Nike's Air Jordan XIV will be released on Saturday and
Ihosvani Rodriguez of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports
that the new line is "sleeker and sportier" and Nike execs
"likened the shoe to a high performance car only guys like
Jordan can afford." Rodriguez, speculating on the success
of the new Air Jordan XIV: "Sales of the new line could
shoot an air ball or score a gorilla slam." Air Jordan
collector Tim Dault: "If Jordan retires, the sales of his
new one should skyrocket." Dault, who was selling "seven
distinct pairs of Mike's shoes" on Internet auction site
www.ebay.com last week, sold a pair last month for $485 that
he said "weren't even considered collectors' items." The
Air Jordan Nike products, including shoes and apparel, sold
$130M in the brand's first year in '84 and were generating
about $200M annually by '90. In all, Jordan products have
"grossed" $2.6B for the company (S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/29)
NIKE OUT OF AIR?: In an op-ed piece in the DETROIT
NEWS, Nike Global Communications Senior Manager Vada Manager
responded to an October 13 AP report titled "Once Hip Nike
Has Fallen From Grace and Profitability." Manager touted
Nike's recent initiatives "that demonstrate Nike's pledge to
hold our subcontracted factories to the highest standards.
... We are working hard to meet the high expectations
consumers have of us and are pleased with the loyalty they
continue to have to the brand" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/28).
