Soleman
my journey
in the footwear industry
that lead me to Zappos
About me, Mike...
I’m a Senior Director at Zappos.com
This is my journey on how I got here…from the beginning. I’m writing twice a week sharing my story and tips along the way for those who want to get in into the shoe and apparel industry, already in the industry looking for insights, or for those who just want to see my comic strips from a shoe dog who’s been around the block. Enjoy!
My Latest Blogs Below.
China trip starts off at the China office #246
January 9, 2022
No Comments
Blog #245 I talked about my reflection of our year 2021. In this blog I want to talk about China trip starts off at the China office. I started collecting
Reflections of our year 2021 #245
December 29, 2021
No Comments
In Blog 244 I talked about My son James turns 21 so I take him out. In this blog I wanted to talk about Reflections of our year 2021 So, in 2019
My son James turns 21 So I take him out #244
December 24, 2021
No Comments
In Blog 243 I talked about Personal Life gets better meeting Linda. In this blog I wanted to talk about My son James turns 21 so I take him out.
Personal Life gets better meeting Linda #243
December 12, 2021
No Comments
Blog #242 I talked about the Private label team visits Ha Long Bay. In this blog I want to talk about how My personal life gets better meeting Linda James had been
Private label team visits Ha Long Bay #242
December 6, 2021
No Comments
Blog #241 I talked about the Private label team heads out to Vietnam In this blog I want to talk about the Private label team visits Ha Long Bay The
Private label team heads out to Vietnam #241
November 27, 2021
No Comments
Blog #240 I talked about when Steve gets promoted to VP of Merchandising. In this blog I want to talk about the Private label team heads out to Vietnam February 29th
Previous Blogs Below.
China trip starts off at the China office #246
January 9, 2022
No Comments
Reflections of our year 2021 #245
December 29, 2021
No Comments
My son James turns 21 So I take him out #244
December 24, 2021
No Comments
Personal Life gets better meeting Linda #243
December 12, 2021
No Comments
Private label team visits Ha Long Bay #242
December 6, 2021
No Comments
Private label team heads out to Vietnam #241
November 27, 2021
No Comments
Steve gets promoted to VP of Merchandising #240
November 23, 2021
No Comments
Zappos marathon a new puppy and a 60th birthday party #239
November 16, 2021
No Comments
Zappos acquires 6PM and Nike goes live #238
November 7, 2021
No Comments
The Couture site gets a facelift #237
October 31, 2021
No Comments
2007 starts off with many new changes #236
October 23, 2021
No Comments
2006 comes to a close at Zappos #235
October 17, 2021
No Comments
Private label team heads to Shanghai #234
October 11, 2021
No Comments
Zappos reaches over 804 brands on the site #233
October 6, 2021
No Comments
Another tour group for China departs in April #232
October 3, 2021
No Comments
Our founder Nick leaves Zappos #231
September 29, 2021
No Comments
2005 comes to an end and another China trip #230
September 25, 2021
No Comments
Meanwhile back in Las Vegas then off again #229
September 23, 2021
No Comments
Zappos factory tour group day two #228
September 19, 2021
No Comments
First Zappos tour group arrives #227
September 15, 2021
No Comments
My strength slowly comes back #226
September 11, 2021
No Comments
My night in a Chinese Hospital #225
September 8, 2021
No Comments
Zappos creates the offer during NHT #224
September 5, 2021
No Comments
Back in Vegas for a hot minute #223
August 29, 2021
No Comments
Our first Quality Control tour #222
August 25, 2021
No Comments
The Amazing Pegasus factory tour #221
August 23, 2021
No Comments
Anna starts and back to China #220
August 17, 2021
No Comments
Back to Milan and the Micam Show #219
August 14, 2021
No Comments
John starts designing the boxes for us #218
August 11, 2021
No Comments
Boxes and gel pads get figured out #217
August 8, 2021
