For One Company, Fun Is Job Priority No. 1

Online Retailer Zappos Keeps Employees Happy With Free Lunches, Massages

(CBS)  In this difficult economy, keeping spirits up around the office is more important than ever. And a company called Zappos has found ways to keep its employees' morale sky-high.

At the corporate headquarters of this online shoe and clothing retailer based in Las Vegas, having fun is a priority. It's an office where weirdness is encouraged and spontaneous parades happen nearly every day.

Zappos' CEO, 35-year-old Tony Hsieh, believes that an office environment that employees enjoy is vital to success.

"It's definitively part of our culture to bring out happiness in employees, because it's only with happy employees that they can bring out the happiness in customers through better customer service," he tells Early Show correspondent Debbye Turner Bell.

And the company knows how to keep its staff smiling with perks including free lunches, in-house massages and a nap room. There's also a concierge service that will arrange to have your car washed or your pants hemmed. There's even a life coach on staff.

"My deal is to help them with anything they want, to empower them," Zappos life coach David Vick said. "Whether it's personal or whether its business, whether they want to lose weight or buy a house."

For Hsieh, keeping morale up is an important part of running his business.

"I think it's very important," he said. "I think every study has shown that happier employees are productive employees. So not only is it more enjoyable, but it just makes business sense."

The "keep them happy" approach seems to be working. The 10-year-old company has more than 1,500 employees and sales last year topped a billion dollars. Fortune magazine also ranked Zappos as number 23 on their list of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" this year.