More than 50 years ago, an iconic brand was launched that would one day blanket the globe and create a legacy of quality products that transcended borders and cultures. Shortly after turning professional in 1962, golf icon Jack Nicklaus was asked to create a logo for an apparel line that captured the drive and competitive spirit of this up-and-coming talent—a talent that would one day rewrite the
pages of sports history. The search for the right logo brought up an incident that played out just months earlier during an exhibition in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne Age sportswriter Don Lawrence was observing the young Nicklaus on the course when he was asked what he thought of the young star. Lawrence responded by saying Nicklaus looked like a “big cuddly, golden bear.”
When Jack’s wife Barbara saw this in the morning newspaper, she turned to her husband and said “That’s it! After all, he was a Golden Bear long before he earned the serendipitous nickname. Nicklaus was a multi-sport star growing up and actually played basketball and golf for the Upper Arlington (Ohio) High School Golden Bears. Soon was born one of sports most endearing, enduring and iconic nicknames. And it was the genesis to a 50-year mainstay in the apparel industry. As the Jack Nicklaus name and Golden Bear logo entered the apparel industry, it stimulated a business in casual wear; sportswear; tailored jackets, suits and slacks; and women’s apparel. After its launch in North America, the apparel collection quickly expanded to Asia in 1964. The lifestyle collections rapidly expanded to Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and India. In fact, today, the Jack Nicklaus brand and Golden Bear-logoed apparel in Asia makes up over 80% of the collection’s overall sales, netting over $250 million each year. The brand has also expanded to Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, South Africa, and other markets. The lifestyle collection is widely sold through department stores and specialty shops in markets around the world. There are many layers to Jack Nicklaus: the professional golfer, the world-renowned course designer, the philanthropist, and the businessman. As Jack’s business and personal interests grew, so did his brand. Today, Jack Nicklaus-branded lifestyle product categories include wine; home goods; furniture; flooring; eyewear; umbrellas; luggage; restaurants; beverages; footwear; towels; residential communities; and real estate. The man behind the brand continues to inspire the growing Jack Nicklaus lifestyle business around the world.
