1 Great Person = 3 Good People

“1 Equals 3″ is our hiring philosophy. We have to be selective when interviewing potential employees because of the brand promise we’ve made to our customers to provide exceptional customer service.

We hire only about 3% of all who apply. If you indeed believe that with one great employee, you get three times the productivity of a good employee, you can afford to extensively train them and communicate to them, empower them and pay them 50 to 100% more than what other retailers might pay them.

Our 1=3 employees have tremendous tenure with the company. They feel like owners of the company and strive to do what’s right for each other and our customers every single day.

It’s a win-win-win. Employees win because they’re getting paid twice as much… and what a delight for the entire team to work alongside other great people! The company wins because it gets three times the productivity at two times the payroll cost. But most importantly, customers win with extraordinary service!

Our Foundation Principles™ overview.

Learn more about our Foundation Principles:
1 Great Person = 3 Good People
Communication IS Leadership
Fill the other guy’s basket to the brim. Making money then becomes an easy proposition.
The Best SELECTION, SERVICE & PRICE
Intuition does not come to an unprepared mind. You need to train before it happens.
Man In The Desert Selling
Air of Excitement

58 responses to “1 Great Person = 3 Good People”

  1. I think this is a brilliant philosophy, because low wages promote low interest and do not attract high caliber workers. ...
  2. Wow. I love this! I can definitely see how this plays out in the stores. They always have ...
  3. This is my favorite. It's so true!
  4. This is my favorite store... ever. I am not a shopper and I am organized... can't believe the ideas they ...
  5. Great principle!! I hope other industries apply it..
  6. Janet Welz-Kavanagh says:
    The person doing the hiring is a key piece of principle 1.
  7. I wonder why this concept doesn't spill over to other industries? Working in the healthcare field as a provider, ...
  8. Dionne James says:
    I applaud your efforts in thinking of innovative and extraordinary ways to provide superior products and SERVICE to your customers. ...
  9. Abraham Tran says:
    This is a great approach to hiring - all too often, the average consumer is disappointed or even turned off ...
  10. Walking into a Container Store is like a breath of fresh air in the retail industry. Every "great person" ...
  11. Thank you so much for putting so much thought and effort into making the shopping experience at the Container Store ...
  12. Susan Malone says:
    Soooooo glad The Container Store is back in Arlington, TX!!!
  13. This philosophy is really working for you! I have NEVER had bad service inside of a Container Store. ...
  14. The Container Store always has a fantastic selection of what I need and many times new, well designed items. ...
  15. Nicholas G. says:
    "Win, win, win" — this is what I've been saying for years now! It's amazing how serving others gives back ...
  16. Adreanna Doizan says:
    After working in retail for almost a decade and teaching, I totally agree. Our store hires 8-10 new cashiers every ...
  17. Working along other employees whom are trained well, happy to work for their company will make a very nice working ...
  18. #1 is my favorite because it's great to hear that the contribution of a committed worker is recognized for what ...
  19. Dora Hastings says:
    Employees that are there to work make all the difference in the world.
  20. Emmalyne Farris says:
    I love this concept. It used to be the norm for companies to grow their employees and empower them to ...
  21. Tara Marcus says:
    I'm more eager to shop at a store who "gets it". Thanks for making not only closets but the ...
  22. Outstanding philosophy. As a customer, it shows when employees are respected and treated well. They pass it on ...
  23. Outstanding philosophy. As a customer, it shows when employees are respected and treated well. They pass it on ...
  24. I like the fact that I can walk into the store and recognize the employees. Many have been there ...
  25. It's so true! If more workplaces would follow this principle - there would be some amazing places to work ...
  26. Kate Spigler says:
    Great customer service is so important for sucess because it makes the customer feel respected and important. It keeps ...
  27. Erin Almanza says:
    As a former employee, I can't attest to this philosophy. It was a great place to work with wonderful ...
  28. Love your staff! They are always helpful, never seem rushed (or make the customer see rushed) and always pleasant. ...
  29. So true. Extra+ordinary people are the ones to go for!!
  30. Wow! I have always wanted a Container Store in my area (eastern Nebraska) for shopping--now I want one so I ...
  31. Andrea Boyd says:
    The principles outlined are awesome...it becomes clear why the company is excelling, the employees are happy and my shopping experience ...
  32. I absolutley agree! Good training, and the right person...bravo! I wish other "employers" would consider the same philosophy.
  33. I have always loved your stores. After reading this, I now love your company! Well done!
  34. Your employees ARE ALWAYS cordial and well informed and now I know why.
  35. This "1 Great Person = 3 Good People" principle was very evident today during my shopping experience at the Indianapolis ...
  36. Maria McCabe says:
    We love The Container Store. We always make a stop when near one because they always have something we cannot ...
  37. Linda Wood says:
    I love all of your foundation principles, and would be delighted if you would open a store in Omaha, Nebraska, ...
  38. I Love, love, love The Container Store - but after reading this, I have to laugh. If the people ...
  39. I have never been in a store because there isn't one in my area but this sounds like a great ...
  40. Karen Moffitt says:
    One of my reasons for shopping at the Container Store involves the quality of employees. They are truly committed ...
  41. I appreciate The Container Store's strong foundation and principles and its customer-friendly employees.
  42. So true!!! Keep "great" employees is a lot harder than just hiring anybody off the streets... BUT the return on ...
  43. Arly Evensen says:
    I love the Container Store. I have had so many positive experiences there I will keep going back. I feel ...
  44. Susan (sjanova) says:
    Valuing and training employees after selecting just the right people (there **are** some characteristics that cannot be developed/trained for) are ...
  45. Terri Bernard says:
    This is the philosophy that most resonates for me when I think about my long relationship with Container Store. ...
  46. Patti Beard says:
    This is a great principle. If you train employees well, and make them feel appreciated and important to the ...
  47. I love the idea that great employees are more productive- that is so true. It seems like a few ...
  48. I love this philosophy! I wholeheartedly agree about the worth of one great employee. I am a teacher, and I ...
  49. So true.Good philosophy.One great employee is worth 3. That one person has a rippling impact on others.
  50. katrina kobel says:
    This explains why all the employees at our southlake, Tx location are always so helpful and friendly.
  51. I think this is a good thought process for all managers who hire. We have a similar mindset at the ...
  52. Helen Knowles says:
    The fact that you take the time to extensively train your employees (and only accept 3% of those who apply) ...
  53. Vic Tedesco says:
    The key to a sucessful business model must start with great people who are happy & feel they are part ...
  54. Doris Cote says:
    I agree with the training that goes into employees makes the difference between a good worker and a great worker. ...
  55. Marcy Carmichael says:
    I firmly believe in this principle. How I could list the number of retail stores in which I have walked ...
  56. If only more companies appreciated their talent in the way, there would be many more strong companies out there and ...
  57. Donna Steinfort says:
    As a former employee (left due to a move), I know first hand how seriously The Container Store takes their ...
  58. All steps in the recruitment and retention processes should be followed: recruit, hire, orient, train, confirm the new and existing ...

