Amazon acquired the online shoe retailer Zappos in 2009.
Amazon announced the acquisition in July 2009, and the transaction was completed later that year. The deal was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in Amazon stock and cash.
Zappos was founded in 1999 and became known for selling shoes online, an area that initially required customers to trust an internet retailer with fit, returns and customer service. The company built its reputation partly through an unusually strong customer-service culture and a generous returns policy.
After the acquisition, Zappos continued operating as a separate brand and company based in Las Vegas. The purchase is distinct from Amazon’s later acquisitions of other fashion and apparel businesses, including the 2017 purchase of Souq in the Middle East.