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.

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.

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.

Location

7401 France Av. S., Edina, 952-831-5600, www.storables.com (nine stores nationwide)

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.

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.