Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images; Rachel Mendelson/Insider
- Adidas announced an endorsement deal with Kanye West in November 2013.
- By 2019, Adidas sales of his Yeezy brand eclipsed $1 billion annually.
- In October, in the wake of antisemitic comments, Adidas ended the partnership.
In November 2013, Adidas sales in North America, the most critical territory for sportswear sales, were down 1% for the year. Across the company, sales were flat.
The company had just five shoes on the influential Complex list of best 50 sneakers of 2013. Industry leader Nike had 30 shoes on the list and had just reported an 8% annual sales increase.