Ralph Lauren — born Ralph Ruben Lifshitz from the Bronx, New York — before he became famous and had a flagship in a historic mansion on 72nd Street and Madison Avenue, had a powerful fashion vision that he would one day be the guardian of the all-American dream. To him that dream involved, relaxed elegance, lush locales and polo ponies, apparent by the Polo horse and rider logo he is now known for. But before Ralph entered into the fashion industry he pursued a degree in business science (how better to know how to run one’s business?) as well as served his country with stint in the army. Clearly these steps were a wise decision towards cementing his future in fashion as we know it today. Lauren, who did not have any formal fashion design training, is a perfect example of the American dream: with confidence, will power, persistence and business saavy, one can achieve anything.

From the tiny tie shop first opened in 1967 to the multi-tiered empire of today, the chic, preppy look has evolved into complementary sportswear, casual wear, luxury lifestyle and home furnishings business that is still an American favorite. His shoes for men and women continue to be considered classics are always on the favorite must-have list of Couture. The Ralph Lauren Collection Ranna and Abbie for women and the Ralph Lauren Collection Garson and Danilo for men are to die for. Find these shoes, along with the rest of his collection, on Couture.Zappos.com .

Attention! Attention! Read all about it! Zappos is being invaded by robots!

Okay, well maybe we’re not being invaded but we still have them, which is cool nonetheless. If you haven’t heard, Zappos.com is now running the new KIVA system. We are one of the first few companies in the United States to have them in our facility. For those who don’t know what KIVA is exactly, they are multiple robot units that actually bring storage shelves to a team member’s station to be filled with product. They also bring the shelves to a team member who needs to pick a product to be shipped to a customer. Based on the information you enter into the computer about the sizes and type of product you need to put away or pick, the robots bring you the appropriate shelves. Right now there are only a few employees working with them in order to make sure everything runs properly and smoothly. After about a week or so of working with the KIVA system, this is what a couple employees had to say about it:

“Our first day in KIVA was really exciting. We learned what does and doesn’t belong in the pods and which pods to use for specific items. The pods have certain areas for small and large purses/wallets, small shoes, and even designated spots for watches and hats. It makes everything so much more organized and easier to not only put away but also to pick.” – -Suzanne B.

“KIVA definitely makes my job easier. It gets really hot in the warehouse and after a full day of walking back and forth between floors and pushing a cart, you’re ready to fall over. I love the KIVA robots because they do all the work. It not only helps me keep my energy, it lets me keep my same fast pace throughout the whole night.” – Beth W.

Based on the feedback from the employees and the progress of the KIVA system itself, it is believed that our receiving and shipping processes have broke new grounds in getting new products and pleasing the customers. Looks like we even deliver WOW to ourselves. This is just a glimpse of what the future will hold for us at Zappos.com. Keep checking back for more updates about the KIVA system and all the little critters.

All ready to go!

Our very own Chris M. checking out the Picking process.

The beautiful overlook of the robot village.

Most children love to jump, climb, run, and crawl. Combining them all together can make for a fun experience, especially when adding even more physical challenges. What I am I talking about? I’m discussing building obstacle courses for kids.

Most children love to jump, climb, run and crawl. Combining them all together can make for a fun experience, especially when adding even more physical challenges. What am I talking about? I’m discussing building obstacle courses for kids. Many obstacle courses are fairly easy to make and can provide a great deal of entertainment and exercise.

Getting some children to exercise can be a chore for parents and physical education teachers, but it doesn’t have to be. Combining exercise with fun is the best way to get those kids in shape. Who says exercise has to feel like a chore? In fact, any good exercise routine is one that is enjoyable. Enjoyment brings the likelihood of repeating the exercise often.

Designing and building obstacle courses may sound hard, but it really isn’t (unless you’re talking about large gym equipment, which isn’t always necessary). Instead, gathering a few fun items and combining them to make a fun obstacle course is a more practical way of doing this. This physical activity can be done at home or at school. A little bonus to this activity is that the parent or teacher who sets up the activity will get a small workout in doing so. Let the kids help and they get even more physical movement added to their day.

Some things I would suggest for building obstacle courses for kids are tires (without the rims), cones, hula hoop stations, jump rope stations, a basketball hoop, hopscotch and maybe some hurdles. The items can vary, depending on ages and fitness level, but the basic idea is to create a variety of activities that the children have to perform in a row in order to complete the obstacle course.

Smaller kids could simply run back and forth through cones. The next age group could do the cones, as well as the tires, and perhaps the hula hoops or jump ropes. Basically, as the age group grows, so should the intensity of the obstacle courses you are building. Make sure to keep in mind not only the age group, but the physical fitness levels of the kids.

As with any physical activity, it is important to follow safety rules when utilizing these obstacle courses. Other than that, the only warning I would give is to parents and teachers: be careful, because kids might request this one often.