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Tag: nike

  • Nike’s Strategic Pivot To Outdoor Recreation: Revitalizing Acg Amid Rising Competition

    Nike’s Strategic Pivot To Outdoor Recreation: Revitalizing Acg Amid Rising Competition

    Nike, the sportswear behemoth, is making a strategic move into the expanding outdoor recreation industry. Starting with the launch of a new trail running shoe, Nike aims to invigorate its lesser-known sub-brand, ACG, and turn it into a vital source of growth.

    Nike’s Outdoor Recreation Strategy

    Beginning with the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc event, an ultramarathon in France, Nike plans to release its Ultrafly trail running shoe, which is a part of the ACG (All Conditions Gear) outdoor sub-brand. This move is an attempt by Nike to reestablish ACG as a credible contender in the realm of performance-focused trail running shoes.

    Commenting on the broader strategy, Nike’s CEO, Elliot Hill, explained that the company is refocusing on core sports such as running in response to the growing competition from smaller brands. Nike is striving to catch up in the outdoor recreation industry, which has seen substantial growth during the pandemic, and in China, where outdoor activities have gained considerable popularity. The company’s struggle in these two markets has been a factor in its diminished share of the global sportswear industry.

    ACG Ultrafly and Future Plans

    Nike-sponsored athletes, including Anthony Costales, will wear the ACG Ultrafly during races. The shoe is scheduled to be available to consumers in spring 2026. In addition, a rejuvenated version of the Zegama trail runner, also under the ACG brand, will be released later in 2026.

    However, revitalizing the ACG brand, initially launched in 1989 with an emphasis on hiking and biking, will not be without its challenges. The brand is currently associated with “gorpcore”, a fashion trend that blends functional gear with style. Despite these challenges, Nike is looking towards the long-term benefits of this strategy, especially in the Chinese market.

    The Chinese Market

    Nike established its ACG team as a sub-brand in October and appointed Angela Dong, VP for all of Greater China, to lead the unit. Sales of outdoor apparel in China nearly doubled between 2019 and 2025, and outdoor footwear sales increased by 65% in the same period. Despite this, Nike has reported double-digit sales declines in China over the past three quarters.

    The Chinese market has posed significant challenges for Nike as it faces stiff competition from other retailers. Economic instability and high youth unemployment have also impacted spending.

    Nike’s global sportswear market share fell to 26% from 29% in 2021. Other brands such as Hoka have used trail running to bolster growth, underscoring the potential that Nike sees in this segment.

    Launching at a Hoka-sponsored event could be viewed as Nike’s attempt to overshadow its rival, demonstrating Nike’s ability to leverage its financial strength against smaller brands.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Nike’s new strategy in the sportswear market?
    Nike is focusing on outdoor recreation, reviving its ACG sub-brand with the launch of a trail running shoe.

    What challenges does Nike face in revitalizing the ACG brand?
    ACG, launched with a focus on hiking and biking, has become associated with the “gorpcore” fashion trend, which may make it difficult for the brand to reposition itself as a serious contender in the outdoor recreation space.

    What is the current state of Nike in the Chinese market?
    Despite the growth in outdoor apparel and footwear sales in China, Nike has experienced double-digit sales declines in this market over the past three quarters due to tough competition and economic factors.

  • Leadership Shakeup At Nike: Aaron Cain Steps Up As Converse CEO Amid Sales Slump

    Leadership Shakeup At Nike: Aaron Cain Steps Up As Converse CEO Amid Sales Slump

    Nike’s Converse division is set to undergo a change in leadership as Aaron Cain steps into the role of CEO, succeeding Jared Carver who has served in the position for the past two years.

    A veteran of Nike for over two decades, Cain has contributed to the company in a variety of roles, most recently as Nike’s Vice President and General Manager of Global Men’s Business.

    Financial Performance

    Nike’s recent annual results in June revealed a 9% decrease in sales, with Converse suffering a more significant slump of 19%. Despite these figures, Nike’s CEO and President, Elliot Hill, remains optimistic about future performance, citing the company’s ‘Win Now’ strategy as a catalyst for improvement.

    Executive Shakeup

    The appointment of Cain as CEO of Converse is just one move in a series of recent executive changes within the brand. Tony Bignell has assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer, while Amy Montagne has been named Nike’s Brand President. Additionally, Jennifer Hartley has been designated as the new Chief Strategy Officer.

