Nike’s online sales have increased 31 percent in the wake of its controversial ‘Just Do It’ advertising campaign featuring NFL star Colin Kaepernick.
The sportswear company’s sales surged 31 percent compared to last year over the Labor Day weekend, according to digital commerce research company Edison Trends.
Sales in particular increased on Monday and Tuesday after Nike debuted its new 30th anniversary campaign and aired a new ad featuring the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback.
Nike faced backlash over its Kaepernick endorsement deal. The NFL star sparked controversy when he started kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.
“There was speculation that Nike’s Colin Kaepernick ad campaign could lead to a drop in sales. At this point, does not seem to support that theory,” Edison Trends said.
“In fact, Nike sales grew 31 percent from Sunday through Tuesday over Labor Day this year, besting 2017’s comparative 17 percent increase.”
President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Kaepernick and other NFL players for the kneeling protests, slammed Nike on Friday, tweeting: ‘What was Nike thinking?”
However, Trump has been relatively quiet about Nike considering they are the Trump Organization’s biggest tenant in New York.
Some Trump supporters, however, have spent the week burning and cutting up their Nike apparel.