Last night we mentioned that social networks differ across Internet user generations and how some networks are narrowly focused ones built around a specific interest such as Flixster for movies. I’ve recently taken up jogging as a fitness workout and have come across the NikePlus website and associated network. A CNBC article about Nike written a few years ago talks about the companies desire to achieve $23billion in sales by 2011. The current economic condition and increased use of internet that has ease of use and access with increased competition is not helping Nike. The company’s CEO Mark Parker acknowledges how the power has shifted to the customer and so Nike has started to segment its market in different ways than it used to. Despite potential setbacks, Nike has partnered with Apple ‘to create a shoe that can communicate with Apple's popular iPod music players, allowing a runner to check on speed and pace while listening to music. Nike also offers what it calls its Nike PLUS program to go along with the iPod Nano, allowing users to network with each other and compare notes online. The Internet will get more attention for building a community for consumers to make them feel more connected to the company and the sports it supplies, Parker said.’ http://www.cnbc.com/id/16995009/.
This running innovation can be used with an iPod as well as a Nike sport band that has a sensor. Runners need to upload the data to a computer, which gets updated at NikePlus.com. As runners work towards reaching personal goals, the website has created a space where runners can talk to friends and other runners for inspiration and inquiries and also find local runners in their area to train with.
In an economy that is growing exponentially with internet usage and suffering financially, Nike has showed its desire to continue to grow by partnering with other companies and utilizing the social network trend to attract users and potential Nike customers.
Sites to visit:
http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=en_us
http://www.apple.com/ipod/nike/
No comments:
Post a Comment