    To ensure a smooth transition, Cain and Carver will overlap in their roles until the end of July.

    Questions & Answers

    Who has been appointed as the new CEO of Nike’s Converse division?
    Aaron Cain has been appointed as the new CEO of Nike’s Converse division.

    What were the recent changes in Nike’s sales performance?
    Nike reported a 9% decrease in its annual sales, with the Converse division experiencing a 19% decrease.

    Who are the new executives appointed in Nike?
    Apart from Aaron Cain, Tony Bignell has been appointed as the new COO, Amy Montagne as Nike’s Brand President, and Jennifer Hartley as the Chief Strategy Officer.

  • Nike sued over copycat sports bra design

    Nike sued over copycat sports bra design

    A Florida-based entrepreneur is suing Nike for allegedly copying her design patents pertaining to a sports bra with pockets.

    SherryWear LLC claimed in a lawsuit filed this week that Nike copied its pocket bra design after its founder, Sherry Goff, submitted the SherryWear pocket bra design to Nike via an online submission. The design at the time had some issued and pending patents.

    According to the suit filed in a Massachusetts court on Monday, Nike rejected Goff’s design in March 2017. Just a few months later, Nike filed a U.S. patent application for a “Bra With Storage Pockets.” Goff submitted the SherryWear pocket bra design to Nike again after that and was rejected again.

    SherryWear specifically takes issue with Nike’s Swoosh Pocket Bra and the Swoosh on the Run bras, both of which feature pockets.

    “Nike has never had authority to use, offer, sell or import any product or assembly covered by the Pocket Bra Patents or actively induce others to do so,” the suit claims. “By continuing to engage in commercial activities described in this complaint, Nike is knowingly, deliberately and intentionally infringing the Pocket Bra Patents.”

    Retail News has reached out to Nike for a comment. In a statement to Retail News, a spokesperson for SherryWear’s law firm, Caldwell IP Law, said it is “confident in the effectiveness of the patent system and its ability to empower small businesses, such as SherryWear.”

    Nike may be on the defensive this time, but the Swoosh has historically taken a harsh legal stance when it comes to protecting itself against potential copycats. Nike, in 2021, filed a trademark infringement and dilution complaint against MSCHF, the company that released its controversial Satan Shoes with Lil Nas X, and settled the lawsuit shortly after. Last year, Nike resolved its trademark infringement battle with footwear designer John Geiger after claiming he created sneakers that were similar to Nike’s Air Force 1 shoes.

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  • Man arrested for making and selling 200,000 counterfeit Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo socks

    Man arrested for making and selling 200,000 counterfeit Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo socks

    In a recent case of intellectual property rights violation, a man in Hanoi was found guilty of manufacturing and selling 200,000 fake Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo socks. The counterfeit items were being retailed at wholesale prices between VND4,500–5,000 (US$0.18–0.20) per pair.

    Investigation and Prosecution

    The Economic Police Department in Hanoi reported the prosecution of Nguyen Van Thien, 51, for the aforementioned offense. The investigation divulged that Thien had initiated a sock manufacturing and trade business in Quoc Oai District in 2015. He initially supplied socks to various companies under his own brand named “Thien Duong”.

    In 2018, Thien observed the surging demand for socks adorned with popular brand logos such as Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo. Consequently, he started producing counterfeit versions of these highly sought-after socks.

    Fraudulent Business Operations

    Thien arranged for the procurement of knitting machines, instructing the suppliers to pre-install the logos of Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo into the machine software. He also sourced labels and tags from unregulated producers and hired four workers to operate the machines and manage the packaging process.

    A raid conducted on January 4 unveiled a large stock of counterfeit socks. The authorities confiscated 3,450 pairs of socks with the Adidas logo, 14,400 pairs with the Nike logo, and 2,100 pairs bearing the Uniqlo brand. They also found 1,500 loose socks branded with Nike logo. The authorities seized over 10 machines, 200 heat-molding frames, and nearly 70 kg of labels in total.

    Extent of the Counterfeit Operations

    The investigators discovered that Thien had been producing and distributing counterfeit socks since 2022. He is estimated to have sold around 200,000 counterfeit socks with a total market value of more than VND240 million (US$9,400).

    These fake socks were primarily sold at a profit margin of about 25% via various e-commerce platforms, social media, and suburban markets.

    Questions & Answers

    What was Nguyen Van Thien charged with?
    Nguyen Van Thien was prosecuted for violating intellectual property rights by manufacturing and selling counterfeit Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo socks.

