It’s not often that a private company’s financial gain feels like a win for anyone except them, but due to the way Nike has strategically advocated for the Black Lives Matter movement in their new ‘Just Do It’ campaign, their success feels bigger than cash profit.
It feels like a statement that the majority support the social cause, the people and the message promoted by the Nike campaign. And it feels like the haters lost.
Don’t ask if your dreams are crazy. Ask if they’re crazy enough. #justdoit pic.twitter.com/Wd5L42egV8
— Nike (@Nike) September 5, 2018
Since announcing former NFL quarterback and controversial ‘Take A Knee’ figurehead Colin Kaepernick as the face of the 30th anniversary ‘Just Do It’ campaign and releasing the epically inspiring commercial, Nike sales have surged.
According to a report from Market Watch derived from San Francisco–based Edison Trends,
“Online sales actually grew 31% from the Sunday of Labor Day weekend through Tuesday, as compared with a 17% gain recorded for the same period of 2017.”
For the wypipo talking about boycotting Nike because they support @Kaepernick7 must not know/understand how valuable the Black dollar is. We statistically make up one of the largest consumer demographics…in other words @Nike gon be straight lol
— Jo Esq.?? (@Jovant_Garde) September 3, 2018
The announcement of Colin Kaepernick as the face of the Nike campaign enraged plenty of conservative right-wing nuts who called for a Nike boycott and proceeded to destroy their own already-paid-for merch in protest.
It’s so wonderful to see their efforts have some great results.
First the @NFL forces me to choose between my favorite sport and my country. I chose country. Then @Nike forces me to choose between my favorite shoes and my country. Since when did the American Flag and the National Anthem become offensive? pic.twitter.com/4CVQdTHUH4
— Sean Clancy (@sclancy79) September 3, 2018
And of course Donald Trump used this as an opportunity to vocalise his distaste for the ‘Take A Knee’ protest. But we all know Trump putting a brand on his blacklist isn’t exactly bad for business.
What was Nike thinking?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 7, 2018
So yes, I know that Nike’s sales boost just means that this giant corporation gets richer, but it also means people want to support Colin Kaepernick and what he stands for.
We’ll take what we can get.