No Comments
Back to China with two goals #216
August 3, 2021
No Comments
First Million dollar day celebration #215
August 2, 2021
No Comments
INC 500 and some new faces #214
July 28, 2021
No Comments
Rule number one don’t ask what you’re eating #213
July 26, 2021
No Comments
Gel for Fitzwell idea is born #212
July 21, 2021
No Comments
Next the shoe line tour #211
July 17, 2021
No Comments
Today we tour several shoe factories #210
July 14, 2021
No Comments
Next up we tour a last factory #209
July 4, 2021
No Comments
Day one we visit a tannery #208
July 1, 2021
No Comments
First trip to tour China factories #207
June 29, 2021
No Comments
Factory tours in Tuscany Italy #206
June 29, 2021
No Comments
Florence Italy and Factory tours #205
June 23, 2021
No Comments
My first Micam shoe show trip #204
June 22, 2021
No Comments
My Private Label journey begins #203
June 19, 2021
No Comments
Zappos 5th Anniversary party turns into the Vendor party #202
June 15, 2021
No Comments
Customer service and Culture become the focus #201
June 12, 2021
No Comments
Starbucks pitch and Private Label position #200
June 8, 2021
No Comments
Merchandising progression plan begins July 2004 #199
June 5, 2021
No Comments
Zappos moves Headquarters to Las Vegas in 2004 #198
June 1, 2021
No Comments
Pam gets interviewed in San Francisco #197
May 29, 2021
No Comments
First WSA show with Zappos #196
May 26, 2021
No Comments
Zappos 4th Anniversary Party #195
May 22, 2021
No Comments
Merchandising breaks out the buying by categories #194
May 18, 2021
No Comments
The time Tony and Fred Pranked me #193
May 15, 2021
No Comments
My first big Pitch as a Zappos Buyer #192
May 12, 2021
No Comments
Embrace and Drive Change #191
May 8, 2021
No Comments
Weekly Lunch at Zappos was fun #190
May 4, 2021
No Comments
Zappos Buying Team 2003 #189
May 1, 2021
No Comments
Size and width brands is my focus #188
April 28, 2021
No Comments
Zappos moves away from dropship model in 2003 #187
April 28, 2021
No Comments
Zappos moves warehouse to Kentucky 2002 #186
April 27, 2021
No Comments
Zappos provides its own selection #185
April 27, 2021
No Comments
Zappos moves to 1000 Van Ness #184
April 12, 2021
No Comments
Zappos is born July 15 1999 #183
April 7, 2021
No Comments
First a little Zappos history #182
April 3, 2021
No Comments
Why you should never burn your Bridges #181
March 31, 2021
1 Comment
My Zappos journey begins and my 5 tenents #180
March 27, 2021
No Comments
My first meeting and interview with Tony Hsieh #179
March 26, 2021
No Comments
The proverbial Straw and a meltdown #178
March 24, 2021
2 Comments
Aaron sets up the Zappos interview #177
March 20, 2021
No Comments
Transfered to the Target Hayward store opening #176
March 20, 2021
No Comments
Target corporate visit went well #175
March 19, 2021
No Comments
The Good The Bad and the Sad #174
March 18, 2021
No Comments
The daily routine at Target #173
March 13, 2021
No Comments
Learning from George and Charles #172
March 10, 2021
No Comments
Zappos calls again in 2002 #171
March 6, 2021
No Comments
My Target journey begins in Milpitas #170
March 2, 2021
No Comments
Three Reps who Stayed in Touch #169
February 27, 2021
1 Comment
These Mountains you Are Carrying #168
February 24, 2021
No Comments
My Time with Nordstrom is done #167
February 20, 2021
2 Comments
Best to have options to make decisions #166
February 16, 2021
4 Comments
Nordstrom Consolidations sealed the deal #165
February 13, 2021
No Comments
The Tipping Point for me #164
February 10, 2021
2 Comments
Sales continue to Plummet and Pressure increases #163
February 6, 2021
No Comments
Joe comes back to Nordstrom #162
February 1, 2021
2 Comments
Our Valley Fair Support Team #161
January 30, 2021
1 Comment
A welcomed break from stressful days #160
January 27, 2021
1 Comment
The Beginning of the End- Blog #159
January 23, 2021
No Comments
Remodels are the Ultimate sales prevention- Blog #158
January 20, 2021
No Comments
Bill and Mikes Cluck U adventure – Blog #157
