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The Container Store

Engaged Employer

The Container Store reviews

3.2

43% would recommend to a friend

(1,960 total reviews)

Joel Bines

46% approve of CEO

33% positive business outlook

The Container Store has an employee rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars, based on 1,960 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The The Container Store employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Ventas al mayoreo y al menudeo industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

2K reviews
4.0
Jul 31, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Discount off store merchandise is 40% (gift-cards too!) Training is abundant -- they spend a lot of time training you on how to sell Casual wear (jeans and t-shirts) Schedule is posted 2-3 weeks out This location has some great employees that are fun and truly nice Above average pay to start in retail Decent part time benefits -- 401K, dental, vision, health ins and EAP Great Culture (in theory) -- Their 7 Foundation Principles are pretty solid. Communication is pretty good -- they only have like 55 stores so still pretty small company. Great products -- ELFA is a well made product and designed very well In FL -- a lot of opportunity -- 3 new stores in 2013

Cons

They don't promote from within -- all full time employees in this location are hired from outside -- there is no incentive to work hard and be rewarded with a promotion high turn-over -- one day your friend is there and the next day they are gone? managers have favorites - corporate lingo types --"OK HAL Team, lets do it -- lets SELL SELL SELL" no commission -- you can sell a $10,000 ELFA closet and make only $30 bucks! (but you feel good about helping someone design their DREAM CLOSET for more money than you will make in a year selling closets!) privately owned company -- no stock purchase - no incentive if company performs well no shift differentials -- work a shift unloading a truck from 9pm to 1am and make the same as the person standing at a cash register for 3 hours from 12pm to 3pm. constant PRESSURE to sell ELFA -- CONSTANT focus on meeting unrealistic sales goals DAILY! strong culture - to some outsiders at first it can seem like a kool-aid drinking cult!

3.0
Jul 26, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

High hourly pay rate when you start Friendly coworkers Fabulous discount (the best part about working here) Company culture comes from a good place Our customers are a lot of fun and very grateful for good customer service

Cons

Poor management structure: Quality of full time staff is inconsistent As a part timer, the store never hired from within for their full time openings. Frustrating to work so hard and continue to get passed over for a FT position Everyone is trained in multiple positions, but a shift spent cutting shelving with a bandsaw and lifting very heavy shelving orders earns you the same amount as a shift standing at the cash register. Staff members trained to process the morning money, which is much more responsibility than someone who only does sales shifts have a pay rate that never reflects the additional responsibility Inconsistent application of rules and regulations The "top 100 places to work" survey is something we are "strongly encouraged" to fill out, and each person is required to let management know when they've mailed it in. The focus on sales has become oppressive. Silly sales role plays at each morning huddle, talking to part timers like we are children. Tone deafness by management when a full timer is not really meshing well with the Part time staff. The late and very early (6 am) hours (in a market where the transit system isn't really available very late or very early) are presented as necessary to do to be successful, even though 6 AM shift or an overnight shift may not work for single parents, or etc. The culture can be seen as somewhat 'cult-like' from the outside of it, I didn't really find it to be like that, but can understand why others may not feel comfortable with it. After the xmas rush, the seasonal people are let go---but the little dirty secret of the container store is that anyone else who isn't 'working out' can be let go as well at this time, but they don't consider it to be a lay off, stop scheduling you, even if you haven't done anything worthy of being fired, and they will fight your unemployment vigorously.The CEO says that they don't lay people off----EVERY February they play the same game and get rid of people (even long term people who have been there for years) who aren't working out. You are walking on eggshells every year until you have your individual spring meeting to see if you still have a job.

3.0
Jul 26, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Best Reasons to work here: Flexible hours Consistent Schedule from week to week Good Training

Cons

Downsides to working here: High expectations to learn about product on own time even if working a few hours a week Benefits for p/t not great Always have to work weekends and holidays If p/t, hard to get lots of hours

Viewing 1777 - 1779 of 1,960 Reviews

Glassdoor has 2,047 The Container Store reviews submitted anonymously by The Container Store employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if The Container Store is right for you.