Li-Ning

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Li Ning Company Limited
Native name
李宁有限公司
TypePublic
SEHK: 2331
IndustrySportswear and sports equipment[1]
Founded1989; 32 years ago (1989)
Headquarters
  • Beijing, China
    (global headquarters)
  • Cayman Islands
    (legal domicile)
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Li Ning (Founder & Chairman)
Terence Tsang (CFO)
ProductsAthletic shoes, apparel, sports equipment, accessories
RevenueDecrease US$1.11 billion (FY 2012)[2]
Decrease US$318.8 million (FY 2012)[2]
Li-Ning Co., Ltd.
Simplified Chinese李宁有限公司
Traditional Chinese李寧有限公司

Li-Ning Company Limited is a Chinese sportswear and sports equipment company founded by former Olympic gymnast Li Ning. The company endorses a number of athletes and teams worldwide.

History[]

The company was founded in 1989 by Li Ning, a former Chinese Olympic gymnast. As of 2015, Li Ning remains the Chairman of the company's board of directors.[3] In 2005, Li-Ning created a joint-venture with French sports apparel company, AIGLE, giving Li-Ning the exclusive right to be the sole distributor of AIGLE's products in China for 50 years.[4] In 2006, Li-Ning posted revenues of US$418 million, and total profits of about US$39 million. As of March 2007, there were 4,297 Li-Ning retail stores.[5] The company directly owns some of the retail stores while others are franchised.

In January 2010, Li-Ning opened its U.S. headquarters and flagship store in Portland, Oregon. In 2010, as part of the 'Revitalization' of the brand, Li-Ning released a new logo and the new slogan "让改变发生" "Ràng Gǎibiàn Fāshēng" in Chinese, translated to "Let the Change Occur" in English. In January 2011, Li-Ning entered into a partnership with Chicago-based Acquity Group[6] to expand its U.S. distribution and brand awareness.

In April 2012, Li-Ning was awarded the highest distinction of "Outstanding Contribution to Quality Standardization Award" in knitwear division at the Third National Textile Standardization Technical Committee's inaugural meeting held in Zhuhai, Guangdong. In September 2012, Li-Ning signed into a partnership with NBA player Dwyane Wade.

In 2013, The Group recorded revenue of RMB2,906 million, which represents a decrease of 24.6% year-on-year, due to near-term focus on sell-in reductions, inventory clearance, and reducing the number of stores.[7] The Group projected a net loss of up to 820 million yuan (US$13.19 million) for 2014, the third straight year where it was unprofitable.[8][9]

Marketing[]

The company has used sponsorship deals, particularly with athletes and sports teams, both in China and abroad, to raise its profile.[10]

In 2006, the company entered strategic collaborations with the National Basketball Association, the Association of Tennis Professionals, the Chinese University Basketball Association, and the Chinese Football Association. It also signed sponsorship deals with the Chinese national teams and the Sudan track and field team. The company will also provide apparel for the Argentina national basketball team at international events including the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics. A similar deal was made with the Swedish Olympic Committee.[5]

Indian Olympic Association had signed a sponsorship deal with Li Ning for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.[11]

In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the brand held a fashion show on January 18, 2020, during Paris menswear fashion week. The show also showcased a 10-piece capsule collection in collaboration with Jackie Chan and a sneaker done up with Dwyane Wade.[12]

2008 Beijing Olympics[]

Li-Ning sought sponsorship opportunities related to the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing, China. The company arranged to outfit every presenter for broadcaster CCTV-5, the sports channel of the Chinese Central Television.[13] Li-Ning also sponsored the Chinese national teams of Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Archery, and Diving. It also sponsored the Spanish basketball team, as well as the Argentine and Swedish Olympics teams.

In a now famous case of ambush marketing (a subset of guerilla marketing), when entire countries were tuned to the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, millions saw Li Ning light the torch.[14] Though the Li-Ning company was not an official sponsor of the games, it had still associated itself with the games through its role as an equipment supplier for several Chinese Olympic teams, and through Li's status as a Chinese sports and business icon. Consequently, the ceremony generated tremendous exposure for Li's eponymous company to the chagrin of official sports apparel supplier Adidas, as viewers did not realize that he had been fully dressed in Adidas as per its sponsorship rights to the Games[15] The company's share price increased by over 3% on the first day of trading after the opening ceremony.[16]

Sponsorship[]

Li-Ning was an official marketing partner of the National Basketball Association and has/had sponsorship deals with ten players: Baron Davis (Retired), Shaquille O'Neal (retired), Damon Jones (retired), José Calderón (retired), Cleanthony Early of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Glenn Robinson III of the Golden State Warriors, Evan Turner of the Atlanta Hawks, Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat (lifetime contract), and CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers.[5]

In 2006, O'Neal signed a four-year deal with Li-Ning, reportedly worth US$1.25 million, the largest deal made by the company, and the highest profile signing of an American sports star by a Chinese company.[17] O'Neal cited former teammate Damon Jones and the Spanish national basketball team's deal with Li-Ning as influences on his decision to sign with Li-Ning.[18][19]

Previously, Li-Ning also operated as shirt sponsor for the Vietnam national football team from 2006 to 2008, which saw Vietnam's prominent rise to successes in 2007 AFC Asian Cup and 2008 AFF Championship.

