2 Live | GL2R vs. Nike

My name is Francien, built in 1986. A few years prior to my existence, my parents constructed their first business. They hand delivered my brother, Martijn, into the world. A foundation of love and happiness was established, named Regelink,. Nike’s history? My name is Nike, founded in 1972 ‘Before there was the Swoosh, before there was Nike, there were two visionary men who pioneered a revolution in athletic footwear that redefined the industry.’ The rest is history?

Bill Bowerman was a nationally respected track and field coach at the University of Oregon. He was constantly seeking ways to give his athletes a competitive advantage. He experimented with different track surfaces, re-hydration drinks and – most important – innovation in running shoes. Unfortunately the established footwear manufacturers of the 1950s ignored the ideas he tried to offer them, so Bowerman began cobbling shoes for his runners by himself.

Phil Knight was a talented middle-distance runner from Portland. He enrolled at the University of Oregon in the fall of 1955 and competed for Bowerman’s track team. Upon graduating from Oregon, Knight completed his MBA in finance at Stanford University with a proposal to have high quality running shoes manufactured in Japan and have them complete with the established German sports brands  But his letters to Japanese and Asian manufacturers  went unanswered, so Knight took a chance.

Francien Regelink was the weird one out in primary school, according to herself. Feeling out of place during her short career as an aspiring police officer she decided to make a change. Nowadays she finds herself as a community manager of one the biggest brands in the world. This job allows her to combine her passion for running with her talent for social media storytelling, inspiring others along the way.

Fieke Knüppe is a talented entrepreneur from Doesburg. She’s the co-founder of What Else Matters, a business that connects companies to communities online and offline, at the tender (not be mistaken with ’Tinder) age of 21. Four years later she’s still running the business next to two other firms, where she displays her writing and entrepreneurial skills.

FOUNDED ON A HANDSHAKE, $500 AND MUTUAL TRUST

They shook hands to form Blue Ribbon Sports, pledged $500 each and placed their first order of 300 pairs of shoes in January 1964. Knight sold the shoes out of the trunk of his green Plymouth Valiant, while Bowerman ripped apart Tiger shoes to see how he could improve them, having his University of Oregon runners test his creations. In essence, the foundation for what would become Nike had been established.

Bowerman and Knight each had full-time jobs – Bowerman at the University of Oregon and Knight at a Portland accounting firm – so they needed support to manage the growing requirements of Blue Ribbon Sports. Jeff Johnson, a runner whom Knight had met at Stanford,  became the first full-time employee of Blue Ribbon Sports in 1965.He quickly became an invaluable utility man for the start-up company.

FOUNDED ON A HANDSHAKE, MUTUAL TRUST AND LOVE

They shook hands on the side of a pool in Bali to form GirlsLove2Run. They pledged time plus miles and launched the first website in January 2012. Knüppe inspired thousands of girls to start running, while Regelink bedazzled the running community with a new found perspective on the business. In essence, the foundation for what would become GirlsLove2Run had been established.

Regelink and Knüppe each had full-time jobs – Regelink at Jack Liberties Amsterdam and Knüppe at What Else Matters – so they needed help to grow their newfound business. But how? By creating epic sh*t and brands will come to you. Nike, their dream brand, became their first big collaboration. Fieke and Francien established a foundation together to challenge girls to run the Netherlands. Until this day the goal hasn’t changed. Accept that they are now after world domination. Who run the world? GIRLS, Beyonce and GirlsLove2Run!

 Three years in the business and still unstoppable.

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(Fieke &) Francien

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