Nike sales surge following Kaepernick ad campaign

The Nike logo.

Sales in Nike has surged 31 percent in the bank holiday weekend following the release of the new campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick is the new face of the sports brand who both praised and denounced for his activism against police brutality and racism.

According to the researcher Edison Trends, sales increased following the controversial campaign.

“Online sales actually grew 31 percent from the Sunday of Labor Day weekend through Tuesday, as compared with a 17 percent gain recorded for the same period of 2017, according to San Francisco–based Edison Trends,” said a new report from Market Watch. 

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Edison Trends co-founder, Hetal Pandya, said: “There was speculation that the Nike/Kaepernick campaign would lead to a drop in sales, but our data over the last week does not support that theory.”

Donald Trump is not a fan of the football star who in 2016 refused to stand for the national anthem n protest at police brutality and racism.

The US President called players who “disrespect” the US flag “sons of bitches”.

When the sports brand announced the deal, Nike said Kaepernick was “one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation”.

Following the announcement, images of Nike consumers burning their items were uploaded in protest to the move.

“Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts,” Trump said.”I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way?”

“As far as the NFL is concerned, I just find it hard to watch, and always will, until they stand for the FLAG!”

In support of the campaign, Serena Williams, who is also part of the campaign, praised the decision.

Williams said the decision to use Kaepernick a “powerful statement to a lot of other companies”.

Shares in Nike (NYSE: NKE) closed September 10 at 80,30 (1349GMT).