This past week was another round of the Content Team Olympics, hosted by our lovely lead coordinators. To start things off was a fun game of “guess who?” While we ate some awesome food, we all scratched our heads as to what team members did what. Who knew that Nick P. got lost in a cave for 5 hours and should have died (not me)? Out of 38 questions, Dana B. got 10 correct, winning a $25 Target gift card.

The next game to ensue was a hula-hoop relay challenge. Teams paired off into fives, and we all had to release our inner child and get our hula-hoop on. Unfortunately for the majority of us that couldn’t hula-hoop, we had to “chicken strut” our way to the next person. I’m proud to say that team 5 won (my team!), but it was all too hilarious to watch.

Next on the list of games was “Pin the Hat on Rico.” One member from each team was blind-folded, spun around 3 times and let loose to pin that hat! After a dizzying experience, Jen B. for team 4 perfectly positioned her hat and claimed victory.

It came down to the final challenge: dodge ball. Even though it was “waist-down” rules, some players were out for blood. After an intense battle between every team, team 1 and 4 came out on top and it was time to duel it out for the gold. Team 1 came out triumphant, thanks to Matt Burchard’s brutal throwing arm.

It was a super fun picnic with some friendly competition and a lot of laughs. We may not be able to hula-hoop, but you’ll think twice about playing dodge ball against us!

Yesterday Mike F. found out that Burton Snowboards is having a movie premiere this weekend in the Las Vegas/Henderson, Nevada area. He's excited to get autographs, enjoy free food and see the movie, and he's almost just as excited to start snowboarding.

Want to meet the Burton Snowboarding team(as well as Mike F.), see an exclusive screening of their snowboarding film, “The B”, and enjoy some food and drink—all for FREE?

Then come join us at The District this Saturday, 10/3, at 6pm!

Have you ever bought a car sunshade that took you more time to fold than the time that your car will actually be parked out in the sun? Well, the new Zappos.com sunshade, exclusively from the Zappos Zollar Store, is kind of like that...or maybe it's just me.

Our friends at Mizuno came by the office last week to show off their Mobile Running Lab, which houses their signature Precision Fit Machine and every shoe size imaginable. Over 20 Zappos team members received a biomechanical running analysis to valuate several different aspects of their gait, foot arch, posture etc. The purpose of the Precision Fit Machine is to help runners find the perfect Mizuno Running shoe to fit their feet. A big thanks to Mizuno for coming out and helping get us ready for the Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon!

Our Customer Loyalty team would like to thank our Merchandising department, as well as our vendors who participated in this Spring's Expos. We have Expos to show new products to our Team Members who answer emails and phone calls at Zappos.com....Thank you all!

Take it, CLT!

For the 4th year in a row, Zapponians in the Vegas office participated in what has come to be known as Bald, Blue and Beautiful Day. Explain, you ask? That I shall!

Four years ago, while still in the office on Warm Springs, some old timers at Zappos were out having a few beers and the usual madness ensued, which led to a dare concerning a little head-shaving the next day. Let me explain how I assume this most likely came up. Just in case you were not aware, Las Vegas is hot. Sidewalk like a skillet hot. You know that talk you hear about a "dry heat"? Don't listen to that crazy talk. My oven creates a dry heat as well, if you get my drift, yo.

So, let's assume someone was complaining about how it was already 100 degrees in May and how nice a bald head would feel.....take it from there, Mr. Clippers.

Thanks to all who participated!

Jason is now on his way from our Las Vegas office to our Kentucky Distribution Center. Since he was planning on driving all his personal belongings across the country in his car, he had to downsize a little.

In this special edition of "Things on my desk", Jason actually gives away all the things on his desk to his co-workers.

