Valleywag: Zappos

Why outsource when you can replace humans entirely?

Jackson West — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:40:00 PDT

When online shoe retailer Zappos isn't paying newly trained employees to leave the company, it's replacing them entirely. Robots developed by Kiva Systems zip around a Zappos warehouse picking up items and deliver them to their meatbag underlings for packing, and then move the packages to another small group of primates where the boxes are shipped. The only problem I foresee is that the robots have wheels, so when they inevitably take over, they won't be buying any shoes from Zappos. [CNET]

Zappos advertising in some unexpected places

Jackson West — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:40:00 PDT

Las Vegas-based e-tailer Zappos, which prides itself on innovative management techniques like paying new hires to leave, is also an "innovator" in the advertising space. Not for the company's TV ads, but for leveraging the post-9/11 security landcape to get the word out. "When I'm coming through security I know that it can be frustrating and this is to provide a little lightheartedness," senior marketing manager Andy Kurlander said of the ad-buy for space in the buckets used by travelers to feed shoes and other items through the x-ray machine. The company should also consider a market which can only buy mail-order that's an even more captive audience: Prisoners. Heck, they could order new kicks straight from a Microsoft TouchWall.

Why Zappos pays new hires to leave

Jackson West — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:00:00 PDT

Zappos, the Nevada-based online shoe and accessories retailer, has an interesting twist on new-hire bonuses. After applying and being chosen for a job, employees get a month of paid training. Then they're offered $1,000 to leave. It's a test of commitment, meant to see if money is what matters to workers. The amount offered has risen from an initial $100 and could grow even more. Only 1 in 10 take the offer, according to CEO Tony Hsieh, and the company now employs approximately 1,600 who passed the test. Our question is, would you take the money and run or stick around to sell shoes?

(Photo by Nate Ritter)

Handvertising is the new banner ad

Jackson West — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:00:00 PDT

An impromptu "Tweetup" at Medjool from the online shoe salesfolk at Zappos lured reporter Sarah Lacy out to Medjool. The promise: free booze if you promoted the website with a backhanded mention. Can you suggest a better caption? Do so in the comments. Yesterday's winner: "This picture brought to you by Seagate" by Duncan. (Photo by Scott Beale)