Travelers in first and business class may be spoiled with welcome gifts, multi-course meals, and private seats for lounging. While tickets aren't cheap, credit card and airline rewards programs have made the luxurious cabins accessible for those accumulating points and miles.
If you're upgrading a flight for the first time, Gilbert Ott, who flies an estimated 200,000 miles a year, has a few tips for those who want to blend in with the first-class and business-class crowds and avoid annoying more seasoned premium passengers.
Don't ask if everything is free in first class.
"I think the etiquette is that first class is about indulgence," Ott told Business Insider.
Ott doesn't recommend asking flight attendants if each bonus offering is free because everything is complimentary, from meals to sparkling wine.
And there's nothing wrong with "filling your boots" to make the most of the perks, he added.
Don't expect too much in business class.
While first-class passengers often get personalized experiences where they're greeted by name, business-class passengers shouldn't expect the same level of attention.
"Business class is about efficiency. It's a comfortable seat where you can sleep or work," Ott said.
But staff members serve dozens of people in business class, whereas first-class cabins typically seat less than 10 passengers, he added.
"There's a lot of work that goes into all those meals and drinks," Ott said. "So if you're looking for an over-the-top experience, then first class is where you can expect staff to make the flight awesome. And that's what you're paying for."
Don't hover over passengers in doored seats.
If you've flown recently, you may have noticed that many business and first-class cabins have added doors to each seat to give passengers more privacy.
Ott said you shouldn't infringe on another traveler's space to fetch items from overhead bins.
"Don't awkwardly hover over the person because the whole idea of doors is that people can't look in on you," Ott said. "So when you wake up and someone is looking over your space, it's odd."
Don't take up too much overhead bin space.
BI previously reported that premium cabin passengers are often entitled to overhead bin space, and according to Ott, the bins are usually not too crowded. But that doesn't mean you should bring extra bags and put them wherever you want, as Ott has seen many passengers do.
Instead, Ott suggests keeping your limited belongings in the space above your seat.
Nordstrom's founding family is taking the retail chain private with help from a Mexican retailer.
Bruce Nordstrom, whose grandfather started the department store in 1901, died in May.
Here's how Nordstrom grew from a single location in Seattle into a fashion empire.
The descendants of John W. Nordstrom are taking the eponymous department store chain private.
Nordstrom's great-grandsons Pete and Erik, who are now the company's President and CEO, respectively, are working with cousin Jamie Nordstrom, the company's chief merchandising officer, and Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool to purchase the company at $24.25 per share, the group said on Monday. The deal gives Nordstrom an enterprise value of $6.25 billion and should be completed in the first half of 2025, the group said.
Earlier this year, Pete and Erik's father, Bruce, died at the age of 90 after a long career with the company.
The grandson of founder John W. Nordstrom, Bruce was instrumental in bringing the retailer to international prominence in a career that spanned four decades.
Here's how the Nordstroms built their empire from a single shoe store in Seattle to one of the biggest names in fashion retail.
Nordstrom was founded as a shoe store by John W. Nordstrom and Carl F. Wallin in Seattle in 1901.
Two decades later, the partners opened a second store in Seattle's University District.
John Nordstrom retired in 1928 and sold his share to his sons Everett and Elmer.
Wallin retired soon after and sold his share of the company to the Nordstrom sons too. John's third son, Lloyd, later joined the team.
John Nordstrom's sons focused on expanding into women's clothing.
Nordstrom purchased the Seattle-based clothing store Best's Apparel in 1963. Three years later, the company purchased a Portland, Oregon-based clothing store and began offering both shoes and apparel under the name Nordstrom Best. The company added men's and children's apparel in 1966.
In 1968, the three Nordstrom brothers handed the company over to the next generation.
Everett's son Bruce, Elmer's sons James and John, Lloyd's son-in-law Jack, and family friend Bob Bender became the new heads of the company. The third generation of Nordstrom chairmen took the company public in 1971, formally renaming it Nordstrom Inc.
The first Nordstrom Rack opened in the basement of the downtown Seattle store in 1973.