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  • Welcome
  • Welcome

    Hello! Since our doors opened in 1978, we’ve been a company full of heart and soul with what I like to call our “yummy” culture. We put our employees first and strive for excellence in everything we do. We want to be special, different, and to offer a retail experience unlike any other. Our blog is a place to celebrate our employees, our culture, our customers, our vendors and our commitment to our communities. So thank you for visiting, for sharing your thoughts and for being an even bigger part of what we stand for – organization with heart!

    Kip Tindell, Chairman and CEO

  • Our Story
  • Our Story

    On July 1, 1978, The Container Store opened its doors in a 1,600 square foot retail space in Dallas. The first store was filled with products that consumers couldn't find in any other retail environment. They were things like commercial parts bins, mailboxes, popcorn tins, burger baskets, milk crates and wire leaf burners. The product collection was quite unusual, but when used in a home or office, the solutions saved customers space and, ultimately, time.

  • Putting Our Employees First
  • Putting Our Employees First

    At The Container Store, we firmly believe our employee is our #1 stakeholder. In doing so, employees take better care of customers and ultimately the shareholders benefit. It's a departure from what most other companies practice, yet it's been at the heart of our success since 1978. It's because of this employee-first culture that FORTUNE magazine has recognized us on its annual list of "100 Best Companies to Work For" for the past 12 years.

  • Our Foundation Principles
  • Our Foundation Principles

    Not only was The Container Store built on great products, but it was structured around some fundamental values and philosophies about treating employees, customers and vendors with respect and dignity - we call them our Foundation Principles™. By understanding these principles, we can all act as a unit, working toward the same goal. Retail is far, far too situational to attempt to achieve a concerted effort through inflexible rules and policies.

  • Committed to Our Community
  • Committed to Our Communities

    Since we opened our first store in 1978, we have proudly supported our stores' local communities. From product donations to employee volunteer time, we know the importance of being a good corporate neighbor. Today, The Container Store continues to give back to the community with a focus on supporting nonprofits that promote women's and children's well-being and health.

  • Our Vendor Partnerships
  • Our Vendor Partnerships

    These partnerships are key to our commitment to providing our customers the most innovative, high quality, differentiated products in the industry coupled with the utmost in customer service. And they have been especially important as we navigate this challenging economic time.

  • Our Commitment to the Environment
  • Our Commitment to the Environment

    We believe that there is no conflict between economic prosperity and environmental stewardship and, in fact, that the two are mutually dependent upon each other. Like many other companies, we embrace sustainability as a key to our economic future and feel businesses that do this will have a better relationship with all of their stakeholders and ultimately, be able to offer the best quality products at the lowest possible prices.

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