    How did Thien manage to manufacture the counterfeit socks?
    Thien procured knitting machines and instructed the suppliers to pre-install the logos of Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo into the machine software. He also procured labels and tags from unregulated vendors and hired workers to manage the production process.

    Where and how were the counterfeit socks sold?
    The counterfeit socks were predominantly sold in bulk through e-commerce platforms, social media, and suburban markets, allowing for a 25% profit margin.

  • Nike’s Olympics ad featuring athlete licking table tennis triggers controversy among Chinese netizens

    Nike’s Olympics ad featuring athlete licking table tennis triggers controversy among Chinese netizens

    Nike’s new ad for the 2024 Paris Olympics, featuring an Asian table tennis player licking her paddle, has sparked controversy among Chinese social media users.

    Though the nationality of the table tennis player has not been specified, many Chinese social media users have implied that the scene targeted China, as table tennis is the country’s national sport. They complained that the video, uploaded to Nike’s social media accounts on July 19 , was “smearing the image of the Chinese people.”

    “What’s the purpose of making this action? It’s disrespectful, incomprehensible and unacceptable,” one netizen wrote.

    The Global Times reported that by Tuesday, the hashtag “Nike promotional video licking table tennis paddle” had already garnered 81 million views on Weibo.

    Others suggest that the inclusion of the scene might have been a deliberate attempt to provoke and stir controversy, and comments expressing how they no longer buy Nike products racked up thousands of likes.

    One netizen commented: “Only people with dirty thoughts would think it’s a bad action. Licking the paddle obviously was to raise their fighting spirit and provoke the competitor.”

    The South China Morning Post reported that in response to the video, a Weibo user expressed confusion and criticism, asking: “What does licking a table tennis paddle even mean? What was the person who made this commercial even thinking, that the paddle is clean and sweet, like a lollipop?”

    It is reported that Nike’s customer service in China stated that it “will reflect the concerns to supervisors.”

    China will be represented by 405 athletes at the Paris Games starting on Friday.

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  • Nike launches Jordan World of Flight in Shibuya, Tokyo

    Nike launches Jordan World of Flight in Shibuya, Tokyo

    Located in the capital’s Shibuya district, close to the Harajuku trade zone and along Meiji Dori Street, the 9,200-square-foot space is a designed “as a tribute to basketball culture and Jordan Brand’s identity and heritage,” according to a press release.

    Inside, visitors will find Jordan brand footwear and apparel products across men’s, women’s and kids, as well as customizable products in the store’s ‘The Workshop’, including the AJ1 and the Renegade jacket.

    The Shibuya store will have a dedicated ‘Snkrs’ area for shoppers to pick up products from the app; ‘The Flight Lounge’, which offers an in-store space for members to immerse themselves in Jordan Brand history and basketball culture, as well as a ‘ Nike Member’ innovation center, providing an opportunity for visitors to test new offerings and experiences.

    The ‘Content Studio’ allows shoppers to film unboxings and reviews and create content to share through their social handles.

    Connecting to the region’s local culture, Jordan also commissioned local artists to present their work throughout the store. The Japan opening comes on the back of the Jordan World of Flight opening in Milan in December 2022.

    “Following the launch of Milan, Jordan World of Flight Shibuya provides another unique expression of basketball culture. Tokyo serves as the perfect backdrop, a city that is constantly pushing the edges of innovation, fashion, music and art,” said Craig Williams, president, Jordan brand.

    “Alongside a best-in-class retail assortment, World of Flight is a manifestation of the full potential of the brand. By connecting with people around the world through the values the Jumpman represents, we hope to create even deeper ties to our consumer and underline the culture that unites us all.”

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  • Tiffany & Co collaborates with Nike on ‘Legendary’ kicks

    Tiffany & Co collaborates with Nike on ‘Legendary’ kicks

    Tiffany & Co has collaborated with Nike to release the Nike x Tiffany & Co Air Force 1 1837 sneakers and a limited-edition sterling silver accessories range.

    The sneakers, which will be available on March 7, are made of premium black suede, have a Tiffany Blue-coloured Swoosh, and co-branded silver elements over each heel.

    The Nike x Tiffany & Co Air Force 1 1837 will be available in women’s and men’s sizes, with a retail price of $356.98. The sneakers can be found in New York City Tiffany & Co locations: The Tiffany Flagship Next Door and Tiffany & Co SoHo, and globally via Nike’s SNKRS app and select Nike partner retail stores in North America.

