Adi Dassler of Adidas
Some of today’s most well-known brands had humble beginnings, and no one exemplifies this more than Adidas founder Adolf “Adi” Dassler.
Adolf “Adi” Dassler (3 November 1900 – 6 September 1978) became a German cobbler, inventor, and entrepreneur who founded the German sportswear agency Adidas. He becomes additionally the younger brother of Rudolf Dassler, founder of Puma.
Dassler become an innovator in athletic shoe design and one of the early promoters who received endorsements from athletes to force the sale of his merchandise. As a result of his standards, Adi Dassler built the biggest manufacturer of sports clothing and equipment. At the time of his demise, Adidas had 17 factories and annual sales of 1 billion marks.
Dassler began his shoemaking career in his mother’s lavatory in a small Bavarian village. Dassler began designing and cobbling shoes there, deciding he wanted to develop the best possible sports shoe for players.
While there were many shoemakers at the time, Dassler was keen to distinguish by soliciting athlete opinion on what they wanted in a shoe, what pain points could be improved, and how they felt about his early models.
This feedback enabled Dassler to create an athletic shoe that was highly regarded by his consumers and provided him with credibility when, at the age of 49, he registered “Adi Dassler Adidas Sportschuhfabrik.” The first sneaker with the soon-to-be-signature Adidas three stripes was registered that same year.
Dassler’s aim to produce the best shoe for sportsmen was realized in 1954 when the German national football team defeated the Hungarians in the World Cup final while wearing the new Adidas cleats.
“Their incredible victory could be heard throughout the world for decades to come,” Adidas says on its website, “and it made Adidas and its creator a household brand on football fields everywhere.”
Adidas has since developed into an international brand known for high-quality athletic apparel. Dassler’s narrative emphasizes the significance of asking potential customers about their hopes, desires, and pain concerns.
“Adi Dassler’s secret to success included an additional personal ingredient: He interacted with athletes, carefully listened to what they said, and continually observed what may be improved or even invented to fulfill their needs,” according to Adidas website. “From the outset, the best of the best trusted Adidas and its founder.”