That same year, the company became the largest-volume fashion specialty store on the West Coast, with sales surpassing $100 million. The chain continued to expand throughout the next several decades.
In 1995, Nordstrom's third generation handed the reins over to the fourth.
The elder Nordstroms retired as co-chairmen, but remained on the Board of Directors, and Bruce's sons, Blake, Pete, and Erik, took over the company in 1995.
Bruce's oldest son Blake became co-president in 1995.
Blake began working in the family business when he was about 11 years old. His first role with the company was in the stockroom, and he went on to hold many positions with the company, including merchandise buyer, regional manager, and then vice president in charge of stores in Washington and Alaska.
Erik Nordstrom worked for his older brother in various positions at the company as the two rose through the ranks together.
"It was always the best working for my brother because he had more confidence in me and gave me more autonomy than anybody I had ever worked for," Erik Nordstrom said in his father's 2007 book, "Leave It Better Than You Found It."
Bruce returned as chairman in 2000, retiring for a second time in 2006.
Bruce and his sons were credited with turning the company around after several years of underperformance by non-family leadership.
Throughout the 2000s, Nordstrom partnered with fashion brands like Façonnable, Topshop, HauteLook, and Jeffery.
In 2014, the company started expanding internationally. It opened stores in Canada and the US territory of Puerto Rico.
Nordstrom opened its first menswear-only store in 2018 and a flagship womenswear store in 2019.
The concept combined in-store services, such as tailoring, shoe shining, and food, with high-tech digital ordering and returns systems.
Blake died in 2019 at the age of 58, passing control of the company to his brothers.
"Blake was the best big brother, friend and mentor anyone could ever ask for," Pete and Erik Nordstrom said in a note to employees. "One of the things that brings us some comfort is that Blake's values, character and passion can still be reflected in what this company does β how we treat each other, our customers and our communities. Building on that is the best way we can think of to honor his legacy."
In April, Pete and Erik revealed that the company was exploring options to go private.
In regulatory filings, the brother said they had not yet received any financing commitments to complete such a deal.
In May, Bruce died at his home at the age of 90.
Nordstrom died on May 18.
"Our dad leaves a powerful legacy as a legendary business leader, a generous community citizen and a loyal friend," Pete and Erik said in a statement.
In December, Erik, Pete, and other Nordstrom family members reached a deal to take the company private.
The deal with Mexican retailer El Puerto de Liverpool was developed over several months. Once completed, the Nordstrom descendants will own 50.1% of he department store chain, with the other 49.9% in the hands of Liverpool, Nordstrom said on Monday.
Jessica Tyler contributed to an earlier version of this story.
Taylor Swift has become a regular at Kansas City Chiefs games since she started dating Travis Kelce.
Her NFL style was initially laid-back, as she appeared in simple sports jackets and sweatshirts.
Now, Swift has leaned into luxury and subtle nods to Kelce for her gameday looks.
Taylor Swift made her NFL debut in September 2023, revealing her romance with Travis Kelce in dramatic fashion by supporting him at a Kansas City Chiefs game at Arrowhead Stadium.
From standout $70,000 outfits to forgettable athletic looks, here's a look at everything she's worn in her WAG era, ranked from least to most stylish.
Taylor Swift's first gameday outfit was cute but ultimately forgettable.
She made her Arrowhead Stadium debut in studded $190 Ksubi shorts, a white $105 DΓ΄en tank top, and $192 New Balance sneakers β all sold out as of November 2024.
The same could be said for the leather and denim getup she sported in October 2023.
As the Chiefs battled the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, Swift cheered the team on from a box suite.
Her simple outfit for the occasion included $528 denim shorts with crystal detailing from Area (which have since sold out), a black long-sleeved shirt, and a leather jacket from Gant.
She also accessorized with a $9,250 diamond choker and $1,795 Louboutin boots.
The outfit she wore to a December 2023 game had lots of team spirit but lacked interesting details.
Her Chiefs pullover, for example, was a light-gray shade that didn't stand out in the audience. Her plaid skirt was also understated.