In 2010, Li-Ning became the official shirt sponsor for Tajikistan's tennis team, as well as for FC Istiklol.

In 2012, Dwyane Wade left the Jordan Brand for Li-Ning. The deal is worth $10 million.[20]

In 2019, Li-Ning announced that it would not do business with the Houston Rockets after the General Manager of the NBA team tweeted in support of the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.[21] Also, Li-Ning along with (representative and distributor of Li-Ning in India)[22] signed sponsorship deals with Indian badminton players P V Sindhu and Kidambi Srikanth.[23][24]

Olympic Committees
  • Indonesia Indonesian Olympic Committee
  • Mexico Mexican Olympic Committee
National football
  •  Indonesia (Asian Games only)
  •  Tajikistan
Club football
Basketball
Tennis
  • Tajikistan Tajikistan Fed Cup team

Formerly[]

Basketball sports people
National football
  •  Vietnam
Club football
  • Spain Celta de Vigo (2010 - 2012)
  • Spain Espanyol (2010 - 2012)
  • Spain Sevilla (2011 - 2012)
  • Mexico Puebla (2018 - 2019)
  • North Macedonia Vardar (2008 - 2012)

Environmental practices[]

In July 2011, Li-Ning - along with other major sportswear and fashion brands including Nike, Adidas and Abercrombie & Fitch - was the subject of a report by the environmental group Greenpeace entitled 'Dirty Laundry'. Li-Ning, along with Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Bauer Hockey, Calvin Klein, Converse, Cortefiel, H&M, Lacoste, Nike, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH Corp) and Puma, were accused of working with suppliers in China who, according to the findings of the report, contribute to the pollution of the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers.[25] Samples taken from one facility belonging to the Youngor Group located on the Yangtze River Delta and another belonging to the Well Dyeing Factory Ltd. located on a tributary of the Pearl River Delta revealed the presence of hazardous and persistent hormone disruptor chemicals, including alkylphenols, perfluorinated compounds and perfluorooctane sulfonate.[citation needed]

References[]

  1. ^ "Li Ning online sports". Li Ning: Sports.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Li Ning Scaling Back After 2012 Loss". Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Executive Directors". LI Ning. 2010-06-02. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  4. ^ "Welcome to Li-Ning Company Limited". Lining.com. 2011-04-30. Archived from the original on 2011-09-17. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Press Releases". Lining.com. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  6. ^ Burkitt, Laurie (2011-01-19). "Chinese Sports-Apparel Maker Li-Ning Makes Push in the U.S. - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 15 September 2011.
  7. ^ "Li Ning Company Reports Interim Results for 2013". Li-Ning. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ [2]
  10. ^ Cheng, Allen T. (2002-07-29). "The Mainland's Sneaker King". TIME. Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  11. ^ http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/made-in-china-labels-to-adorn-indian-athletes-kit-at-rio-olympics-2766305/
  12. ^ Estiler, Keith (2020-01-19). "Li-Ning Debuts Jackie Chan Capsule & Shoe Collab With Dwyane Wade". Hypebeast. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
  13. ^ Leibenluft, Jacob (July 25, 2007). "Female Weightlifters, Spanish Basketball Stars, and Kim Jong-il: The strange world of Chinese sneaker endorsements". Slate.
  14. ^ Tschang, Chi-Chu. "Olympic Ambush Heats Up Li Ning-Adidas Rivalry", Bloomberg, 11 August 2008. Accessed 4 July 2016.
  15. ^ "The Greatest Free Ad Ever : 2008 Summer Olympics blog : Rocky Mountain News". Blogs.rockymountainnews.com. 2008-08-09. Archived from the original on 2011-09-18. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  16. ^ Liu, Melinda (August 12, 2008). "Light My Fire: Li Ning's Stock Rises". Newsweek. Archived from the original on August 18, 2008.
  17. ^ "People's Daily Online - O'Neal the real deal as Li-Ning goes global". English.peopledaily.com.cn. 2006-08-15. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  18. ^ "Shaq signs shoe deal with Chinese company Li-Ning - NBA - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2006-08-15. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  19. ^ "Shaq signs with China-based apparel company - NBA- NBC Sports". MSNBC. 2006-08-15. Archived from the original on 2006-08-26. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  20. ^ "Dwyane Wade signs shoe deal with Li-Ning worth $10 million". FanSided. 2012-10-13. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  21. ^ https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-basketball-nba/basketballs-nba-under-fire-in-china-at-home-over-hk-protest-tweet-idUSKCN1WL04T?il=0
  22. ^ https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/li-ning-has-big-plans-for-india/41648
  23. ^ https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/p-v-sindhu-signs-approx-50-crore-deal-with-li-ning/articleshow/67899158.cms#:~:text=Sindhu%2C%20the%20first%20Indian%20woman,in%20equipment%20supply%20till%202023
  24. ^ https://www.livemint.com/Sports/Uge38LoJIXf0E5HRSaktXN/Shuttler-Kidambi-Srikanth-signs-4year-deal-with-LiNing.html
  25. ^ "Dirty Laundry: the toxic secret behind global textile brands" (PDF). Greenpeace.

External links[]

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