    The brands said the collaboration is a continuation of the Air Force 1’s 40th anniversary and the businesses’ first collaboration on a “legendary pair”. Nike also partnered with Louis Vuitton last year to launch Dream Now, a brief pop-up event in Brooklyn, New York, featuring 47 pairs of Nike Airforce 1s designed by Virgil Abloh, to celebrate the anniversary.

    The basketball trainer was launched by Nike in 1982 and since then has gone on to become the most successful model ever created and symbolic in black culture.

    Aside from the launch, Tiffany & Co will release a line of limited-edition sterling silver goods, including a sterling silver whistle, shoe horn, shoe brush, and dubrae for the Nike x Tiffany & Co Air Force 1 1837 lace

  • Netflix to launch Nike Training Hub on December 30

    Netflix to launch Nike Training Hub on December 30

    Netflix would like to help you stick to your fitness-related new year’s resolutions this year. Starting December 30, 30 hours of video content will become available on the platform, through a partnership with NIke.

    Reality check: in recent years, the number of new year’s resolutions related to losing weight are seeing a decline, but that isn’t a cause for celebration, as obesity rates are going up. However, it would be best if you remembere: there is no time like the present.

    While new year’s resolutions may not be the best method for losing weight, having access to content from Nike Training Club on your Netflix app certainly is. It will be released in two bahes, available in multiple languages and to users of all subscription plans, so all that is required of you is to get motivated and give it a shot.

    In case this is the first time you’ve heard about Nike’s training program, it is built around an app that wants you to stick to your decision and help you build healthy habits through fine-tuned training regimens and workout sessions.

    We still don’t know what the second series will include, but we know that it will become available some time in 2023. Until then, batch one will certainly give you enough to sink your sport shoes’ heels in to with:13 episodes of basics of Fitness

    • 7 episodes of core workouts
    • 6 episodes of yoga
    • 14 episodes of strength training
    • 5 episodes of feel-good fitness

    Considering that this is not your typical binge-worthy series, but content that you will actually revisit multiple times — or at least until you’ve gotten a steady workout routine down — it is certainly more than enough to help you get started on that new you.

    The program will also feature videos, suitable for people of all fitness levels, meaning that you will be able to tell the ones that aren’t for you yet, but they will still be available to you when you decide to push things further.

    The videos will be led by certified trainers from Nike’s Training Club solution. And if you like what you see on Netflix, you can also download Nike’s app too for a full experience. Oh, and by the way — the app is completely free, and offers tons more, like additional workouts, goal reminders and expert tips on nutrition and diet.

    As Netflix is stepping up their game regarding, um… well, games on the platform, we can definitely expect them to bring more fitness options too, especially if Nike’s series receives a warm welcome. And you know what? This year might be it, so you should definitely try going for Netflix and Treadmill instead of Netflix and Chill.

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  • Nike and Adidas supplier offers bigger Tet bonuses

    Nike and Adidas supplier offers bigger Tet bonuses

    Some 130,000 workers at Taiwanese-invested footwear maker Pou Chen Vietnam, a contract manufacturer for giants like Nike, Adidas and Puma, will enjoy a 30% increase in Tet bonuses this year.

    That puts the annual windfall for employees at the global shoe supplier back to pre-Covid levels.

    Eight Pou Chen Vietnam factories in HCMC and four in the southern provinces of Dong Nai, Tien Giang, Tay Ninh and Ba Ria Vung Tau announced on Monday that they will set aside over VND1.5 trillion ($62.5 million) as bonuses for workers for the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year Festival). Tet, the most important festival in Vietnam, falls in late January 2023.

    Depending on seniority, workers who have worked for the company a full year or more will be given Tet bonuses of 1-2.2 months’ salary, from around VND6.5 million ($274.20) to nearly VND26 million. The highest bonus in 2022 was 1.54 months’ salary, while in 2021 the figure stood at 1.87 months.

    Besides Tet bonuses, the biggest and most anticipated reward for workers, Vietnam’s largest employer and trade unions at of its eight factories have planned provide free bus tickets home to migrant workers who will be able to enjoy Tet in their hometowns. Other gifts to poor employees will also be distributed.

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  • World’s first Nike Style store opens in Seoul

    World’s first Nike Style store opens in Seoul

    Nike has introduced its latest retail concept, Nike Style, with the first store opened in South Korea, to be followed by more across multiple international markets.