The Merchandise Planning team enjoyed a team event at the new "M Resort" in Henderson. The evening started out with wine tasting at the Hostile Grape followed by dinner at the Studio B buffet. It was a fun filled evening with great friends, food and fine wine and beers. Definitely a recommended way to build team and wine spirits...I mean family spirit with your team :)

16 Zappos employees have invaded Austin and the South by Southwest Interactive Festival! Our CEO, Tony Hsieh, gave the keynote speech on Saturday, and he brought all of us on stage to introduce our card game for SXSWesters, the Zappos 5. The rules are simple: We gave out Zappos playing cards numbered Day 1, 2 and 3. 3 on the first day, 1 card on day 2 and 1 card on day 3. The point of the game is to acquire 5 of a kind, and send them in, take a picture or video, and the person will be entered in a drawing for....drumroll.....a Trip to the home of the Zappos Corporate headquarters, Las Vegas, NV! For all the rules and prizes, go here.

http://www.zappos.com/zappos5

We love Austin and we love SXSW!

Thursday was a very exciting day here at Zappos, we had World Series Of Poker Winner, Phil Hellmuth, in the office for a tour!! Help desk coordinator extroirdannaire, Anne , is an avid poker player and a huge fan of his. Anne plays Texas Hold 'Em throughout the week on the Net and usually every other weekend at the casinos, so today was a HUGE day for her! When Phil came by our row on the tour, Donavon brought him back & introduced her to Phil. I have never seen anyone turn so red in my life!! He was very sweet and took a picture with our own in-house poker star :)

Our CFO/COO, Alfred L., was asked by UPS to spend a day doing the job of a UPS Delivery Worker, and he gladly obliged!

On the last Friday before Christmas, if you live in the Southern Highlands part of Las Vegas, and you had a package delivered by UPS, there is a good chance that Alfred was the one that dropped off your package.

And, since this was a long, hard day of work, Alfred decided to take a dip in a customer's pool at the end of the day to relax. But relaxing is hard when it's 40 degrees outside....don't try this at home, kids.

We captured it all on video...enjoy! Alfred, take it away..........

Yesterday, Las Vegas was hit with a whole lotta snow! As a company, all Zapponians were in a state of complete snow-shock. For many, this might have been their first time to see snowfall of this magnitude, especially for the West-Coasters. There were many a snowball fight and a whole lot of snowmen being built. Our very own Matt W. (resident cinematographer) documented the madness that was the Great Las Vegas Blizzard of 2008 at Zappos Headquarters.

Enjoy!

Z Big Ball of Kentucky was elated to find that someone finally recognized him in the blogosphere; muchas gracias to Maggie M. and her blog post "Who Has the Biggest Ball at Zappos" (http://blogs.zappos.com/blogs/inside-zappos/2008/04/24/who-has-the-biggest-ball-at-zappos).

However, he was also very embarrassed at being *UNDER*-represented at a measly 10 pounds. Z Big Ball is proud to represent his Zappos coworkers in Kentucky with the following stats (as gleefully measured on 4/25/08):

• 302 pounds
• 72 and 3/16 inches in Circumference

I came across a large rubber band ball during a recent visit to our KY fulfillment center, located right at the entrance of the facility. The ball had to weigh at least ten pounds as it definitely required more than a nudge to get it moving! There are extra rubber bands scattered around the ball if any curious suspects want to try and stretch a rubber band around the ball to make it bigger. I shied away from the opportunity as I was too afraid it was going to break and go flying across the room or hit me in the eye!

With competitive balls on the mind, my thoughts wandered to the name badge balls that we have in the lobbies of both of our office locations in Las Vegas. Luckily for the LV employees these balls require no safety provisions. Every visitor of Zappos places his or her name badge on the balls. It all started back in 2004 at our Warm Springs office with one name badge that had been crumbled and left in a large basket. This name badge ball is currently located at our main building and has become so big it needs a bigger basket!

We also have a second Zappos office in Las Vegas where they too have created their own name badge ball. It is less than a year old, so the circumference of this ball pales in comparison to the others. But, if I took actual measurements and did some projections, I would say they are off to a strong start!

This ball thing seems to be a reoccurring theme here at
Zappos so one must ask, “Who has the biggest ball of them all?”



KY Fulfillment Center Ball

2300 Building Badge Ball

2280 Building Badge Ball

In my opinion Kentucky
wins the “Biggest Ball” contest. Please cast your votes.