Amazon acquired the online shoe retailer Zappos in 2009 for about $1.2 billion.
Zappos was founded in 1999 by Nick Swinmurn and became known for selling shoes online with a strong emphasis on customer service. Its name came from “zapatos,” the Spanish word for shoes. The company expanded beyond footwear into clothing and accessories, but shoes remained its defining category.
Amazon announced the acquisition in July 2009, and the deal was completed later that year. Zappos continued operating as a distinct brand rather than disappearing into Amazon’s main retail website. Tony Hsieh, who had helped build Zappos into a customer-service-focused company, remained involved after the acquisition.
The deal is often remembered as an example of Amazon buying a successful internet retailer while preserving its separate culture. It is different from Amazon’s later acquisition of Whole Foods Market, a supermarket chain bought in 2017. Zappos remains associated primarily with online footwear and its service-oriented business model.