These days, Zappos.com offers everything from toasters to track suits and watches to wheeled luggage. However, most people know it all started with one product: shoes.
The Delivering Happiness Team was overjoyed to visit one of Zappos.com’s first partners, The Clarks Companies, North America. Aside from sharing an intense love for shoes, employees at The Clarks Company also share the Zappos belief that good company culture and customer service inherently lead to success.
Executive Vice President and CFO Jim Salzano explains, “It’s almost by design that if you care for people, you’re going to be profitable.”
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On a worm farm…where it all began.
by
Amy on
01.04.11
In the first chapter of Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose (page 5), author Tony Hsieh talks about his first entrepreneurial adventure in the worm farm industry. Unfortunately, his $33.45 investment and desire to become the "number one worm seller in the world," didn't pan out exactly as he had anticipated. However, Tony's failed attempt at worm farming at age 9, only sparked his entrepreneurial spirit for the years to come.
In November, the Delivering Happiness Bus Crew returned to where it all began, the worm farm! Since Tony's visit, the Sonoma Valley Worm Farm is under new ownership of Jack Chambers, and the farm has received an upgrade with state-of-the-art equipment. With open arms, Jack and his family welcomed the Delivering Happiness Bus Crew for a day on the farm, which made for one of the most memorable stops on the tour. Watch the video to find out more about the Sonoma Valley Worm Farm and the Delivering Happiness Bus Tour visit.
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Did the Delivering Happiness Bus Start a New Trend of “MicroSXSW” Events?
by
Amy on
12.28.10
Ever wonder where the concept of the Delivering Happiness Bus originated?
Ten days before SXSW 2010, Tony and Jenn were having rice soup at Samovar Tea Lounge in San Francisco, when the topic came up. It was a few months before Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose was due to launch, so they thought it'd be an ideal place to get advance copies out.
After realizing all the venues were all booked and/or over-priced, they started to brainstorm on alternatives. Then it came to them - what do people like least about SXSW? Long lines to get into parties, no cab rides back into town when you need them and no places to charge your phone.
Solution? A baby blue bus with a full bar, iPod plug-in, balloon artist and of course, plugs to charge your phone.
The bus drove up and down the streets of Austin providing rides (and memories) for hundreds of SXSW-goers. You can read more about the Delivering Happiness Bus at SXSW 2010 here: the day two recap, the final wrap-up and our favorite video montage.
According to a recent blog post by Robert Scoble, he challenges the industry to follow Tony's lead with the Delivering Happiness Bus, and host more engaging and memorable "MicroSXSW" events at the upcoming SXSW:
"Kill the big parties. Instead, follow Zappos’ lead. This year they hosted a bus. It could only hold about 30 people (it had its own bar, after all). But the time I spent on that bus is still my favorite experience at SXSW. Why? Because it forced a small handful of people to sit together and talk. Even if it was just for 15 minutes it was nice to have an intimate experience with a small number of other people."
If you've attended SXSW, do you agree with Scoble?
It's a Wrap!
The Delivering Happiness team officially wrapped the ‘Inspire and Be Inspired’ Bus Tour in Las Vegas last weekend with the Rock N’ Roll Marathon festivities. To celebrate, and with little to no training, the Delivering Happiness team managed to finish the 13-mile race with smiles!
The three-month Delivering Happiness Bus Tour was an inspiring journey for everyone involved. Whether it was visiting a Children’s Hospital (we visited four!), maneuvering 15 pedi-cabs through Time Square or rebuilding homes in New Orleans, each of the 20+ stops had something in common: amazing people. Throughout the tour we had the opportunity to meet thousands of people who inspired us with their passion for sparking change in their lives and the lives of others. Hopefully in return, we left them inspired and empowered to continue making the world a happier place.
Highlights from the Road
If you haven't already seen some of the highlights from our tour, we'd like to share them with you!
Also, stay tuned for more videos and photos from the tour that we hope will make you inspired and, dare we say, happy :) as we unpack and settle back into life off the road.
What Next? You tell us!
Now that the book launch and bus tour are all said and done, you may be wondering what’s next for the Delivering Happiness team. Although we're still in the process of "writing" the next chapter, we can assure you this is only the beginning for the Delivering Happiness Movement!
We'd love to hear your opinion on how we can best serve you, our readers and supporters, and aid you in joining and continuing the movement. So, let us know here! You're truly the reason why we're inspired to do more...
Thank You!
The Delivering Happiness Bus Tour was a success because of your support and participation, so thank you! And of course, much gratitude to all of our partners that helped make it all happen:
So keep on with all you're doing, and continue to Inspire and Be Inspired!
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It’s a Wrap…Rock N’ Roll-style
by
Amy on
11.30.10
As you may already know, the Delivering Happiness 'Inspire and Be Inspired' Bus Tour has come to the end of the road, with the final stop in Seattle last week. That means it's time for one last hurrah.
The Delivering Happiness Bus and Crew will be participating in the Las Vegas Rock N' Roll Marathon festivities December 3rd - 5th (Friday - Sunday) in Las Vegas. If you're in the area, come by to take a tour of the bus, meet the team and celebrate the official wrap of our tour!
Friday and Saturday, December 3 - December 4:
Rock N' Roll Marathon Expo with Delivering Happiness What: The Delivering Happiness Bus will be at the Rock N' Roll Expo on Friday and Saturday. Stop by to meet the team and take a tour of the Delivering Happiness Bus. Event is open to the public. For more information, visit the Rock N' Roll website here. Tony will be signing copies of Delivering Happiness from 12:00pm - 1:00pm on both Friday and Saturday. Where: Sands Convention Center, Hall B: 201 Sands Ave Las Vegas, NV 89169 When: Friday, December 3 from 11:00am-7:00pm and Saturday, December 4 from 9:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday, December 5:
Las Vegas Rock N' Roll Marathon, Finish Line Festivities and Delivering Happiness Tour Wrap Party What: Tony and the Delivering Happiness team will be participating in the half-marathon and the Delivering Happiness Bus will be parked at the finish line (In the Mandalay Bay parking lot outside of the convention center and shark reef). Come join in on the celebration with live music, hula hoops and more. Headliner at the finish line main stage is Bret Michaels of Poison (and reality show) fame! Get your Delivering Happiness book signed by Tony if you happen to catch him after he completes the half-marathon run with the team. Where: Finish Line located at nearby Mandalay Bay in the parking lot on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and Russell. When: 8:30am-12:30pm
Side note: Given it's been difficult to find time to train while on the tour, cheering and added encouragement during the half-marathon is highly-encouraged.
