06 Apr Zappos Signs an NFL Prospect in First-Ever Shoe Deal
Zappos signed Ronnie Stanley, a projected first-round NFL Draft prospect, to its first-ever footwear deal, according to a report from ESPN
As part of the unusual deal, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman from Notre Dame can wear cleats from Adidas, Nike or Under Armour since they have deals with the NFL. Stanley overall will be the first paid endorser for the site and will be involved in promotions, which will also be for casual shoes and apparel.
“This is very much unknown territory for us,” said Jeff Espersen, the Zappos general manager, to ESPN.com. “But as people who are deeply involved with Las Vegas, we’ve followed Ronnie’s amazing career to where he is today. He’s a good person, and like us, he wants to be very involved in the community.”
The ESPN report is here.
According to a statement from Zappos, Stanley, a Las Vegas native, was drawn to Zappos for its involvement in the local community and says the company’s core values align closely with his personal ethos.
“I’ve always admired Zappos as a leader in the business world and also a company that gives back to my home community of Las Vegas,” said Stanley. “I was excited to have the opportunity to come into the offices and meet Tony [Hsieh] and the Zappos team and to learn more about their unique approach to everything they do.”
“Zappos carries everything that I wear from everyday clothes to serious training gear, and I’m really looking forward to working with them,” said Stanley.
“This partnership is really one of a kind, and I’m really looking forward to working with Zappos on stepping up my training game. I’m at the very beginning of my professional career, and having a partner who I can work with on so many levels is going to be a huge opportunity,” said Stanley. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”