The most interesting aspects of her outfit were the accessories. Swift wore a $598 Mejuri ring with a red stone in the middle and a $35 handmade hat from a local Kansas City artist.
Swift quickly became intentional with her outfit choices.
For a game in October 2023, Swift arrived wearing a red, white, and black jacket covered in Kansas City logos. The $130 piece, which is now sold out, was the work of Wear by Erin Andrews.
Though the jacket wasn't part of her flashiest outfit, Swift undeniably left her mark on the sports anchor's clothing business.
"I started screaming and freaking out and singing all my favorite Swiftie songs. And then yeah, we restocked, and we sold out. And thank you, thank you, Taylor Swift," Andrews told Seth Meyers during an appearance on his show.
Her vintage sweatshirt for an October 2023 game had a bit more personality.
Swift paired a vintage Chiefs sweatshirt from Ellie Mae Studios with a black pleated skirt and loafers.
As usual, she added an assortment of jewelry to elevate her look, including Cartier's $13,400 Juste un Clou necklace. She also wore the $3,600 Heavy Belcher bracelet and the $1,050 Enamel Miniature Medallion from Foundrae, as well as Jacquie Aiche's $5,775 evil-eye bracelet and $4,675 7 Diamond Kate Smooth Bar bracelet.
Swift completed her look with a $21 custom friendship bracelet featuring an 87 in a sweet nod to Kelce, who wore a red plaid shirt after the game that coordinated with Swift's gameday look.
The designer jacket she wore to a game in January screamed luxury.
Rather than wearing team gear, Swift arrived at the sporting event in a white varsity jacket from Gant's collaboration with Kilo Kish.
The high-fashion piece featured stars and other shapes in the Chiefs' signature red, matching Swift's winter beanie and lipstick.
The jacket, which retailed for $1,800, is now sold out.
There was no missing Swift when she arrived at Arrowhead Stadium for a game in November.
She was photographed wearing a vintage, leather Chiefs jacket β a fan said her parents sold it on eBay for $169 β and black shorts from Agolde.
Other pieces included $2,195 Louboutin boots, a $3,900 Dior saddle bag, and a $630 belt from The Row. But it was her gold and diamond accessories that stole the show.
Swift wore $575 Louis Vuitton earrings, a $4,475 Chanel necklace, a $3,150 Louis Vuitton ring, and a $4,150 ring from Retrouvai.
One of Swift's most memorable looks came on Christmas Day.
She attended the holiday Chiefs game alongside her brother Austin, who was dressed as Santa Claus.
Though Swift wasn't in costume, she was dressed with holiday spirit. To complement her Santa hat, which was embroidered with Kelce's jersey number, Swift wore an $895 bomber jacket from Guest in Residence, which has since sold out.
She also sported a now-sold-out Hill House skirt, $35 Sheertex tights, and heeled Prada loafers.
Swift's Super Bowl look was fairly simple, but a slew of symbolic accessories made it stand out.
The base of Swift's look for the 2024 Super Bowl β which the Chiefs won β was all black. She paired Dion Lee's crochet corset top with Area's $695 crystal slit jeans and $1,195 suede ankle boots from Christian Louboutin.
Swift also wore a red Chiefs bomber jacket from WEAR by Erin Andrews, which cost $129. Her accessories also nodded to the Chiefs, like Judith Leiber's red football clutch. The bag is not available in red online, but brown, gold, and pink versions cost $3,995 on the brand's website.
Her $3,325 necklace from Stephanie Gottlieb featured an 87, a nod to Kelce's jersey number. She also wore a diamond tennis choker from the brand, which cost $7,995.
Swift adorned herself with other red jewelry, including two rings from Shahla Karimi, Retrouvai's $4,550 Ruby Magna ring, and The Last Line's $695 diamond-studded Heart Twist earring, which is sold individually.
Swift put a more glamorous spin on her NFL style when the Chiefs played the Green Bay Packers in December 2023.
Instead of wearing a sweatshirt or jersey with the Chiefs logo, Swift donned Stella McCartney's $2,400 belted teddy coat for an away game in Wisconsin. The red color was perfect to support the Chiefs.
