The Finance team organized a department wide potluck dinner in the style of "The Pilgrim Supper" . We decided to check it out and see what was on the menu, and maybe do a little taste testing as well! Great job of exuding core value #7 Finance team!

The Zappos Outlet Store set a record of $500,000 in sales for the month of October, and celebrated this week with a surprise team party on Wednesday, November 11th. The team was treated to breakfast from Panera Bread, as the managers dressed in 70's costumes, presented each team member with Stress Relief Kits and gift certificates to the store, all to the theme of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration!".

Sue Maurer, Outlet Assistant Manager, commented on how awesome the team has been at displaying Core Value #2: Embrace and Drive Change

"The Outlet Store has been transformed since August with the help of our Fulfillment Center friends! We have increased our display capacity on the sales floor and our back stock area by at least 30%. We have also changed our pricing structure and have increased our marketing efforts in order to pump up the volume of our sales. Our team has definitely driven and embraced the many changes that have come our way over the past few months and their dedication has paid off in a big way! Special thanks to our fellow team members in Finance, IT, Maintenance, and all of the people in the FC who have helped us with their expertise!"

Jeneen is known around the office for being funny and easy to get along with, but she has just earned the merit badge for giving free gourmet coffee to her coworkers. She has not only shown that she can motivate her team, but has also proven that coffee can bring people together !

When it comes to Customer Loyalty, Jeanne Bliss knows when it's being done right, or even done wrong. Her new book "I Love You More Than My Dog" is all about companies that use Customer Service as a tool to gain and retain customers. Tony tells Jeanne how the Zappos Core Values came about, and how they have helped to drive and amplify the Zappos culture.

We've been talking about the HR team's big game show outing for the past few weeks, and last Wednesday we had a viewing party. Here's a little video and interview we put together that we feel is an excellent representation of our culture, and Core Value #7.

These three Zapponians are known for their Flow.

They want to break it off so we're gonna let it go.

It's true they love to wow in a major way.

That's why they keep the job that the work in the day.

Adrian M. - Funky Cold
Rian C. - Rhino
Graham K - G - Money

Melissa L. is not only a blogging queen, she also knows how to do more with less! Today armed with only a bicycle, a computer, a piece of scratch paper, 2 rubber bands, an ink pen, an internet connection and the ability to write and read, Melissa creates a GPS system for a bicycle!

In the age of Lightning fast internet and HD television, it's easy to forget the ultimate family and friend uniter – The board game! There are too many to name, but please feel free to try!

What's your favorite board game?

We are happy to announce that our Customer Loyalty lead Jean D. has implemented the Internet Vendor Mentor program. This new program allows our vendors the opportunity to listen in on phone calls from our customers regarding questions about their respective categories. For example, if one of our rideshop vendors wants to hear questions that our customers are asking about skate shoes, they can sit in with representatives of our rideshop business unit. We currently have 5 business units: Kids, Outdoor, Running, Comfort and Rideshop.

Great job, Jean!

KY Content sponsored the Safety Core Value activity in July with hosting the first Safety Idol at the Kentucky location. The focus was to incorporate fun and a little weirdness, and increase the awareness of safety in the fulfillment center.
To enter the contest, teams of up to four employees, were faced with the challenge of putting safety topics in the flow of a rap…...which had to include the word HOOPLA!

HOOPLA is:
H - Healthy work habits equal Healthy Employees!

O - Observing the Core Values!

O - Organization that empowers individuals to be an active part of Safety!

P - Personal Protective Equipment!

L - Learning about Safety is Fun!

A - Awareness is the key to Success!

With a unanimous vote, Andrew Kim, Jimmy Music and Nick Catt, won the Safety Idol and also appeared live and presented their new hit single HOOPLA at the all hands meeting in July. The room rocked and gave a standing ovation at the completion of the rap performance, which was the opening act for Tony, Alfred and Fred to then address the group.

Way to go, Fellas!


written by: Leah Morris

Zappos has 10 Core Values that affect everything we do here at the office. We use these as part of our hiring process, in the way we deal with our customers, the way we treat vendors and also in the way we deal with other employees and everyone that comes through our office. You could say it's just a part of our way of life here at Zappos.

Here at Zappos, our employees are not only empowered to do whatever it takes to take care of our customers, but they are also encouraged to give feedback and show appreciation to fellow employees. The core value trinket program is just one of the ways we can congratulate a co-worker on a job well done.

What's more fun than good old fashioned fried chicken, potato salad, corn hole games and a badminton match? Add a water balloon fight and the chance of getting struck by lighting and you've got the quarterly KY Content team outing!! Members of the photo, imaging, video and styling teams at the Zappos fulfillment center in Shepherdsville, KY ventured out into what looked like sunshine for an afternoon of fun, food and games at Bernheim Forest. Though we were rained out in the end, we left with full bellies, smiles and another team photo to add to our scrapbooks. See you in Quarter 3 everyone!



written by: Laura S.
photo by: Michele K.

Blue hair spray and Face painting?... Spirit Sticks?... Cheer contests and fake tattoos?... Where are we, at summer camp?

No, this is spirit week at Zappos.com... didn't see that one coming did ya?



When I started here 2 years ago, I walked into an environment that I had never been around before. I was surrounded by people who enjoyed being at work. Within a month, I was hooked, not only on the culture, spirit, and values of Zappos, but on the happiness I felt when I went home. Still to this day I feel the same way. Spirit week to me isn't only a week out of the year.... it lasts the whole year. As of June 28th, I became B1 singles Lead.... I never would have been motivated enough to go for a lead position if it hadn't been for the spirit and culture of Zappos pulsing through me, and THAT'S A FACT!!!!

written by: Michael B.

At Zappos, we are always finding ways to have a little fun around the office. Of course having "create fun and a little weirdness" as one of our core values, we can only expect employees to play practical jokes on each other. Our Help Desk team decided it would be fun to send each other a little present that they found.

Heaven thought it was a bit strange that she received an extra Zappos box with her order, but she went ahead and opened it anyway. I'm sure she's going to come up with something good to get them back.

Here at Zappos, our KY Content coordinates monthly team-building activities to Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit. We are quite the large group, but we go above and beyond to try to stay close to one another despite this fact! Events have included cupcake-eating contests, water balloon fights, cornhole tournaments, extreme Jenga and cream-pie Supervisor target practice...among many others.

When my turn came up to coordinate a team building exercise, I decided to try and do something a little different. I have played guitar for many years, so, with that in mind, I decided to serenade my co-workers and grace them with the gift of song.

So we decided to have a sing-along with the entire department. Basically, I picked a few songs that I think everyone knows (plus a couple of my personal favorites), put together a set list - ranging from Johnny Cash to The Smiths - brought in my acoustic guitar, handed out lyric sheets and gave it a go.

The audience was receptive and sang the words right back at me...so, all in all, this was a success! If anything, I think I did manage to do something that was memorable considering all of the random, amusing things that occur here pretty much on a daily basis.



written by: Alex M.
photos by: Lynn G.