January 17, 2021
No Comments
More Nordstrom changes and a trip to Vegas – Blog #156
January 15, 2021
No Comments
More changes in Valley Fair – Blog #155
January 12, 2021
No Comments
No Problem was the Nordstrom way – Blog #154
January 9, 2021
No Comments
Fred Leaves Nordstrom for Zappos.com – Blog #153
January 6, 2021
No Comments
Why the most important asset is people – Blog #152
January 5, 2021
No Comments
Coaching from two Toms made the difference – Blog #151
January 4, 2021
No Comments
Salon Reps that helped in Valley Fair – Blog #150
January 3, 2021
No Comments
New Merchandiser and Store Manager – Blog #149
January 1, 2021
No Comments
Valley Fair and 5 Corporate Pacesetters – Blog #148
December 31, 2020
No Comments
Our Dog Willie the Collie – Blog #147
December 30, 2020
No Comments
My Friend and Nordstrom Buddy Daryl Curley – Blog #146
December 30, 2020
4 Comments
Palo Alto Womens floor recap Blog #145
December 28, 2020
No Comments
Great Business Cures All Woes Blog #144
December 27, 2020
No Comments
Valley Fair Opening for a Combined floor Blog #143
December 26, 2020
2 Comments
Bob and Blake knew how to Motivate Blog #142
December 23, 2020
No Comments
People who made a Difference plus Fun Stuff #141
December 22, 2020
No Comments
Key Brands we made Huge – Blog #140
December 21, 2020
No Comments
Reps who helped turn it around – Blog #139
December 20, 2020
No Comments
My Northern California Peers- Blog #138
December 19, 2020
No Comments
The Easy Spirit National Sales Event- Blog #137
December 19, 2020
No Comments
The Ugg Slippers bet Paid Off – Blog #136
December 17, 2020
No Comments
The Ugg Slippers bet I took in Palo Alto – Blog #135
December 16, 2020
No Comments
You are Only as Good as Your Last Flash – Blog #134
December 14, 2020
1 Comment
Our First Family Dog was Muttley #133
December 12, 2020
No Comments
How we worked Inventory down Successfully #132
December 8, 2020
No Comments
It’s Better to ask for Forgiveness than Permission – Blog #131
December 5, 2020
No Comments
How Change in our lives are Lessons – Blog #130
December 1, 2020
1 Comment
The Turning Point for Palo Alto – Blog #129
November 29, 2020
No Comments
Team Bonding is Good for Morale -Blog #128
November 24, 2020
No Comments
Nordstrom Buyers were based in each store #127
November 22, 2020
2 Comments
Treat People like you Would want to be Treated – Blog #126
November 18, 2020
1 Comment
Having a great Right Arm person – Blog #125
November 15, 2020
No Comments
Building a Great Team – Blog #124
November 10, 2020
No Comments
The Defining Moment in my Career – Blog #123
November 8, 2020
No Comments
Being Present and Meeting Bruce Munro – Blog #122
November 4, 2020
No Comments
What is the Gameplan – Blog #121
November 1, 2020
No Comments
Settling in to a New Position – Blog #120
October 27, 2020
No Comments
Transfer to Bay Area Checklist – Blog #119
October 25, 2020
No Comments
Goodbyes are tough -Blog #118
October 20, 2020
No Comments
Better to be Humble – Blog #117
October 18, 2020
No Comments
If You Fail to Plan you Plan to Fail Blog #116
October 13, 2020
No Comments
Having a Strong Vision – Blog #115
October 11, 2020
No Comments
More change in the East Bay – Blog #114
October 7, 2020
No Comments
Just say no to revenge – Blog #113
October 3, 2020
2 Comments
Different Styles to learn from – Blog #112
September 29, 2020
No Comments
Communication Breakdown – Blog #111
September 27, 2020
No Comments
No Guts No Glory – Blog #110
September 24, 2020
No Comments
Change is constant in Retail – Blog #109
September 20, 2020
No Comments
The Eastbay team plus one – Blog #108
September 16, 2020
No Comments
How My Influencers got me there – Blog #107
September 13, 2020
No Comments
Year End Re Cap 1993 – Blog #106
September 9, 2020
No Comments
My Favorite NYC Ffany Trip – Blog #105
September 5, 2020
1 Comment
How to Execute Events properly – Blog #104
September 2, 2020
No Comments
Anniversary Sale Re-cap – Blog #103
August 29, 2020
No Comments
