (2020)62,285 (2020)
Revenue US$37.40 billion (2020)€14.297 billion (2020)
SubsidiariesConverse, NIKE Vietnam Co, Nike Vision, NIKE Cortez, NIKE Tailwind, Jordan Brand, NIKE Lavadome, Nike Thailand, Air max Limited, Nike Flight, Invertex Ltd, NIKE waffle, NIKE European Operations Netherlands B.V., NIKE Deutschland GmbH, NIKE Huarache, Nike Golf, TraceMe Inc., NIKE IHM Inc., NIKE India Pvt. Ltd., NIKE Retail B.V., NIKE Innovate C.V., NIKE de Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., NIKE Sourcing India Private Limited, NIKE Hong Kong Ltd., NIKE Retail Services Inc., NIKE Canada Corp, NIKE Trading Co. B.V., NIKE USA Inc., NIKE Sales (Malaysia) SDN. BHD., NIKE Retail Poland sp. zo. o, NIKE (UK) Ltd., NIKE Canada Holding B.V., NIKE Korea, LLC., NIKE Pegasus, NIKE Europe Holding B.V.Reebok, Adidas Runtastic, Matix, 510 Footwear, Adidas (Thailand), 3 Stripes S.A., adidas Canada, adidas South Africa (PTY) Ltd, Adidas Korean, Adidas America, adidas Hellas S.A., adidas Peru S.A.C., Adidas Austria Gmbh, adidas Industrial, S.A. de C.V., Adidas Singapore Pte Ltd, Adidas Sport GmbH, adidas Emerging Markets L.L.C, adidas International B.V., Adidas Sverige AB, adidas (Cyprus) Limited, Tafibal S.A., adidas Philippines Inc.,Adidas, Ooo , adidas LLP, Adidas New Zealand, adidas Latin America, S.A., Adidas Beteiligungsges. Mbh, adidas CR s.r.o., adidas Insurance & Risk Consultants GmbH, Adidas Bulgaria Ead, Adidas Poland Sp Z O O, adidas Egypt Ltd., Adidas Norge As, Reebok de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., Raelit S.A., Adidas Chile Ltda., adidas Budapest Kft., adidas Trgovina d.o.o., Adidas France, Taylormade Korea Ltd., adidas Corporation de Venezuela, S.A., adidas Hellas A.E., Adidas Italia Srl, adidas Hong Kong Ltd.,
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What is Nike?

Nike is a transnational company that manufactures sportswear, athlete footwear, and sports equipment. It is one of the world’s most renowned companies and has expanded solely since its establishment.

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Nike has several subsidiaries worldwide, which are as prominent as the original Nike products.

The founder of Nike, Bill Bowerman, was a University Oregon track coach. He had a high dislike for the design of track shoes, and thus he experimented with several compositions of his own and enlisted local cobblers to teach him.

He tried several materials and leather types, such as kangaroo, velvet etc.

The logo of this brand, the “swoosh” or the “checkmark”, coated for just 35$ when they first decided it to be their official logo.

The first shoe sold was a football shoe with the company name and logo that was prone to disintegration, manufactured in New Mexico. The company had divided not to test it in more restraining temperatures.

Overall, Nike has flourished immensely over the years, and statistics are to claim that there are over 1,096 Nike stores worldwide, and Nike’s net income worldwide is 2.54 billion USD.

nike

What is Adidas?

Adidas is a global company that manufactures apparel, footwear, sportswear, sports equipment, and toiletries. Adidas is a German brand founded by the Dassler brothers, Adolf Dassler and Rudolf Dassler, in 1949.

The brand is as influential as ever and has been in the game for over 70 years. Like Nike, Adidas has several subsidiaries worldwide.

Adidas, over the years, as a brand, has achieved several endeavours and has had its reach to the top parts of the world. Although In the 90s, the brand had to go through bankruptcy because of poor strategies.

The first pair of Adidas shoes were called track spikes, deliberately designed for track and field. Adidas is a holding company of brands like Reebok and Taylor Made.

