Zappos
Zappos.com LLC is a U.S. direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer of footwear and apparel across men's, women's, and kids' categories, operating zappos.com and a mobile app with 500+ brands under Amazon ownership since 2009.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersLas Vegas, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Zappos does
Zappos.com LLC is a U.S.-based direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer specializing in footwear and apparel, founded in 1999 by Tony Hsieh and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company operates zappos.com and a mobile shopping application, offering shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, and clothing for men, women, and children from more than 500 brands including Nike, HOKA, On Cloud, Birkenstock, New Balance, adidas, Crocs, and UGG. Its product surface is supplemented by the Zappos VIP loyalty program, Amazon Prime account linking, the Zappos Adaptive sub-brand for customers with disabilities, the Zappos / In Motion content platform, and utility tools such as a shoe-size conversion chart and at-home kids' shoe sizer. Zappos does not operate physical retail stores and distributes exclusively online through its own storefront, with fulfillment leveraging Amazon's logistics infrastructure following its 2009 acquisition.
Zappos generates revenue through direct product sales on a transactional unit-pricing model, with promotional discounts ranging from 10% to 50% off MSRP and free shipping plus a 365-day return policy as core purchase incentives. The company has been recognized as a benchmark for customer service and brand recognition in online footwear retail. Since its acquisition by Amazon in 2009 for approximately $1.2 billion, Zappos has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary without separate public financial disclosure, maintaining its brand identity and e-commerce platform while benefiting from Amazon's fulfillment and Prime ecosystem integration. Founder Tony Hsieh remained with the company until his death in November 2020; the company's current CEO is Scott Schaefer.
Zappos firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zappos
- Legal name
- Zappos.com LLC
- Website
- https://zappos.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Zappos.com LLC is a U.S. direct-to-consumer e-commerce retailer of footwear and apparel across men's, women's, and kids' categories, operating zappos.com and a mobile app with 500+ brands under Amazon ownership since 2009.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Zappos is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Las Vegas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Zappos business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Zappos generates revenue through direct product sales of shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, clothing, and accessories across men's, women's, and kids' categories. The platform operates as a third-party retailer selling branded merchandise from vendors including Nike, HOKA, On Cloud, Birkenstock, Crocs, New Balance, adidas, and hundreds of other brands.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing with promotional discounts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Zappos product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zappos is a direct-to-consumer online retailer selling branded shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, clothing, and accessories for men, women, and kids. Orders ship for free with a 365-day return policy, and the platform is complemented by a mobile app, Zappos VIP loyalty program, Amazon Prime integration, and the Zappos Adaptive line for customers with disabilities.
Product overview
Zappos is an online e-commerce retail platform offering shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, and clothing for men, women, and children. The core platform operates as a marketplace featuring hundreds of footwear and apparel brands including Nike, adidas, New Balance, HOKA, On, Birkenstock, Crocs, Sam Edelman, and UGG. The platform is supplemented by a mobile app, VIP loyalty program, and Amazon Prime account linking. Key differentiators include free shipping, 365-day returns, and the Zappos Adaptive program for customers with disabilities. The company also publishes seasonal style guides like the 'Boot Guide' and maintains a content platform called 'Zappos / In Motion' featuring expert picks and performance content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Zappos Adaptive: A sub-brand offering adaptive footwear and clothing for people with disabilities
Products and services
- Zappos E-commerce Platform Direct-to-consumer online retail platform selling branded shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, clothing, and accessories across men's, women's, and kids' categories, with free shipping on all orders and a 365-day returns policy.
- Zappos Mobile App Mobile shopping application for iOS and Android offering a smooth shopping experience, fast checkouts, and easy order tracking for Zappos' footwear and apparel catalog.
- Zappos VIP Loyalty Program Rewards program offering Zappos customers special offers, expedited shipping, and points/rewards on purchases.
- Prime Account Integration Linked-account benefit offering 2x VIP points and exclusive deals when a Zappos account is linked with an Amazon Prime account.
- Zappos Adaptive Specialized retail category offering adaptive footwear and clothing designed for customers with disabilities.
- E-Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase on the Zappos platform, redeemable across its footwear and apparel catalog.
Companies that use Zappos
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Zappos technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Zappos partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- UntuckitminorUntuckit expanded wholesale distribution to include Zappos among retailers such as Nordstrom, Macy's, Von Maur, Amazon, and Stitch Fix. Zappos serves as a third-party retail channel for Untuckit's first comprehensive lifestyle collection under creative director Sarah Hand.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Zappos competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zappos social profiles
Digital presenceZappos financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zappos leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Zappos funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds9 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zappos M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zappos
What does Zappos do?
Zappos is a direct-to-consumer online retailer selling branded shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, clothing, and accessories for men, women, and kids. Orders ship for free with a 365-day return policy, and the platform is complemented by a mobile app, Zappos VIP loyalty program, Amazon Prime integration, and the Zappos Adaptive line for customers with disabilities.
Is Zappos a public or private company?
Zappos is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Zappos founded?
Zappos was founded in 1999. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Zappos based?
Zappos is headquartered in Las Vegas, United States, in the North America region.
How does Zappos make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales.
Does Zappos have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zappos.