Zappos

Tony sold his company, LinkExchange, to Microsoft for $268 million in 1998 due to its deteriorating company culture.

Nick Swinwurn conceives the concept of launching an online shoe store named ShoeSite.com.

Nick Swinwurn secures a $500,000 investment from entrepreneur Tony Hsieh for the company.

In July 1999, the online shoe retailer ShoeSite.com changed its name to Zappos.com. The new name was derived from the Spanish word 'Zapatos,' which means 'shoes.' Despite the rebranding, the company's gross sales remained minimal.

On January 1, 2000, Tony Hsieh was named as the Co-CEO of Zappos. This move marked a significant leadership change within the company, showcasing Hsieh's increasing role in shaping Zappos' future.

Footwear News features a section called 'Shoe Bytes' written by Maryann LoRusso.

Jessica Materna's article in San Francisco Business Times discusses the search for the perfect shoe.

David P. Mullins writes about 'Click Backs' in Footwear News.

An article in Footwear News discusses how Zappos is demonstrating potential in the uncertain world of online retail.

On December 1, 2001, Zappos' gross sales hit $8.6 million, marking a significant milestone in the company's financial success.

On July 1, 2002, Zappos focused on expanding its inventory to meet the growing demand for its products, indicating strategic business growth.

In March 2003, Zappos took on its own inventory by opening a fulfillment center in Kentucky, marking a significant step in the company's operations.

Natalie Zmuda's article in Footwear News discusses how retailers are enhancing their online strategies.

In March 2004, Zappos relocated its headquarters from San Francisco to Henderson, Nevada, where it continues to operate. The move was accompanied by an investment from Sequoia Capital.

On June 1, 2004, Zappos opened its first outlet store in Kentucky, marking a new chapter in the company's retail strategy.

In December 2004, Zappos released its inaugural 'Culture Book' featuring contributions from employees that shed light on the company's corporate culture.

By the end of 2004, Zappos achieved a significant milestone with $184 million in gross sales, showcasing the company's growing success in the retail market.

On January 1, 2005, Alfred Lin assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer at Zappos, bringing his expertise to further strengthen the company's financial management.

Lucie Muir's piece in International Herald Tribune talks about the progress of online footwear companies.

On March 1, 2005, Sequoia provided a second round of investment amounting to $35 million in total for Hsieh's e-tailer.

Richard Waters' piece in Financial Times explores the journey to success in online footwear retail.

Zappos introduces quit-now bonuses of $100 to new hires who want to leave after training, which has now increased to $2,000.

Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos, announces that Nick Swinmurn, the founder of Zappos, is leaving the company in March 2006.

Zappos achieves $597 million in gross sales by the end of 2006.

On May 1, 2007, Zappos launched its Canadian website, expanding its reach to Canadian customers.

Zappos expanded its product line on July 1, 2007, by adding new categories such as handbags, eyewear, clothing, kids merchandise, and watches.

By December 31, 2007, Zappos achieved $840 million in gross sales, marking a significant milestone in its financial performance.

On March 1, 2008, Zappos launched a TV ad campaign to promote its brand and products to a wider audience.

Zappos launches its initial television advertising campaign with the slogan 'Put a Little Zappos in Your Day.'

Zappos reduces its workforce by 8% through layoffs in November 2008.

Zappos launches ZapposInsights.com, a subscription service where businesses can learn from its success and ask questions to current employees.

Fortune Magazine ranks Zappos as the 23rd best company to work for in its annual list.

In 2009, Amazon announced the acquisition of Zappos for $940 million in a stock and cash deal. This move allowed Zappos to continue operating as an independent entity under Amazon's ownership.

In 2010, shoes made up approximately 80% of Zappos' business, showcasing their initial emphasis on footwear products.

On January 16, 2012, Zappos reported a hacking incident that compromised the personal information of 24 million customers. This led to a class action lawsuit and raised concerns about data security.

In June 2012, Zappos announced the transfer of operations of its Kentucky warehouse to Amazon, which was completed on September 1, 2012. The warehouse continued to operate as the 6pm Outlet under Amazon's management.

In September 2013, Zappos relocated their headquarters from Henderson, Nevada, to the former Las Vegas City Hall building in downtown Las Vegas. CEO Tony Hsieh aimed to create a work environment where work and play seamlessly blend together.

Zappos adopts Chattermill, an AI-powered sentiment tracker, to analyze customer feedback and improve resource allocation based on customer voice.

On August 24, 2020, Tony Hsieh stepped down as CEO of Zappos after leading the company for 21 years. COO Kedar Deshpande succeeded him as the new CEO.

On November 27, 2020, Tony Hsieh tragically died from smoke inhalation in a house fire. His contributions to Zappos and the business world were significant.

Scott Schaefer, Zappos' VP of finance, was appointed as the CEO of Zappos on April 6, 2022, succeeding Kedar Deshpande.