    The Nike Style concept store is located in the bustling Hongdae neighbourhood, which is known for its art and fashion culture. Gender-agnostic zones are featured throughout the store for fleece, tops, footwear, accessories, and other style-led collections. The new retail concept is expected to “expand the definition of sport” that blurs the line between physical and digital.

    The store houses a content studio with customisable backdrops for local creatives, product experts and shoppers to create content for social media. Customers can scan QR codes for AR experiences related to product innovation and even the surrounding art installations. The store also offers Nike By You workshops and Snkrs Lounge events for its members.

    “The Hongdae neighbourhood holds a strong relationship with the sneaker and neighbourhood-retail community,” the company said in a statement. “With the Style retail concept, Nike helps broaden the aperture of sports retail culture by continuing to blend physical and digital experiences.”

    A second Nike Style store is set to open its doors in Shanghai later this year, with the concept to be expanded into other countries in the future. Nike Style is the latest Nike’s concept, following the House of Innovation, Nike Live and recently Nike Rise.

    The launch of Nike Style in Seoul follows the opening of a 24,000sqft Nike Rise store in Seoul last year, the first of its kind in South Korea.

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  • Nike unveils new store in Singapore at VivoCity

    Nike unveils new store in Singapore at VivoCity

    Sportswear giant Nike has collaborated with GMG to launch a new-generation store at Vivo City in Singapore.  According to Nike, the 5900sqft store is intended to bring customers closer to sports and closer together. It has a wide selection of innovative gear, sporting essentials, and seasonal offerings for men, women, and children. Nike says customers can take advantage of styling expert sessions with store athletes, who can help customers of all ages choose appropriate apparel and footwear for

    According to Nike, the 5900sqft store is intended to bring customers closer to sports and closer together. It has a wide selection of innovative gear, sporting essentials, and seasonal offerings for men, women, and children.

    Nike says customers can take advantage of styling expert sessions with store athletes, who can help customers of all ages choose appropriate apparel and footwear for running, training, playing basketball, or simply living an active lifestyle.

    In addition, the Vivo City store offers a buy-online, pick-up-in-store service, and plans to organise community events.

    “In our commitment to bringing consumers closer to sport, we are reintroducing our VivoCity store that is fitted to offer athletes of all sports and expert levels some of the most innovative Nike products and services today,” said Carl Masterman, GMG senior VP retail, SEA – sports.

    “At VivoCity, fit is our focus – and our store athletes are on hand to ensure shoppers are equipped with the best fit for their sport of choice or lifestyle needs. The personal touch is extended also to our … community events for like-minded athletes that will be unveiled in the coming months.”

  • Nike forecasts downbeat quarterly revenue on lingering China worries

    Nike forecasts downbeat quarterly revenue on lingering China worries

    Nike forecast first-quarter revenue below estimates as it expects to discount more and wrestles with pandemic-related disruptions in China, its most profitable market.

    The company’s shares fell 3% to $107 after the bell.

    Analysts are mixed about Nike’s prospects in China this year even as strict COVID-19 lockdowns have been lifted in several of the country’s major cities, as people cut down on spending and a penchant for home-grown brands such as Li Ning and Anta remains firm.

    “We are taking a cautious approach to Greater China, given uncertainty around additional COVID disruptions,” Nike Chief Financial Officer Matthew Friend said.

    The company expects first-quarter revenue to be flat to slightly up, below estimates of a 5.1% increase, according to Refinitiv IBES data.

    “The guidance was somewhat disappointing,” Morningstar analyst David Swartz said.

    Fashion retailers in China are also stuck with piles of unsold stock as the recent re-opening has also seen a flood of goods being shipped from warehouses to store shelves.

    Nike said its gross margins would be under pressure this year due to higher freight and product costs, and as it discounts more to sell seasonal inventories that arrived late due to supply snarls.

    The company’s inventories rose 23% to $8.4 billion at the end of May as more of its products remain in transit due to supply disruptions.

    Nike also forecast fiscal 2023 revenue to increase in the low double digits percentage range on a currency-neutral basis.

    For the fourth quarter, the company reported revenue of $12.23 billion, beating estimates of $12.06 billion, helped by higher sales in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

    Nike recorded a $150 million charge related to its decision to exit Russia and transition of business models in a few South American countries.

