The average pay for retail store employees is notoriously low, with a national average of about $25,000 a year. But The Container Store has broken the mold, paying its average retail salesperson approximately $50,000 per year.

A Business Insider interview with The Container Store CEO Kip Tindell reveals why the company's employees are paid a higher salary.

Tindell refers to the “1=3 rule,” which is defined as one great employee will offer the same level of productivity as three good employees. He says it’s a win for everyone involved, because the company saves money by hiring fewer but better employees. The customers win by receiving superior service by motivated employees who work with other outstanding team members.

To retain his employees Tindell also offers significant raises, up to 8 percent of their salaries, based upon individual job performance.

Tindell will become chairman of the National Retail Federation later this month.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Wait times at TSA security checkpoints at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport hovered around 10 minutes or less Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, which was projected to be the busiest security day of the year. (Maya T. Prabhu/AJC)

Credit: Maya Prabhu

Featured

Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)