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The trefoil was the second Adidas logo, along with the stripes. The logo has changed several times since its establishment; it changed in 1924,1949,1950,1967,1971,1991,2002,2005.

The old logo of the three stripes was modified, and one of the primary reasons behind it was that the brand was trying to emphasise that it has expanded ever since its establishment.

The brand took its initiative in the clothing world in 1967 by creating the Franz Beckenbauer tracksuit, named after a great German football player.

Overall, Adidas is one unstoppable brand that is loved and bought by many people, and to be statistically accurate, the net sales worldwide are 19.8 billion euros.

adidas

Main Differences Between Nike and Adidas

  1. Nike has a greater reach worldwide than Adidas.
  2. Nike has more market capitalisation than Adidas, and in 2019 it had almost double the market capitalization of Adidas.
  3. Nike has more social media numbers than Adidas.
  4. Adidas, as a brand manufactures products keeping in mind the customer’s needs; on the other hand, Nike design the product keeping innovation and comfort in mind.
  5. As of 2020, Nike has a more significant revenue, whereas Adidas was behind in revenue in 2020.
Difference Between Nike and Adidas
References
  1. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=sW5-F5Q8u3oC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=nike&ots=65h1oWE72K&sig=Oyg9MgHfuX8CZkrt-mWaG-nlTjk
  2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1461444807076978
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Chara Yadav
Chara Yadav

Chara Yadav holds MBA in Finance. Her goal is to simplify finance-related topics. She has worked in finance for about 25 years. She has held multiple finance and banking classes for business schools and communities. Read more at her bio page.

23 Comments

  1. I respectfully disagree with the comparison made here. I believe the emphasis on the founder and the historical logo of Nike is unnecessary given the focus should be on the current products and market position.

    • I see your point, but I found the historical context to be an interesting addition to the comparison, providing a comprehensive view of the brands.

  2. The detailed historical and product-based analysis of Nike and Adidas offers a comprehensive view of these global brands. It’s truly captivating to understand their unique approaches and market presence.

    • I couldn’t agree more, the article provides an illuminating comparison of Nike and Adidas, highlighting their distinct characteristics.

  3. This is a fascinating and well-researched article that truly captures the essence of both Nike and Adidas, from their origins to their current status in the sportswear industry.

    • The detailed comparison and historical context of Nike and Adidas are compelling, offering a nuanced understanding of these iconic brands.

    • Absolutely, the article provides an insightful look into the history, products, and market presence of Nike and Adidas.

  4. The emphasis on history and origins might be interesting, but I was hoping for a more comprehensive analysis of the brands’ current market shares and product innovations.

    • While the historical context is intriguing, a deeper dive into the current market trends and innovations of Nike and Adidas would further enhance the comparison.

    • I can see where you’re coming from, it would be beneficial to have a more detailed analysis of the current state of Nike and Adidas.

  5. The history and details provided about Nike and Adidas are truly intriguing. It’s great to gain a deeper understanding of these iconic brands.

  6. The in-depth analysis of Nike and Adidas is quite enlightening, offering a comprehensive understanding of the brands and their differences.

    • I agree, the article does well to present a detailed analysis of Nike and Adidas, highlighting their unique characteristics.

    • An excellent piece that presents an in-depth comparison of Nike and Adidas, focusing on their origins and key differences.

  7. A very thorough and informative analysis of the comparison between Nike and Adidas. The detailed history of both companies is fascinating and the detailed comparison table is very enlightening.

  8. While the article provides an interesting historical perspective, I believe it could delve deeper into the current market trends and product innovations of Nike and Adidas.

    • I agree, the comparison could benefit from a deeper analysis of the brands’ current strategies and product offerings.

  9. It is interesting to learn about the specific product focus and history of Nike and Adidas. The article does a great job of highlighting the strengths and unique aspects of both brands.

  10. This article offers a well-researched comparison of Nike and Adidas, capturing the essence of their historical origins and current market positions. An informative and intriguing read.

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