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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
During the pivotPhil’s relationship with Onitsuka would remain solid for seven years, doubling sales almost every year until the executive team at Onitsuka visits the US and see the humble offices of Blue Ribbon. Onitsuka’s ambition to dominate the US would get in the way of the success they’re seeing with Phil and push them to search for a more prominent distributor with a more established operation.During that trouble, Onitsuka tried to bully Phil into selling them his company by threatening to break their exclusive distribution agreement and poisoning Phil’s relationship with his bank (which was financing all his orders), basically just hanging Phil out to dry.“Onitsuka Co. Ltd. will buy controlling interest in Blue Ribbon, fifty-one percent. It is best deal for your company. And you. You would be wise to accept.” A takeover. A hostile freaking takeover. I looked at the ceiling. You gotta be kidding, I thought. Of all the arrogant, underhanded, ungrateful, bullying — “And if we do not?” “We will have no choice but to set up superior distributors.” “Superior. Uh-huh. I see. And what about our written agreement?” He shrugged. So much for agreements.The infamous Canada Nike that ironically ruptured under cold weather.In fear of losing his company, Phil started searching for manufacturing facilities to help him produce his own brand of shoes and to put him control of his company’s destiny. Under his contract with Onitsuka, Phil was allowed to import/manufacture other shoes as long as they did not fall in the track or running category.On this to find his replacement for Onitsuka, Phil stumbled upon an Adidas-approved manufacturing facility where he could re-appropriate one of their soccer shoe designs to football(American football). This became the first original Nike shoe and was named Canada.Selling the first 1000 Nike pairs:Nike Canada did not meet
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