FKI Logistex "Wows" Zappos.com With New Automated Order Fulfillment Center

Zappos.com boasts the largest selection of shoes anywhere —online or offline. And Zappos is not stopping there. The self proclaimed "service company that just happens to sell shoes" has expanded to bags, apparel, and accessories, and has plans to eventually sell "anything and everything."

Zappos operates on the principle that if you focus on providing a great shopping experience instead of maximizing profits, sales growth will follow. And it's paying off, with the Sequoia Capital-supported company recording $597 million in gross merchandise sales in 2006.

The company's "wow" philosophy of service and selection includes 365-day free returns, 24/7 customer service, 110-percent price protection, and unheard-of free overnight shipping on every order. The Zappos shopping experience also features extensive website search options, clear views of every product from every angle, and "live" inventory where nothing is ever out of stock. And they don't skimp on selection either, with over 1,000 brands and almost 3 million products available to ship immediately.

But getting an order processed, packaged, shipped, and onto your doorstep in less than 24 hours is not an easy task. It takes the right people, careful planning, and a fast, optimized order fulfillment system like the one material handling integrator FKI Logistex(www.fkilogistex.com) and London-based design and business consulting firm Arup(www.arup.com) provided for the Zappos facility in Shepherdsville, Kentucky.