2 billion. That is the number behind today’s Number of the Day: China’s 1.41 billion people, viewed through Nike’s old idea of roughly 2 billion feet.
Gareth Edwards and Francis Herd begin with Nike’s historic move into China, when the company saw a country that was still poor but likely to rise. That bet helped form part of Nike’s global growth story. But the episode turns on a sharper point: Nike is now struggling in China, and Francis says the brand is no longer cool there.
The conversation then moves into President Donald Trump’s visit to China with a group of American executives. Nike becomes the backdrop for a bigger discussion about Chinese consumers, local brands and the risks facing US companies that still want access to the Chinese market.
Gareth and Francis also touch on Nvidia, AI chips, Taiwan, tariffs, American innovation and the growing strength of Chinese manufacturing. The discussion even lands in South Africa, where Gareth points to the rise of Chinese vehicle brands in the local market.
2 billion feet. A Nike story, but also a wider question about China, America and shifting consumer power.
Catch up on all Number of the Day episodes here: https://www.enca.com/number-day-podcast
