Pros
Employee discount is good. Elfa products are very nice. Initial training is good.
Cons
A closed mouth culture. There is a "don't tell" reality going on at a "communication" oriented company that is prevalent behind the scenes. Maybe I'm naive. Perhaps, a smaller company can control things from getting out of hand before it becomes viral while a larger one must contain & maintain the air of exclusivity. Don't be fooled. The Container Store is on the list of the "Top 100 Companies to Work For" because the form is filled out by mostly new hirers (of course, the long term staffers fill it out too). It's the nature of retail, a lot of turnover. At the beginning, we were all wide eyed and excited about the new job. We all know that retail is the best solution for students who need a temporary gig and for the dependable, mature employee who doesn't need to work (retract... these days, most people need to work in this economy). For many others, it's a dead end job. If you think, "I'll work hard, take on more responsibility and move up", it doesn't work that way. No matter how hard you work and how efficient you are, you may get a verbal "good job" but it won't be reflected in a discernible raise or move up in position. It's too bad because The Container Store used to hire great people. Now, they hire good ones to not so good. In my experience, I noticed so many long time employees moved on once a better opportunity came along OR changed their perspective of their job. They would have made great managers. No Communication Limited upward mobility (if you can wait 3+ years for full time or 5-8 years for mgt - no promises) Obvious Favoritism Staffed Inappropriately Employees are affected by all of the above. Customer Service is affected by all of the above. Ultimately, customers are affected.