What We Stand For | The Container Store

Posts from December 2013

Dec 27, 2013
Leaders We Love: Al Davis

*This is part of our “Leaders We Love” series. Learn more about it. There is only one team in professional sports known by its colors alone: the Silver and Black that is the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. Al Davis, the team’s owner until 2011, was passionate about the people that made up his team and his organization. He rewarded respect with loyalty, and felt that “once a Raider, always a Raider.” His journey through life, through football, was filled with reward and
Dec 25, 2013
Gift Wrap Fashion!

The talent and creativity of our 1=3 GREAT employees is just off the charts. This year, in true “Project Runway” fashion, we asked our employees across the company to design fashion looks crafted from our signature gift wrap, ribbons and trimmings to display in the windows of three of our stores – Century City (Los Angeles), 6th Avenue (New York City) and Lexington Avenue (New York City), as well as the atrium of our Home Office. The only word to describe the resulting gift wrap looks that were
Dec 23, 2013
2nd Annual Pet Photos with Santa

For the second year in a row, our Portland Store held the fuzziest fundraiser imaginable for the Oregon Humane Society – “Pet Photos with Santa”!!!!! Our Store Manager of Sales and Training, Dan L., came up with the furry idea last year, after adopting his dog Oliver from the Humane Society. Once again, Dan donned his Santa suit and set up in front of one of our beautiful Gift Wrap Wonderland displays, and invited pet parents from the Portland Store team to bring in their four-legged friends. We
Dec 18, 2013
The 10 Essential Hugs of Life

We’re big huggers at The Container Store – it’s true. Our employees hug to celebrate successes, to provide each other much-needed support and to thank each other for a job well done. And rather than scold employees for mistakes, our managers “hug” mistakes seeing them as part of us all growing stronger – together. So, of course we’re excited that our friend and fellow conscious capitalist Roy Spence – founder of advertising agency GSD&M in Austin and The Purpose Institute – recently wrote a book
Dec 16, 2013
Contest: It’s Better to Give!

Most people agree that the joy of giving is so much greater than receiving! How are you planning to brighten someone else’s holiday season this year? Leave a comment below by Jan. 1st sharing your story for a chance to win one of ten $100 Store More Cards that we’re giving away as a special thank you to YOU for making a difference in our communities. *No purchase necessary. Click here for official giveaway rules.
Dec 14, 2013
Leaders We Love: Paul O’Neill

*This is part of our “Leaders We Love” series. Learn more about it. I’m inspired by Paul O’Neil and how he fundamentally transformed the culture of the Aluminum Company of America – also known as Alcoa – during his time as CEO and Chairman. O’Neill had the ability to connect, build trust, consensus and increase productivity at every level of the organization. O’Neill’s leadership made every single employee feel that they were a part of something more than a manufacturing company. When he was
Dec 12, 2013
It’s a Wonderful Life

We love the holiday movie It’s a Wonderful Life – in fact, it’s our CEO’s all-time favorite because the whole movie is about showing one guy, George Bailey, the power of his wake. At The Container Store, we talk a lot about WAKE – like a boat’s wake. It’s the idea that everything we do – and DON’T do – affects everyone around us much more than we could ever imagine. Similarly, in the movie, George spends his entire life giving back to others in his community and then upon falling on some hard
Dec 09, 2013
Palo Alto Partnership with TheatreWorks

When TheatreWorks first started producing plays over 43 years ago in Palo Alto, Founder and Artistic Director Robert Kelley initially thought that it only took a handful of people and a few shorts weeks to put on a show.“Now when I look around the room on the first day of rehearsal of Other Desert Cities, I realize that it takes dozens of people and thousands of man-hours to make just one show possible!” he said. Theatre truly is the most collaborative art form. Take, for example, recent play
Dec 04, 2013
Leaders We Love: Laura Bush

*This is part of our “Leaders We Love” series. Learn more about it. I was lucky enough to be part of a group invited to represent The Container Store at a luncheon for one of the wonderful nonprofit organizations we support – Community Partners of Dallas – which provides resources and support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services to help ensure safety and restore hope to abused and neglected children. The guest speaker was Laura Bush and there I was, seated right in front
Dec 03, 2013
Our President on Mentorship

One of our wonderful nonprofit partners is Step Up Women’s Network – an organization dedicated to helping women and girls fulfill their potential! They host impactful after-school programs to empower teen girls, they help propel professional women forward by facilitating networking opportunities – all in an effort to set up women and girls for success. For their 15th anniversary, they reached out to some professional women and asked them to share their own views on mentorship, as well as their