economie

I visited The Container Store to see why sales are down. The selection was incredible, but the prices were higher than I expected.

This was my view when I first walked into the store.

As soon as I stepped inside, I was shocked at how massive the space was. According to the retailer’s website, stores have “an average size of approximately >24,000 square feet (18,000 selling square feet).”

Though this location spanned just one floor, all I could see were aisles and aisles of items lining its perimeter and throughout its center.

The store was largely sectioned by the room you’re looking to organize, such as the closet, bathroom, kitchen, garage, office, and more.

I started with the closet section and loved the look — but not the price — of these Drop-Front Shoe Boxes.
I liked the quality of the Scalloped Maize Storage Bin.

The one was a good size at 11 inches by 15 inches by 8 1/2 inches and retailed for $29.99.

There was no shortage of hangers.
I loved how customizable these Stackers jewelry drawers were.

There were plenty of drawer options customers could “stack” to build their perfect custom jewelry box, which I loved.

However, I did have a hard time locating the prices of each drawer type on the shelves.

The Stackers Belt Organizer seemed like a great practical gift for the holidays.
There were plenty of bathroom organizers.

From soap dispensers and toothbrush holders to apothecary jars and trays, there were plenty of decorative storage options.

But I don’t understand the appeal of acrylic.
The Luxe Acrylic Makeup Organizer and Storage Kit retails for $60.99 at The Container Store.

As smart as this storage kit looked, I would never spend this amount when similar options on Amazon are sold at fractions of the price.

And I’m not sure how useful a toilet-roll dispenser could really be.
The Container Store had multiple options for storing hair tools.

My hair dryer and diffuser attachment have a bad habit of getting tangled under my sink, so I could see this being a great addition to my bathroom that would be worth the $25.

And I enjoyed browsing the mock closets by Custom Spaces.
There was so much kitchen storage available.

Look at all these storage options!

These Montana Jars were added to my holiday wish-list immediately.
I’ve never seen a water bottle organizer like this.

YouCopia’s Upspace Bottle Organizer 2-Shelf holds eight to 10 bottles and costs $24.99.

This bakeware organizer makes a lot of sense, especially in a small living space.
There were a variety of different-size bins to make a drawer as functional as possible.

If you’re looking for something specific, visit the store with measurements in mind so you don’t have to guess what product would best fit your space.

However, I wasn’t sold on this $45 spice rack.
I was impressed with the labeling options.

Near the crafting section, there were packs of labels fit for kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, playrooms, and more.

Each pack from the “Everything Organizer Collection” retailed for $12.99.

I moved on to more storage options for clothing.
The additional closet shelving has been helpful from my college dorms to starter apartments.

They’re perfect for maximizing closet space when there isn’t much room for dressers.

I also found a few kid-friendly storage options.
Jason and Kylie Kelce collaborated with The Container Store.

Malhotra told Modern Retailer in July that the brand is “starting to do more collaborations.”

“I think the partnership we did with the Kelces was really encouraging for customers to see,” he said. “Oftentimes, they think that expense is a reason why things are not done, and they look at someone like the Kelces and they go, ‘Obviously money is not an issue for them.’ Their issue was knowledge, time, and solutions, and that’s why they wanted to work with The Container Store.”

There were plenty of options for trash cans, too.
I love browsing through stationery.

There were so many trinkets, pens, and notepads to choose from.

There were fun options, like this candy-themed highlighter pack.
I’m always looking for new notepads and notebooks to add to my collection.

If I didn’t already own four different notebooks and calendars, this would’ve been a very easy $15.99 out of my wallet.

I was also surprised by the number of seemingly random trinkets available.
I’ve never seen bookmarks like these.

I’m still not sure if this design makes much sense, but it certainly is cute.

At this point, I started losing track of what aisles I’d already toured.
The Weathertight Clear Totes looked like a great option for moving.

The Weathertight Clear Totes looked like a great choice for reusable moving boxes and basement storage.

Prices ranged from $14.99 for a 6.5-quart tote to $34.99 for a 74-quart tote.

And who doesn’t love a clearance section?
These wine chillers originally sold for $98 each.

Though this definitely wasn’t a need, I’m disappointed I didn’t snag one while it was on sale for $29.40.

Overall, my trip to The Container Store made me realize that I’m probably not the brand’s target audience … for now.
The Container Store storefront on Sixth Avenue in New York City.

Malhotra told Modern Retail, “There will always be a cheaper alternative to a plastic bin. Our objective is not to compete there because we don’t have the scale and buying power to do so.”

Instead, he said it’s about offering “a white glove experience” through Custom Spaces and the brand’s merchandise. He added that The Container Store differentiates itself from the Walmarts and Targets of the world by spending time with customers to help them choose the right products for their space.

Therefore, it seems that The Container Store is looking to target shoppers who not only have an established home base but also plan to invest in it for years to come.

As a 20-something-year-old who plans to bounce from rental to rental for the next few years, I’m nowhere near that phase of my life. So, buying more expensive organizers that may only fit my current apartment just isn’t worth it for me.

However, if you have the money, space, and time, I completely understand falling in love with The Container Store. But for now, my visits will simply remain sources of inspiration.