The rest of Swift's look was black, including her Louis Vuitton mini wrap skirt, which retails for $3,400. She also wore a black mock-neck top with Cartier's Agrafe Herringbone Twisted necklace atop it. The $27,250 necklace featured gold and diamond detailing, matching Swift's $1,400 linked tennis earrings from Vrai.
Stuart Weitzman's $995 thigh-high Vidaland boots completed her ensemble.
Her coordinating Vivienne Westwood set for an October game was among her most high-fashion NFL looks.
The $1,875 off-the-shoulder Sunday corset and $1,010 Meghan kilt from Vivienne Westwood featured a plaid pattern with maroon detailing that subtly nodded to the Chiefs.
Vivienne Westwood also designed Swift's $1,270 Grace boots and $590 Belle Heart-Frame Jacquard bag.
She didn't hold back on her jewelry for the game, wearing over $46,000 worth of it with the look, including her Cartier necklace and $5,680 custom diamond TNT bracelet from Wove that Kelce gave her as a gift.
Jacquie Aiche designed Swift's bracelets: the $4,675 Seven-Diamond Kate Smooth Bar bracelet and the $5,250 evil-eye bracelet. SheΒ also wore various rings, including Shahla Karimi's $3,490Β Cloud Offset Pear ringΒ and two custom-made ruby-studded rings from Effy Jewelry.
Swift's jacket for the Chiefs' New Year's Eve game coordinated with a piece Kelce wore the same week.
Swift's look for the game between the Chiefs and the Bengals was simple: black pants, a belt, and a black top.
But a white-and-black varsity jacket designed by Jeff Hamilton brought a pop of team spirit to her look. The jacket featured an assortment of patches, including the "KC" arrowhead logo on the front and back, the NFL logo, and a football helmet. Swift's jacket also said "Chiefs" in red lettering.
Kelce and Swift's jackets were custom, but Hamilton sells a similar jacket for $850 on his website.
Swift subtly paid tribute to her boyfriend with a gold and diamond bracelet last year.
After Kelce and his teammates won the 2024 AFC Championship, Swift joined him on the field to celebrate. There, fans got a closer look at her red and black outfit.
It included a $695 red sweater from Guest in Residence, $2,830 earrings from Wwake, a $6,250 diamond ring from Jacquie Aiche, and $35 Sheertex tights.
But the gold, diamond-embellished tennis bracelet from Wove seemingly had the most sentimental value to Swift.
The brand's founder, Kendall Junck, previously told Business Insider that the bracelet was part of a jewelry collaboration with pro golfer Michelle Wie West, who is friends with Kelce.
She said that when West reached out to gift Kelce some of the pieces, he requested matching bracelets with the letters "TNT" for Taylor and Travis.
Swift's oversize T-shirt dress offered a fun spin on Chiefs merchandise for their September game against the Bengals.
Swift's oversize 1995 Salem shirt hit her mid-thigh, allowing her to wear it as a dress. The red piece featured the Chiefs logo and the team's name.
Swift did not reveal where she bought the shirt, though Kansas City business Westside Storey, which sells souvenirs and curated vintage items, told BI it was selling the same piece a week before she was spotted wearing it.
Swift paired the top with Giuseppe Zanotti's $1,650 Frannie boots and Louis Vuitton's Coussin bag, which retails for $4,800.
She wore several high-end jewelry pieces, including Louis Vuitton's $625 My LV Chain earrings. Swift also stacked two necklaces, Vitaly's $120 Shimmer Chain and Melinda Maria's $118 Julian Loves Diamonds Necklace 16, which features diamondettes.
Swift rocked a vintage sweatshirt at a Chiefs game in December 2023.
Swift attended the Chiefs game against the Buffalo Bills in December 2023 wearing a $250 vintage sweatshirt, which said "Chiefs" in large letters and featured the team's logo on one sleeve.
Swift dressed up the casual sweatshirt by pairing it with aΒ $2,100 leather miniskirtΒ from Khaite, which she wore backward, LarroudeΜ's $500 Kate Hi boots in black leather, and GANT 240 Mulberry Street's $1,700 tailored coat in black.