The Mayor of Zappos – Blog #102
August 24, 2020
2 Comments
Planning is Most Important – Blog #101
August 23, 2020
No Comments
9 Pacesetters on the BP floor – Blog #100
August 19, 2020
1 Comment
The Team rescued me – Blog #99
August 17, 2020
No Comments
Politically Speaking at Nordstrom – Blog #98
August 12, 2020
No Comments
Honest Feedback is key – Blog #97
August 9, 2020
No Comments
My Mentor Rob and more Change – Blog #96
August 5, 2020
1 Comment
Under size 5 and Over size 10 event – Blog #95
August 2, 2020
No Comments
Good people in Key Positions – Blog #94
July 30, 2020
No Comments
Our Team Building Movie – Blog #93
July 26, 2020
1 Comment
Building the Team in Brass Plum Shoes – Blog #92
July 22, 2020
No Comments
Change is Constant in Retail – Blog #91
July 19, 2020
2 Comments
Building a Team for Success – Blog #90
July 14, 2020
No Comments
Quality Value and Selection – Blog #89
July 11, 2020
No Comments
The Next Big brand – Blog #88
July 8, 2020
No Comments
Fatherhood again with the Birth of Jennifer – Blog #87
July 4, 2020
No Comments
Focus on the Solutions – Blog #86
July 1, 2020
2 Comments
Buyer of the Month Recognition – Blog #85
June 28, 2020
No Comments
Hot items make the difference – Blog #84
June 24, 2020
1 Comment
Why Knowledge is Power – Blog #83
June 21, 2020
No Comments
My Mentor Rob’s Influence – Blog #82
June 18, 2020
No Comments
Vendor Relations are Important – Blog #81
June 15, 2020
No Comments
Maximizing The Hot Items – Blog #80
June 11, 2020
1 Comment
Follow the Golden Rule – Blog #79
June 7, 2020
No Comments
Getting Organized in the Stockroom – Blog #78
June 3, 2020
2 Comments
Hardest part of the job – Blog #77
May 31, 2020
2 Comments
Hard work pays off – Blog #76
May 27, 2020
2 Comments
Be the change driver – Blog #75
May 24, 2020
No Comments
Corporate Business Trip to Seattle – Blog #74
May 20, 2020
No Comments
Power of Mentors and Friendships – Blog #73
May 17, 2020
No Comments
Don’t Lose Your Focus – Blog #72
May 13, 2020
No Comments
Problems are a gift – Blog #71
May 10, 2020
No Comments
The only constant in retail is change – Blog #70
May 6, 2020
No Comments
Doing your Best work – Blog #69
May 3, 2020
1 Comment
Leadership Direction and People Placement – Blog #68
April 29, 2020
1 Comment
Honesty is the best policy – Blog #67
April 26, 2020
1 Comment
People make the Difference – Blog #66
April 22, 2020
No Comments
Helping Security deal with Criminals – Blog #65
April 20, 2020
No Comments
Nordstrom All Stars and Pacesetters – Blog #64
April 15, 2020
No Comments
Language you may hear in the Stockroom – Blog #63
April 13, 2020
No Comments
Sale Customers you meet at Nordstrom – Blog #62
April 5, 2020
No Comments
Duties of a Nordstrom Womens shoe Floor Watcher – Blog #61
April 1, 2020
4 Comments
The day before Half Yearly sale prep – Blog #60
March 29, 2020
No Comments
First Half Yearly of Nordstrom Arden Fair – Blog #59
March 25, 2020
No Comments
Escaping the Loma Prieta Earthquake – Blog #58
March 22, 2020
No Comments
People of the Opening of Nordstrom Arden Fair – Blog #57
March 18, 2020
No Comments
What it Means to be a Shoe Dog – Blog #56
March 15, 2020
No Comments
Opening of Nordstrom Arden Fair – Blog #55
March 11, 2020
1 Comment
The Interview at Nordstrom Arden Fair – Blog #54
March 8, 2020
2 Comments
Life Changing Hard Decisions to make – Blog #53
March 4, 2020
No Comments
Anniversary Sale at Nordstrom the first day – Blog #52
March 1, 2020
No Comments
My first Anniversary Sale at Nordstrom – Blog #51
February 26, 2020
No Comments
Developing personal customers was so Important – Blog #50
February 22, 2020
No Comments
Commuting in the Bay Area – Blog #49
February 18, 2020
1 Comment
Life Mentors are Important too – Blog #48
February 16, 2020
3 Comments
Nordstrom team in San Francisco was Excellent – Blog #47 –
February 12, 2020
No Comments
SIZES... SIZES... SIZES... SIZES...
…just sharing my story and tips from my footwear career.
Subscribe to my Blog by filling out your info above.
