When The Container Store's first store location opened in Dallas in the summer of 1978, among the store's eclectic selection of products was a small assortment of Elfa drawer units. (In those days, they had brown frames and white wire drawers.) Although our own history was just beginning, by that time the Swedish shelving and storage company had already been manufacturing home storage and organization products for 30 years.
Elfa drawer units (lower left and upper right) can be seen among the products in our very first store location in 1978.
In the post-World War II years, Sweden was at the center of the flourishing Scandinavian design movement, which had a huge influence on everything from textiles to architecture. It was in the midst of this creative boom that Elfa was born. Founded by engineer Arne Lydmar in 1948 and headquartered in Malmö, Sweden, Elfa began creating countless amazing products, beginning with dish racks and wire shelves and eventually expanding into sturdy, sophisticated wall-mounted modular storage solutions. These solutions emphasized minimalist design and functionality and were beloved by Swedish customers seeking to use their living space more efficiently. Over time, Elfa became a more popular choice outside its native country, and now Elfa International is proudly celebrating 75 years at the forefront of home organization and interior design.
Check out the video below for a short history of Elfa!
As The Container Store grew and opened multiple store locations over the next two decades, Elfa remained the cornerstone of our brand. Then, when Elfa International went up for sale in 1999, we took a chance and made the decision to purchase the company. Luckily for both of us, it turned out to be one of the best decisions we've ever made! Integrating Elfa into The Container Store family and developing products alongside them has been a terrific and rewarding experience, allowing us to offer our customers an innovative, ever-expanding selection of storage solutions. From small drawer units that fit in a cabinet to huge shelving spaces for a garage full of tools, Elfa has remained one of our most versatile and resilient organization systems.
Over the years, Elfa's incredible system has expanded to help organization almost any space, from closets and offices to garages and pantries.
Today, The Container Store is the exclusive retailer of Elfa in the United States, and Elfa International continues to sell their products to customers throughout the rest of the world. For us, it's a match made in heaven.
Here's to 75 years of Elfa, and many more! The best is yet to come!
