Container Store Reviews in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Area

Pros

The overall working environment is welcoming, positive, and energizing. The employees are indeed wonderful to work with and once you get the swing of things they are willing to help you in any way possible.

Cons

Because the employees are so tight-knit be aware that their behavior may seem cliquish at times. The manager's I dealt with talked about employees-personal problems, work shortfalls with me and others, and this made me wonder what they were saying about me behind my back. Other than this loved working for this company!

Advice to Senior Management

Be open and honest with the people that work for you. Being judgmental of others can create a harsh work environment for your employees. Home office leadership is wonderful and I think most stores do a great job.

Pros

They have a flexible schedule and allow part timers to purchase some health insurance. Employees get at least a 40% discouont on products.

Cons

Nepotism, favoritism, and the rewarding of snooping and "tattling" on so-workers. Environment is "Faster! Faster!" with significant risk of injury while unloading trucks. The annual review process is an insult, and the percentage raise concept is equally insulting.

Advice to Senior Management

Do a regression analysis of profits per team member and you will find the managers protect themselves with "good" employees.

Pros

Great co-workers, fun environment, passionate people!

Cons

Valuation of salaries does not seem to be consistent across the company.

Pros

The Container Store offered good pay for part time seasonal work. It was nice to be able to wear jeans and a (company) t shirt to work.

Cons

I really didn't have any dislkes about this job. If I had to pick one, it may have been cleaning the bathrooms at closing time, but that's about it.

Pros

Pay is well above what any other retailer will pay, the products are very good, health benefits even if you work 15hrs a week, great discount 50% on Elfa products and 40% on everything else including gift cards and a fun relaxing atmosphere to work in.

Cons

It's retail so you have to commit to at least one weekend day to work each week and you work on holidays, except the major ones like Christmas and Thanksgiving. The aprons are hot in the summer

Advice to Senior Management

Stop hiring so many people from outside the company as top level managers in one location, they are often overwhelmed and that has an adverse effect on the rest of the team.

Pros

The offerings at the store are sleek and contemporary. The store does offer a wide range of products for those obsessed with organizing their lives. Many of the products are unique to the store and their employees are usually fairly knowledgable.

Cons

While the merchandise is very contemporary, it is expensive which can make sales difficult. The upper level management seldom listens to store employees and consequently they schedule sales events during times that are not necessarily the most effective. In addition, there's an attitude of long time insiders that makes it very hard for newcomers to feel like they are part of the solution. Overall it's has become the housewares section of Crate And Barrel. In this economy only the very wealthy are able to shop here. Most employees began as loyal customers. But after working here for awhile, I do not think I will continue to shop here.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop hiring friends and relatives for key positions. They do not necessarily make the best decisions. Also, trust the employees who have to sell the products first. They are the ones that have to deal with purchasing mess ups.

Pros

Working with professional, cheerful people in a positive atmosphere.
Pay is above industry average, I think (at least for store positions).

Cons

You can't always expect straight answers to your questions and concerns.
Expectations are sometimes unclear or unrealistic, but this probably varies depending on the person you report to.

Advice to Senior Management

Take questions and concerns more seriously, i.e. don't be dismissive.
Communicate clear expectations.
Don't freeze pay while increasing workload and raising expectations.

Pros

only 45 hours a week
great group of people work inj the stores

Cons

very little opportunity to advance and learn more
management under utilizes employees experience and skills
upper management has been in place too long - they need fresh ideas
upper management consistent thinks they know what is going on and fail to ask simple questions that can clarify issues. This causes them to work under false assumptions about their team.
Focus on individual weaknesses instead of how to leverage unique talents.
The way they pay for overtime among many employees is wrong - even if it is legal. When you work overtime the more you work the less you make - doesn't sound like a great company does it. Now there are positions in the company where they are mandating 6 days and overtime hours and pay you less every minute over 40...very disrespectful of their employees.
Many employees are made to stand while they work, the company feels if they had chairs they would waste time and sit too long - that doesn't sound like they really believe they hire 1=3 people.

Advice to Senior Management

Show more integrity in pay. If you mandate overtime pay AT LEAST the employees regular hourly salary.
Ask more questions - too many GAD's and VP's make assumptions without asking the person or people involved enough questions to really understand what is going on.
Recognize that the culture is fading away. Your people are not telling you what they really think. Need proof? What % of people returned the Fortune survey? Much lower than you thought? They don't trust that it is really anonymous and they are afraid of telling the truth and having their manager find out.
People don't want to complain, they want to find solutions.

Pros

The co workers are great. From all walks of life and life experience is valued as much as formal education.

Cons

The upper management sucks. A few ego driven bad apples ruin it.

Advice to Senior Management

I think the corporate office needs to reevaluate the store managers and see if the employees really like them. I bet not. There is constant ass-kissing and taking credit for others hard work from Dallas store managers. I'ts going down hill. Too cliquish.

Pros

The Container Store trusts and encourages it's employees. The ability to make decisions and do what is best for our customer's makes you want to take ownership. I like the fact that if you take the initiative then you will get the training or information you need because you earned it. There is investment in all of the staff, but giving more to those that are willing to do more. Opportunities are given to those that can see more globally and not just what is infront of them at that moment.

Cons

There are not any cons. I do think people misunderstand the foundation priciples and try to twist them to fit what they want and not what they really mean. Those who have left or not unhappy are usually tenured employees that could not evolve, part time that wanted full time, but didn't do anymore than asked or just don't get the culture. You have to be selfless and not selfish. The Container store is about customers first, then employees, then any shareholders.

Advice to Senior Management

Don't be afraid to sit down and talk to PT employees about never becoming full time. Don't let them hang on with hopes of one day. Do them the favor or courtesy and let them know it wil not happen! Put the ball in their court. If they leave, the store will end up being less stressful and they may end up finding that perfect job. Do the same for full time and let them know they need to step it up and for every year that you are here you need to be better and do more than the last year.