Student Blog

Arlie Abraam 3/8/26

I will be researching Nike’s marketing strategies and, more specifically, Nike Swim.

It is important to consider how the product will make the target audience feel. Can the customer improve their value by owning this item? How will potential customers see current customers with the product?

The way consumers view the company’s brand is how they will view the products, whether they need the item or not. For example, if two lipsticks in the same shade were put in front of me, I would view them as identical. If I were told one lipstick is Rare Beauty and the other is e.l.f. Cosmetics, I would choose Rare Beauty as it holds more value to me.

Nike is known as a footwear brand. They have expanded the apparel category because of the company’s affiliation with sports. Basketball players, track stars, and football players do need top-of-the-line footwear, but they also need uniforms. Nike has all kinds of sports apparel, including shorts, leggings, windbreakers, sports bras, and compression sleeves.

Nike has claimed to offer both lifestyle and athletic benefits with Nike Swim. I am curious how Nike has expanded into swimwear because I have not seen anyone wear it before. Swimming is a sport, and I have probably seen an athlete wear a swimsuit with a Nike logo on it at the Olympics, for example. However, since Nike has broadened it’s target audience from athletes, can the swim line be for more than just athletes?

“About.” Nike Swim, 2026, nswim.com.au/pages/about. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Fay, Ann. “Nike and the Quest for the Perfect Athletic Swimwear.” Outdoor Equipped, 4 Aug. 2021, http://www.outdoorequipped.com/blogs/news/nike-and-the-quest-for-the-perfect-athletic-swimwear?srsltid=AfmBOoop5Rwq7h9Q2nbcZWBJCaTW__Jl-o6yQ45iLjrSSw_0NuNmohYS. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Ford Motor Company has a good reputation because it is an American-made brand that builds reliable vehicles. Ford was established in 1903 by Henry Ford. The company is still thriving and grossed $26.558 billion in 2024 (Macrotrends, 2025). Ford is one of the top motor companies in America, with the Ford F-series being the number one selling vehicle in America. Ford has consistently produced a range of high-quality vehicles and services over the years. Ford has invested $5.5 billion in electric vehicles due to consumer demand. The consumer demand can be debated, whether it is driven by government mandates or if driven by true consumer wants. However, there is a market for eco-friendly products in every industry. Cars are not sustainable and transportation has been the center of individual conservation conversations. For example, people are told to ride bikes instead of driving cars, or take the bus around the city instead. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary car usage and, in the greater timeline, eliminate cars. However, I only see this happening for large cities with adequate public transportation. I do not live in a city where I could easily get around by bus, bike, or foot. America is a vast country with many cities that do not offer public transport, making it nearly impossible to get around without using a personal car. This target population, combined with eco-conscious consumers, creates the market for electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are only focusing on one piece of the car, which makes it harmful to the environment. Another large issue in the car industry is tires. A minimum of 4 tires are needed on all vehicles and should be replaced every 6-10 years. The EPA reports that 800 million tires are disposed of annually. There are also chemicals from tires that are contaminating our waterways through run-off. Therefore, an eco-friendly tire would be an important product for Ford Motor Company to produce. It would create positive public relations for the company as well as a positive impact on our society. 

The target audience is growing for products similar to this. I would like to see where the target audience lives and see if it surprises me. The audience could be larger than expected and in areas other than where it is easy to drive electric vehicles. Eco-friendly tires offer an alternative way to improve the impact your car is making without changing your transportation method. The tires would be sold the same way and in the same places current tires are sold. Some consumers might be skeptical of this new product, so the safety features must be highlighted when advertised. Incentives could make the tire more appealing to the target audience as well. It is important to know what incentives and prices the competition uses when selling tires. The car industry is vast and competitive; therefore, it is important to have competitive pricing. It will be important to learn if Ford or competitors follow up with customers after buying a vehicle to see if they need new tires. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council are investigating the impacts of 6PPD, which is used on tires to decrease degradation. It is unclear if there will be lawsuits or fines placed on any companies, but it would be beneficial for Ford to introduce the first eco-friendly tire to the market. I will be using secondary research to gain more insight into competitors and the target audience.

“Ford Motor Gross Profit 2010-2023 | F.” Www.macrotrends.net, http://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/F/ford-motor/gross-profit#google_vignette.

“Where Rubber Meets the Road: EPA Researchers Study the Environmental and Health Impacts of Tires | US EPA.” US EPA, 6 Aug. 2024, http://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/where-rubber-meets-road-epa-researchers-study-environmental-and-health-impacts-tires.