Nike's plan to reach $23 billion in sales

This kind of hit a note when I read it -- Nike reaching for $23 billion in sales by 2011? Now, Nike just doesn't make shoes, but still -- that's a very ambitious target for a new CEO to set. Now the pressure will be on, just like it was with former Dell, Inc. CEO Kevin Rollins, who predicted $80 billion in revenue for the computer maker by 2008 -- which is not going to happen.

The plan? Well, Nike will be adding 100 new company stores worldwide over the next three years as Nike Chief Executive Mark Parker said the strategy is to boost the market for both the company and its retail partners. With that rather large sales goal set for four years from now, Parker said that Nike will have to have a more personalized approach for their individual customers.

That is a very good idea and generally does well for the sales strategy for any company in any industry. Away go the days of a one-size-fits-all approach to customers and in is the customize-to-the-customer approach that customers believe they need from a company...err, partner.

Parker added that Nike will be dividing the brand into six broad categories in addition to the new, personal customer focus: soccer, basketball, running, men's training, women's fitness, and sports culture.