Every month the Customer Loyalty WOW team selects a new “Core Value of the Month”. For January that core value was Embrace and Drive Change. Well, befitting our witty group, we decided to take that core value quite literally and held a contest tasking each team with designing a piggy bank.

At the end of the allotted time a first, second and third place winner was chosen for the coolest and most original piggy banks. Don't think that these ultra-cool piggy banks were just for show, however, because a secondary contest was held to see who could fill up their piggy bank with the most change, to be donated to the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. Thank you CLT, for showing that our generous spirit shines even in the midst of our fun. Now, on to the winners!

First Place – The Business Units (Rena Dotson's team) with the Couch Bank

Second Place – Jean Dunning's Team with the Jean's Bank (woo hoo, love the irony there)

Third Place – Noel Benoit's Team with the Ham Bank (looks yummy)

Charity Winner – Atrell Learson - Johnson's Team with a total of $26.68 donated to their piggy bank!

All of the piggy banks looked great and it was hard to pick the winners, but in the end we were all winners. Great job everyone!

Happy Monday and welcome to a new episode of Things on my Desk. Today we explore the desk of Jackie M. from our Customer Loyalty Kid's Business Unit.

Our CLT members are the true voice of Zappos when it comes to our customers. While we are unable to service our customers face-to-face, I started thinking it would be nice to put a face with a name and a voice! Ricki M. from the Comfort CLT business unit was kind enough to participate in a short Q & A. Please find her responses below:



Question: What are a few of the exciting things you have done this summer?

Ricki: "I'm hoping I haven't done them yet."

Question: What do you do to relax?

Ricki: "Read, play video games, visit casinos to play slot machines, and sometimes Bingo. Basically, I spend my life in front of one terminal or another."

Question: What is the craziest question you have been asked by a customer?

Ricki: "Four years ago, I was on vacation in Florida and I went into this little shoe store somewhere south of Miami. They had these shoes that were pink with a bow on top. Do you have them?"

Question: What is your favorite thing to watch during the summer Olympics?

Ricki: "HGTV on another channel"

Question: What are your top 5 favorite songs currently?

Ricki: "I'm a huge jazz fan, so it's never the song, but the rendition, that makes it a favorite, or not a favorite."

Question: What is your favorite Core Value (and why)?

Ricki: "Deliver WOW Through Service. If we didn't have that one, there'd be little reason for the other nine."

Question: What is your favorite part about working for Zappos?

Ricki: "The relaxed atmosphere, lack of drama, friendly people, and the ability to do what it takes to make the customers happy."

Do you have any questions for Ricki or any of our other CLT members? Comment below!

This is the third installment of Q&A with the CLT business units. We have previously interviewed our Kids team CLT group and the Outdoor team. This week features the candid responses of our Running CLT business unit!



From the left: Renea W. and Eleni D.

Question: Why are you passionate about running?

Renea: "Oddly enough, I'm not much of a runner these days. I'm more into cross training, hip hop-zumba classes, and playing volleyball."

Eleni: "Running gives people a sense of accomplishment. No matter how bad of a day they've had or what's going on in their life, after running a couple miles or even just 1, they can say that they have completed a goal. My mom who is 62 and she participated in and completed the Full Zappos.com Las Vegas Marathon last year. Although her body hurt afterwards, she was so proud of herself for finishing that she hasn't stopped talking about it."

Question: Other than running competitively or for exercise purposes, when have you run the fastest?

Renea: "The last time I ran real fast was back in the '80's (high school track). I was running from a girl who eventually passed me and kicked my butt in the race! My track career was
officially over at that point!"

Eleni: "I was walking with a friend when, from out of nowhere, a big giant horse looking dog started coming towards us and started barking. I pushed my friend in front of the dog and took off. All that dog saw was my dust!!! Sorry Lakisha, but somebody had to go for help!!" :)

Question: If you had to choose between being able to run and being
able to fly, which would you choose?

Renea: "I would rather fly because (a) I wouldn't be stuck in traffic, (b) driving is so overrated (everybody's doing it, and not very well!), (c) it would give me a greater sense of freedom and (d) I would save a ton of money on airline tickets and gas!"

Eleni: "I would definitely have to say Run. I would need a cape to fly. It's not a good thing to have when there are planes and elevators or big fans around. As Edna Mode from "The Incredibles" said "No Capes"!!"

Question: What are you most excited about now that summer
has arrived?

Renea: "The fact that I'm going back home for a week (Alaska) and won't have to deal with 100 degree temperature!"

Eleni: "Sending the kids out of town! WOO HOO!! Momma loves you but I need a break!!!"

Question: What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?

Renea: "People asking questions they already know the answer to, the SLOW clap, and drivers talking on their cell phones.

Eleni: "People who order cheeseburgers & then say with "no
cheese"(what!?!?!), patting me on my head, and Kool-Aid with only one
cup of sugar in it...YUCK!!

Question: Which summer blockbuster movies are you most excited to
see?

Renea: "There are a few...Sex and the City, Indiana Jones, and Iron Man."

Eleni: "Kung FU Panda, Wanted, and THE HULK!!"

Question: What are your top 5 songs for the summer?

Renea: "I don't really have any favorites...anything with a good beat!"

Eleni: "(1)"HONEY" by Erykah Badu, 2)"THE RIVER" by Noel Gourdin,(3)"CUSTOMER" by Raheem Devaughn,(4)"SUMMERTIME IN THE LBC" by The Dove Shack, and (5) Any oldies song between the years '72-78 (The Isley Brothers mainly)."