She also added Mejuri's Heirloom Ring, which costs $648, and Mazin Jewels Open Rivet Ring, a $64 piece.
Her custom jacket for the Chiefs' playoff game against the Miami Dolphins in January was one of a kind.
Swift attended the playoff game in a custom red jacket made by Kristin Juszczyk, a designer married to San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Kristin made the oversize puffer jacket using one of Kelce's jerseys, as she documented in a TikTok, so it featured his number, 87, on the front and sleeve, as well as his name. She also embroidered "Chiefs Kingdom" onto the jacket.
Swift focused her look on the jacket, pairing it with a black top, Paige's $249Β Gemma pants, and $1,395 Christian Louboutin combat boots.
She also wore Anine Bing's Waylon belt, which retails for $200 but is out of stock, and carried the $525 Ilda Bag from Manu Atelier.
She wore all denim at the 2024-2025 season opener.
Swift seemed to signal she was fully stepping into her WAG era at the season opener in September, arriving at Arrowhead Stadium in an all-denim look.
She paired a denim version of Versace's Medusa corset, which retails for $1,325, with $174 mom shorts from Grlfrnd.
Swift also wore Giuseppe Zanotti's $1,650 burgundy thigh-high Frannie boots. The pricey shoes were more affordable than her Louis Vuitton side trunk bag, retailing for $3,950.
An assortment of high-end jewelry completed Swift's ensemble, including her TNT bracelet and a 1970s-inspired coin necklace from For Future Reference. The brand's founder, Randi Molofsky, previously told BI that the brand collaborated with Swift's stylist on the look.
"We were so lucky to work directly with Taylor's longtime stylist, Joseph Cassell Falconer, on last night's look for Taylor," he said. "He came to us specifically for the vintage coin necklace because he really had a vision of that bold, glam '70s style to pair with the denim-on-denim and over-the-thigh boot."
The priciest element of her outfit was a $29,100 ring from Retrouvai, which she paired with Howl's $4,800 Ruby Cocoon ring. Lizzie Mandler's $13,200 three-row Cleo bracelet sat on her wrist while she wore EF Collection's $895 diamond and prong chain earrings and the $590 Love Explosion Starburst Charm earrings from Three Stories Jewelry in her ears.
Swift wore $66,970 worth of jewelry for the look.
Swift elevated her style from sporty to chic in November.
Swift then arrived at a Chiefs home game in a red-and-black checked Versace blazer and skirt that cost $3,350 and $1,695, respectively.
The blazer sat on her shoulders, showing off the $34.99 Victoria's Secret corset Swift wore as a top.
Swift's standout jewelry piece for the game was the gold Tambour Watch from Louis Vuitton she wore on her wrist. It retails for $54,000, and Kelce has a coordinating timepiece.
In recent decades, there's been a very visible pipeline from politics to the media industry.
Some critics have pushed backed against former political figures migrating to major news networks.
Several key figures have successfully made the jump, becoming staples of TV news.
In recent decades, the politics-to-media pipeline has become an enduring phenomenon, with former party leaders and communications gurus using their previous gigs to become well-compensated hosts and pundits on network news programs.
Here's a look at key figures who have successfully made the jump over the past few decades:
George Stephanopoulos
Stephanopoulos has become a household name as a result of his nearly 15-year tenure as a co-anchor on ABC's "Good Morning America."
Before Stephanopoulos became one of the biggest names at ABC News, he had a background steeped in Democratic politics, first as an aide to onetime Rep. Edward Feighan of Ohio in the 1980s before working on the unsuccessful 1988 presidential campaign of then-Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis.
Stephanopoulos rose to prominence as a deputy campaign manager for Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign, later serving as White House communications director and a senior advisor in the administration.
At ABC News, Stephanopoulos is not only one of the faces of the weekday morning team but he also serves as the anchor of "This Week," the network's Sunday public affairs program.
In December 2024, ABC News settled a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump against Stephanopoulos and the network after the host during a March interview said Trump had been "found liable for rape" in the case involving the writer E. Jean Carroll. (Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting and defaming Carroll.)
