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The Container Store

Engaged Employer

The Container Store -- like a dysfunctional family. The cult has essentially died. - Inventory Control The Container Store Employee Review

2.0
Jan 6, 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

1) Quality workforce. The one thing TCS generally does well is hire quality people at the working level -- sales; visual sales; distribution center pullers, stockers, etc. Typically, you'll find a lot of former managers from other retailers hired as minions at TCS. That's not necessarily bad. These are folks that have been burned out as managers elsewhere. What it gives TCS is frontline workers that don't have to be constantly managed. As former managers, they already know what they should be doing. 2) Great discount. Employees get a 40% discount on most merchandise; 50% on elfa products. 3) Work hours. Due to lawsuits, pretty much salaried workers work 40 hours a week period.

Cons

Management at every level throughout the company is typically poor. There are exceptions, but they're rare. Additionally, the company added another level of management within their stores. No longer is there just a store manager. Stores now have a GM and three subordinate managers. Now instead of having just one manager in the back office doing managerial things, there are four managers in the back room doing managerial things. No doubt the extra managers cost more in salary and there's less floor coverage to service customers. As such, customer service deteriorates. Without customer service, it makes it harder to justify the prices at TCS.

Explore other reviews about The Container Store

5.0
Apr 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Their business, benefits and products are all incredible.

Cons

My position did not allow for a healthy work/life balance. I was never "off".

3.0
Jan 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The Container Store has the most thorough training process of any company I've worked for. The environment was nice, and my coworkers and managers were all great. The employee discount is significant.

Cons

I applied because I was not getting the hours I was promised by my other part-time retail job. During the hiring process, they said I could work as many hours as I wanted, up to 29 hours per week. They did not mention until I was hired and asking for my hours that hours are dependent on how many customers you get to sign up for the rewards program. As a cashier, everyone I checked out who was not a part of the rewards program and did not want to be counted against me. Customers who are already a part of it don't factor in. I could check out 40 people in a shift, only have 5 who weren't part of the program, and only get 2 of them to sign up, and I would be penalized for that with my hours. If you work floor shifts and sign people up on the floor, it's able to boost your score since you don't interact with non-rewards members who don't want to join the system at all, but I was never offered floor shifts. They expected a 60-70% conversion rate, which is not realistic. Most people who want to be part of the program already are, and those who aren't typically aren't willing to even hear your 20-second pitch about it.

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