Question: What do you love most about your job?

Renea: "The laid back atmosphere, the people I work with, the "culture" and being one of the first people to see the catered lunch carts go
by!" :)

Eleni: "Everything! The ATMOSPHERE IS OFF DA HOOK!! The vendors are friendly, and ALL of my co-workers rock!!!"

This is the second installment of Q&A with the CLT business units. The first post happened last week when I picked the brains of the Kids team CLT group. This week features the candid responses of our Outdoor CLT business unit!

Read on to live vicariously through the exciting experiences of William B, Lacy J, and Max M!

From left: William B, Max M, Lacy J

Question: What is the most exhilarating outdoor activity you have done?

William: "Scuba diving."

Lacy: "Rock climbing. There is no comparison."

Max: “There are too many times that I could mention and go on and on... but basically anything outdoors.”

Question: Our customers do a lot of shopping in preparation for upcoming trips. Have they ever shared a trip with you that you were totally jealous of? If so, where were they going?

William: “To Patagonia for four weeks. I was way jealous of that.”

Lacy: “This actually happens everyday. Yesterday I spoke to a mountaineer that's climbing Grand Cathedral in the Tetons this summer. I was born a couple miles from there, so I'm a little biased, but they're some of the most beautiful mountains in the world! I'm not usually the alpine mountaineering type, glaciers scare me, but even I would like to see the world from the top of Grand Cathedral. I've talked to people going to Kilimanjaro, the Alps, and even a couple to Everest and some of the other Seven Summits. I've also talked to rock climbers going to Thailand, South Africa, Madagascar, South America, Europe, etc. I can't go a day without wishing a customer could take me along with them!”

Max: “Some customers taking trips overseas, to Italy, or the one guy who was going to hike across Europe for 2 months.”

Question: What is the craziest animal you have come across in your outdoor journeys?

William: “A giant eagle ray while I was scuba diving. The thing had to be three times my size, it was HUGE. I was both terribly scared and excited at the same time.”

Lacy: “I seem to be a wildlife magnet, so this is hard. But there is a refuge in Jackson, WY where the buffalo can roam and graze freely. You can also drive through this refuge and take a look. I have a picture of a 3-4 year old bull crossing the road, 10 feet from the front bumper of my car. No matter how many times I go see the herd, being that close to such a giant wild animal is a major thrill. And when your little car is surrounded my a hundred of them snorting and grunting and doing their buffalo business...well... let’s just say it's crazy.”

Max: “I saw a panther on the beach in Guam. While on vacation, I was walking on the beach, just as the sun was setting, and I saw what looked like a large dog on the beach. He was with his trainers. So it wasn't exactly a wild animal, but I was walking very close before I realized what it was.”

Question: What 5 items would you pack if you were going to be stranded in the desert for a month?

William: “Flint/Clothing /Jerky /Fresh Water /A signaling device”

Lacy: "Nutrogena Full Spectrum SPF 85/Therm-a Rest mattress/Gerber multi-tool with a decent blade and a shovel attachment/Topo map of the area/Snake tongs or a .22 rifle.”

Max: “Enoughwater/Shelter/Food/Map/Compass.”

Question: Would you rather be stranded on a remote island or lost in the mountains?

William: “I would rather be lost in the mountains because you can - eventually - find your way out of the mountains. On an island you can’t get past the ocean. There is also more potential food and fresh water in the mountains.”

Lacy: “That would depend entirely on the specific island or the mountains I had to choose from. I've seen examples of both that I would be perfectly happy on and could survive on easily enough, and I've also seen examples of each that would kill me in a day. Tropical Islands are okay, Desert Islands are not. The Northern Sierras I could handle, but I would freeze to death in the Himalayas in the first 24 hours. I'd pick whichever one had more stable, temperate weather conditions, lots of available food and fresh water, and potential shelter.”

Max: “I would rather be stranded in the mountains. I don't think I'm that good at building boats... yet! But I sure can hike!”

Question: What is the most common question asked by our customers?

William: “How does this shoe run?”

Lacy: “It varies by season and also by degree of activity. We have hard core customers and casual customers. Right now a lot of casual customers are looking for hydrophobic shoes and sandals, while the hard core folks are looking for backpacking and mountaineering boots. In the winter we get lots of calls for Sorel bootliners and "fashionable" winter boots that will keep your feet warm in -60 degree weather. Haha.”

Max: “Most customers want to know how different shoes, boots, or sandals fit.”

Question: What was your favorite outdoor activity as a kid?

William: “Riding my bicycle and seeing the ocean.”

Lacy: “Horse Camping. It basically involves riding your horse out to the most remote location you can find, and camping there. You can fish and hunt at the same time. It's like backpacking, but with a horse to help carry stuff.”

Max: “Riding bikes.”

Question: What do you love most about your job?

William: “That it happens to be at Zappos.com!”

Lacy: “Product testing! I feel so fortunate to work for the lifestyle department that embodies my lifestyle. I shop on Outdoor.zappos.com constantly! Because I love the lifestyle, I also love the product, buying it and using it. A few minutes ago a lady called for help finding rock shoes for her son, who is just learning. I was able to make several recommendations based on actual hands-on experience. I am also a beginner and have tried several of the styles on our site. I was able to give her real life evaluations and personal experience to help her decide. Customers really appreciate it when I can relate to their situation and they enjoy talking about the activities they love with someone who understands and relates. It makes their experience and mine much more enjoyable. Instead of work, it's just a nice day talking to people about the activities, places and products we love.”

Max: “Being able to help our customers!”