THE CONTAINER STORE
Location
3825 Gallagher Dr., Edina, 952-831-3780, www.containerstore.com
(46 stores nationwide)
Sales
Annual Elfa 30-percent-off sale (Dec. 24 to early February), tax-time sale (early February to April 15), spring-organization sale (end of March to mid-May), organized-travel sale (mid-May to early July) and summer sale (July to early September).
Selection
Larger than Storables, with more choices in most departments.
Customer service
Doting. Whether it's a new store's honeymoon phase, I don't know, but you won't have to wait long for assistance.
Return policy
Liberal. Store credit without a receipt.
Free demos
Free gift wrap and bow demonstrations at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Dec. 21.
Strengths
Gift wrap section for the holidays, newest colors in home design, good gadget and moving box selection. Elfa's great-looking free-standing units for kitchen, office, den are portable. Free pickup service for orders placed by phone or via Internet.
Weaknesses
Smaller kids' organization section, no free gift wrap, tall shelves that block views, higher prices than big-box stores on standard items, no formal price-matching policy.
Storables
Location
7401 France Av. S., Edina, 952-831-5600, www.storables.com (nine stores nationwide)
Sales
Holiday-storage sale the day after Thanksgiving, closet-organization sale (late December to early January), fall sale (August to early September), kitchen event (October).
Selection
Slightly smaller store. Fewer choices than the Container Store in some categories.
Customer service
Attentive and experienced. It's not as hyper-attentive as the Container Store's, but the employees, some of whom were with the store when it was Organized Living, have more experience.
Return policy
30 days with a receipt. Store credit without a receipt.
Free demos
Closet organization workshop Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. Sign up in advance.
Strengths
Slightly lower prices on many items compared with the Container Store, excellent selection for kitchen and garage storage and gadgets, price-matching policy.
Weaknesses
No free gift wrap, no pickup service for orders placed by phone or Internet yet, but expected by first quarter 2009. Higher prices than big-box stores on standard items.