Cat Schnaidt
Assistant Buyer at Zappos.com

Your name and official title

Cat Schnaidt, Asst. Buyer at Zappos.com @zapposcatattack

Before Zappos what other companies and projects were you involved in?

I worked at Vestal for a year before moving to Vegas, and prior to that worked with X-Games in their production department on the research team for summer and winter games. My first industry gig was interning with Kim Stravers at Sg Magazine during college, which definitely helped influence my decision and passion to work in the action sports industry. I’ve also been involved with B4BC (Boarding for Breast Cancer) for the past 6+ years and try to volunteer with them as much as possible when I can get out to the events.

What sports and hobbies are you actively involved in?

I grew up in Oregon near Mt. Hood, so snowboarding is my fave. I love all the board sports, but it’s hard to get out there as much as I used to now that I live in Vegas. Get stoked on being outside and traveling, and am usually MIA on the weekends in the summer here. Also huge music and art fan, so I’m always trying to hit up shows in Vegas or wherever I’m at-usually Southern California or Portland.

What does your daily routine look like … take us through it?

Oh man..no day is ever the same for me! But for the most part it usually involves waking up at 5:30 to run with my dog, Monster or RedBull for breakfast, get going on emails, analyzing business with brands, start checking twitter and facebook throughout day to see what’s going on, and working on new orders for future seasons. I’ll usually have a rep in at least a couple times a week, so I’m in a lot of meetings checking out new product or brands and working with reps on our biz. A lot of times our reps will stop in just to say hi too and grab lunch or ice cream sandwiches with us, which always stokes me out. Afternoons usually involve a team or company meeting, maybe some beach ball volleyball down our team row, more email catch up and maybe a team happy hour.

How many people are on the staff (Zappos & Rideshop) and what are their roles (Rideshop)?

Currently we have about 900 people at our Zappos HQ here in Vegas, and 6 on our Rideshop team. Within the Rideshop we have specific buyers for different categories-shoes, clothing, accessories, and boards/hardgoods.

Jim Copeland–Buyer @Zappos_JimSK8
Erika Copeland-Buyer @Zapposakacarter
Josh Schlekewy-Asst. Buyer @ZapposSchleky
Lauren Glassman-Asst. Buyer @Zappos_Lauren
Kelly Mosinski-Asst. Buyer @Zapposkelmo
Chris Peake-Director of Performance Team and oversees most of Rideshop @Zappos_Peake

Tell us about Rideshop?

The Rideshop http://rideshop.zappos.com/ is a specialized part of Zappos.com that focuses on the action sports lifestyle. We all have a passion for the industry and the brands we work with, and are constantly working with our reps and vendors on ways we can stoke our customers out. We work with a wide variety of brands to offer special product for our customers, whether it be a limited edition or special collabo piece that nobody else carries, extra inventory in product every other shop is sold out of, or just a bigger selection of product, we want to represent our brands as best as we can on the site.

Which are some of the brands & sports you work with?

I’m kind of all over the place right now because I buy for a few different categories on our site-bags, watches, accessories, and snowboards/hardgoods. I’m working with almost every rideshop brand we carry for surf/skate/snow products, from DC, Burton, Dakine, and Vans, to G-shock, Krew, Grenade, and Vestal.

The owners of Zappos have embraced social media like Twitter. How has that translated down to you and your department? Is it mainly used to announce dept related news/branding or customer service?

I think when we all started twitter we talked more about product we were stoked on, but once we figured out how to actually use it, it became more of a social media tool that has really helped us understand our business and industry better. I try to stay away from blasting product on twitter, unless it’s something I’m amped on and everyone else should be as well, and for the most part use it to keep up with industry related news and events, as well as updates on what’s going on in my world.

What are the different online components of Zappos and your social media (Twitter, Facebook, Myspace)?

We have our blog site, as well as a Zappos Facebook and several twitter accounts for our different related departments. Our blog site has general Zappos related blogs, as well as specific department, such as Rideshop, related blogs. A couple of us work on blogs and videos for Rideshop that are both industry and product related, and really try to bring our Rideshop experiences to our readers and customers to help them understand the Rideshop and Zappos big picture relationship.

Tell us about the work atmosphere at Zappos?

