The Container Store is proud to be a champion of women. Not only were our first customers primarily women, but our very first employee was also a woman. Women have always held key leadership roles within our company; presently, women make up 53% of our senior leadership positions, as well as 64% of our overall workforce. Without the amazing contributions of thousands of strong, intelligent, and compassionate women, it's safe to say that The Container Store would not be nearly as successful as it is today.
Consequently, one of our most important Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives has been finding and partnering with women-owned businesses that share our values. These businesses not only help keep our product selection fresh and relevant, but also help us connect better with our customers and the community as a whole. "As our teams search the world for new and unique products, we recognize that without diversity, creativity remains stagnant," said John Gehre, our Chief Merchandising Officer. "It's critical that we continue to find new vendors that represent our customers."
In fact, four of our favorite product vendors (Three by Three Seattle, Stasher Inc., The Laundress, and Knock Knock) were founded by--and are currently owned by--women. You can find out more about each one below.
Stashers
Entrepreneur Kat Nouri founded Stasher in 2016, and their reusable storage bags have a multitude storage and organization possibilities. Made from durable silicone, they're designed for food storage and can be used in the fridge, freezer, microwave, sous vide, or even in a pot of boiling water! They also make the perfect travel companion, safely storing snacks, toiletries, camping gear, small clothing, and more.
And Stasher's eco-friendly mission is a noble one. According to their website: "It all started with a non-toxic silicone storage bag, but since 2016 Stasher has grown into a movement that's replaced over a billion single-use plastic bags from entering our oceans and landfills." This is definitely the kind of mission we love to get behind!
Three by Three Seattle
Founded by two friends--Gwen Weinberg and Anita Nadelson--who met during a college study-aboard program in Italy, Seattle-based company Three by Three offers a wide variety of clever and colorful office products. Dry erase boards, drawer organizers, wall hooks, magnets, labels, binder clips, and acrylic desk organizers are just some of the amazing solutions they offer, and all are expertly designed with a fun, contemporary feel.
Three by Three Seattle also believes in supporting and nurturing their female employees by encouraging them live up to their full potential. "Throughout our decades-long history, we've always done our best to support our staff as they find their own personal stories," says Gwen. "As two women who created careers that would allow us to own our own lives, we encourage others to do the same if they have the will. Just over these past few years, we've witnessed two women take their own leaps, with each launching her own small business. We couldn't be prouder of them both!"
The Laundress
About twenty years ago, another pair of college buddies (Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd) teamed up to form The Laundress, a company devoted to creating sustainable, plant-based laundry and cleaning products. Their signature line of detergents, cleansers, soaps, hampers, wash bags, and other clothing care products are made from quality materials and come in post-consumer recycled packaging.
Knock Knock
Knock Knock, founded in 2002 by the ever-creative Jen Bilik, is a company that lives by two mottos: "We put the fun in functional" and "Make a list--you'll feel better." The end result is an incredibly useful and entertaining collection of notepads and planners. Whether you need to make a grocery run, organize your schedule, jot down a reminder, or simply write a note to brighten someone's day, Knock Knock has exactly what you need!
We also invite you to support female entrepreneurs by contributing to the Lillie Knox Fund. Presented by the Women's Business Council Southwest, the Lillie Knox Fund is a cash prize of up to $20,000, exclusively available to WBCS Women's Business Enterprises, to help further business growth. The campaign will run throughout the month of March, and you can support the Lillie Knox Fund by making a donation here.