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  • H&M closes Shanghai flagship after Covid lockdowns

    H&M closes Shanghai flagship after Covid lockdowns

    H&M has shut its flagship Shanghai store, its latest closure in China where consumer demand has slumped amid COVID-19 lockdowns and the fast-fashion retailer has borne the brunt of a backlash against companies that refuse to use Xinjiang cotton.

    Although it was open earlier this month, the three-storey building in downtown Shanghai was on Friday boarded up with its H&M signage gone.

    The world’s second-biggest fast-fashion retailer entered China in 2007 with the opening of the Shanghai flagship store and rapidly expanded. It had more than 500 stores in mainland China early last year but its website currently only lists 376, including the flagship Shanghai store.

    The company declined to comment, citing a blackout period prior to its first-half earnings report on June 29.

    Although nearly a month has passed since Shanghai lifted a strict two-month lockdown, consumers have yet to return to malls in significant numbers.

    Chinese consumers have also beat a retreat from its products after a letter in which H&M expressed concerns about allegations of forced labour in the Xinjiang region came to light in 2021.

    Other brands that publicly disavowed Xinjiang cotton such as Inditex’s, Zara, Nike and Adidas have also suffered with Chinese netizens calling for boycotts and Chinese celebrities refusing to work with them.

    But the backlash against H&M, the first foreign retailer to express concerns, has been particularly harsh. Unlike other brands, its products remain unavailable on major Chinese e-commerce sites such as Tmall and JD.com.

    UN experts and rights groups estimate over a million people, mainly Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, have been detained in recent years in a vast system of camps in China’s western Xinjiang region.

    Many former inmates have said they were subject to ideological training and abuse in the camps. China denies all accusations of abuse.

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  • New Nike concept store opens in Hong Kong

    New Nike concept store opens in Hong Kong

    The new store has been launched by GMG as part of the company’s plans to ramp up its investment in the Asia market.

    The new Nike store spans over 2171sq ft and is situated in the East Point City shopping mall in Hang Tau district. It is home to sportswear for both men and women, in various categories including running, basketball and training.

    GMG has partnered with Nike in other markets since 1982, and entered the Asia market in 2020 after buying Royal Sporting House, a leading multi-sports retailer and recently purchasing Nike retail stores from SUTL Corporation, expanding its presence in Singapore and Malaysia.

    Mohammad A Baker, Deputy Chairman and CEO, GMG, said: “Asia is propelling the retail industry forward, generating a substantial portion of global growth in the sector and offering immense potential and expansion opportunities for GMG. The opening of our new Nike store in a key market such as Hong Kong, the first in two years, further signifies the recovery of a post-pandemic economy while allowing us to strengthen our physical retail presence in Asia.”

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  • Nike says to end run club app in China

    Nike says to end run club app in China

    Nike is deactivating its Run Club app in China, becoming the latest Western company to reconfigure its business in the world’s second largest economy.

    The US sportswear giant posted a notice to runners in mainland China, saying the app will “cease service and operation” there starting July 8. A Nike spokesperson said that it would roll out a “localized” platform for Chinese runners in future, and continue to invest in updating its digital platforms in China.
    “We are creating an ecosystem from China for China, specifically catered to the region’s unique consumer needs,” the representative said.
    China is one of Nike’s top markets. The company made nearly $8.3 billion in revenue in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, in the last fiscal year, according to its most recent annual report. That was more than its sales in the rest of Asia Pacific and Latin America combined.
    China is also a key manufacturing hub for the brand, with about a fifth of Nike’s footwear and apparel being made there.
    Nike Run Club, which allows users to track their runs and perform challenges with friends, has more than 8 million users in China who have collectively covered more than 600 million kilometers (nearly 373 million miles), according to a company statement on the app.
    Nike has notified its 8 million users of the Run Club app in China that the platform will be discontinued soon.
    Local users will be able to export their fitness data, Nike said.
    The move is the latest in a series of changes big Western companies have made to their businesses in mainland China in recent months. Last week, Amazon announced the closure of its Kindle bookstore in the country, as well as the discontinuation of Kindle device sales to retailers.
    This summer, Airbnb will take down all its listings in the country and concentrate instead on outbound travelers. The company made the decision because of mounting costs that were worsened by Covid-19.
    Last October, LinkedIn said that it would shut down the local version of its platform in China, citing a “significantly more challenging operating environment” and compliance hurdles. The platform, which is owned by Microsoft has decided to introduce an all-new, even more localized service, called InJobs.