The Container Store: Stacking Up Ethically

Many retail companies are not known for outstanding treatment of their employees. In more recent years, the media has delivered news stories with companies involved in lawsuits over wage inequalities, discrimination, or poor labor conditions. The retail industry in particular has been receiving a lot of criticism. One think tank recently published a report which states:

Retail is far from the only low-paying sector of the American economy, yet … [it is] one projected to add a substantial number of new jobs over the coming decade, [so] the choices the nation’s major retailers make about employment will play a crucial role in determining the nation’s economic future. (Resnikoff)

While very recent press has indicated retail companies such as Target, Wal-Mart, and T.J. Maxx may increase employee wages slightly in the near future, there are also companies who do not receive considerable media attention but who have, from their very founding, held higher standards regarding treatment of their employees. One such company is The Container Store (TCS). From its website, to its blog, to newspaper articles, books, YouTube videos, and more, The Container Store makes it clear that it aims for a business model encompassing all stakeholders, but employees in particular. In this paper, I will evaluate how the company has upheld this employee-centered model and determine whether it can be considered an ethical company through Immanuel Kant’s ethical theories.

How the Container Store Stacks Up, Ethically

Last week, I published a post about The Container Store, evaluating whether or not its place (#27) on Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work 2015 was justified. My main method of evaluation was investigating reviews of the company on Glassdoor.com. Ultimately, many posts by current employees corroborated positive case studies and articles I found on the company, while other posts from the past couple of years alluded to changes in business strategy and unfair treatment of employees, possibly as a result to the company’s 2013 IPO.

For Paper 2, I would like to delve into this company further.

Not So Contained?

The Container Store has long been a valued company in my household, so the store was a go-to when I went to college. The store has a huge, invite-only sale for college students one night each year. At each of these events, I found employees to all be very friendly and helpful, extremely organized and efficient, and seemingly having fun. I distinctly recall admiring their ability to remain to upbeat on such as long and busy evening of work. However, this culture may have drastically declined in the last couple of years.