Life at Zappos is never boring that’s for sure! It’s pretty laid back in the office, and since we all love what we’re doing, everyone is definitely willing to work hard so we can play hard, and we all love to play! There are tours coming through our office daily, and each team will do something special to entertain our visitors, from ringing cowbells and blowing bubbles to singing songs and dancing. We have teams put together parades and run through the offices dressed in theme throwing candy and making noise, bells to ring when something exciting happens or a tour guest agrees to share a secret confession with the merchandising floor, lunch time karaoke and Zappos Idol, rock band breaks, beach ball volleyball between cubicles, and the more than occasional prank that can involve whoopee cushions, home made catapults, and our newest, ping pong balls falling from the ceiling. This is a pretty normal day at the office.

We have a very open minded and free thinking environment, and employees are encouraged to think as much outside the box as possible. There is a lot of freedom at work, but we also know we are all committed and responsible for our business, which helps keep us motivated and on track.

There are also 10 core values that our company and every employee strives to embody on a daily basis, which definitely helps contribute to our unique culture here.

How does Zappos stay competitive against brands going direct, other online stores and board-sport retailers?

Zappos’ first and foremost objective is our customers. We definitely go the extra 10 miles for them and are more than happy to do so. It can be difficult to stay competitive sometimes with other sites and companies that may be more well known, selling direct, do more marketing, etc., but Zappos will always be there for the customer 24/7 and help them out in any way possible. Another thing that helps set us apart from a lot of online retail sites is that we offer free shipping on all orders, as well as returns, and do so as a way to thank our customer and stoke them out. We also offer a wide variety of brands and products, from shoes to clothing to watches and snowboards, and work hard with our reps and vendors to have the best products on the site for our customers.

What are future plans for Rideshop and Zappos involvement in Boardsports? (general-wise, don’t need to give away secrets)

Rideshop is definitely growing and expanding more into the boardsports and the lifestyle of our customers. We are in our second season with snowboards and just recently brought on skateboards, and are working on not only developing and representing this part of the business and lifestyle, but also our involvement and support in the industry itself.

What are some of the perks of your job?

I would say the actual job and being a part of Zappos is one of the biggest perks of my job. My co-workers are like family and my job is something I love doing, which makes it difficult to have a bad day at work. I am working in an industry I’m passionate about and in an environment that allows me to think and act freely and use my best judgment to get the job done. There is quite a bit of freedom at Zappos that allows you to be yourself comfortably and encourages outside of the box thinking, which are important aspects of the job and company that I really value and appreciate. Another aspect of the job I consider a perk are my reps and vendors- I love working with them and am stoked to be working with some of the raddest people in the industry.

What type of music do you listen to?

I’m one of those that will say everything, however I don’t like country or slow jams. Heard enough country growing up in Oregon to last me the rest of my life and slow jams are just not my thing. I’ve been listening to a lot of reggae and indie lately as far as “types,” but like a lot of different bands and sounds.

With your current position, do you travel much? If so where?

Yes! I’m usually in Southern California either visiting brands or heading out to tradeshows. Once show season picks up I seem to be traveling almost every other week, if not more.

What do you like and don’t like about working with the action sports industry?

I love the sports, and think it’s rad that the action sports industry has developed and grown into what it is today based on these sports and people’s passions for them. I have been involved in and working in the action sports industry for about 6 years now, and feel very fortunate to be working with people and companies that get stoked on the same things I do.

Sometimes our industry starts getting too commercialized and I think people need to take a step back and realize what we’re all here for and why we’re here.

What’s the best advice you have been given?
To go for what you want and don’t stop until you get what you want. Plain and simple and straight to the gut.

What do you most like about group Y and it’s events?

I like that group Y is always up to date and in the know on what’s going on in the industry. I think it’s great that the events are diverse and held in several different locations, and that group Y encourages people to think, rather than tells people what or how to think.

Where do you see the most potential for action sports brands in terms of marketing?

I think there is a huge market for female athletes that hasn’t been developed or pursued enough. Women riders are really making themselves known these days in their respective sports, and in doing so are helping to advance the sports that these brands represent.

Any parting words to the Twitter universe?

Make sure you’re always stoked on what you’re doing!