Joe Scarborough
Scarborough was elected to the US House from Florida during the 1994 "Republican Revolution," when his party regained a majority in the lower chamber after 50 years of Democratic control.
While in Congress, Scarborough championed conservative policies on everything from foreign affairs to the federal budget.
He later stepped down from the House in September 2001.
In 2003, Scarborough began hosting the MSNBC program "Scarborough Country." The show ran until 2007.
Since 2007, he has hosted the MSNBC program "Morning Joe."
In March 2024, Both Scarborough and his cohost (and wife) Mika Brzezinski publicly voiced their disagreement over the McDaniel hire and stated that she would not be a guest on their program.
After President-elect Donald Trump's November 2024 victory, Scarborough and Brzezinski were rebuked by many of their viewers after the pair went to Mar-a-Lago after the election in a push to "restart communications" with the incoming president, whom they were very critical of during the campaign.
Scarborough defended the move and waved off the criticism.
"Yesterday I saw for the first time what a massive disconnect there was between social media and the real world because we were flooded with phone calls from people all day, literally around the world, all very positive, very supportive," he said in November.
Jen Psaki
As White House press secretary from January 2021 until May 2022, Psaki was the public face of President Joe Biden's administration.
Before that, she was a White House deputy press secretary, deputy communications director and communications director under President Barack Obama β as well as a State Department spokesperson in his administration.
In between her stint with the Obama and Biden administrations, she served as a CNN political contributor.
She now hosts the MSNBC program "Inside with Jen Psaki," which premiered in March 2023.
Nicolle Wallace
Since 2017, Wallace has been an integral part of the MSNBC lineup as the host of "Deadline: White House."
Wallace previously served as the White House communications director from January 2005 until July 2006 under President George W. Bush and later worked as a senior advisor for John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.
In 2014, Wallace joined ABC's "The View" as a co-host, but exited the program at the end of the season.
Michael Steele
Steele, an attorney and former Maryland lieutenant governor, was one of the most prominent Black Republican officeholders during the George W. Bush era.
In 2006, Steele unsuccessfully ran for the US Senate in Maryland, winning the GOP nomination but losing the general election to Democrat Ben Cardin.
He served as chair of the Republican National Committee from 2009 to 2011, leading the party as it picked up 63 seats in the House (and thus retook control) in the 2010 midterm elections.
In May 2011, Steele became a MSNBC political analyst.
Steele now hosts the MSNBC program "The Weekend," alongside commentator Alicia Menendez and former Kamala Harris chief spokesperson Symone Sanders-Townsend.
Claire McCaskill
For years, McCaskill carved out a reputation as a moderate Democrat, serving as a prosecutor and as Missouri's auditor.
Despite the increasingly conservative lean of Missouri, McCaskill was elected to the US Senate in both 2006 and 2012, but she was unseated by Republican Josh Hawley in 2018.
McCaskill has since become a NBC News and MSNBC political analyst, and is a frequent guest on "Morning Joe."
Symone Sanders-Townsend
Sanders-Townsend rose to prominence as the national press secretary for Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, where she was a highly-visible force in boosting the independent Vermont lawmaker's bid.
Sanders lost the Democratic primary to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that year, but Sanders-Townsend later emerged as an advisor for Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.
After Biden won the presidency, Sanders-Townsend became a senior advisor and the chief spokesperson for Vice President Harris. She would later depart Harris' office and pivot back to a perch in media.
Sanders-Townsend can now be seen on MSNBC's "The Weekend" alongside Steele and Menendez.
Living in a one-bedroom apartment definitely requires some innovative storage solutions. In the past year, I've looked to stores like Target, Ikea, Walmart, and Amazon for homeware items, but I can't stop my Type-A mind from searching for options to make my space more efficient.
Enter The Container Store, a home storage and organization retailer founded in 1978 in Texas. The company now has 102 stores across the US.
However, while the company boasts a cult-like following, sales have struggled. On December 22, the company filed for bankruptcy, revealing in court documents that it's $230 million in debt. Still, CEO and president Satish Malhotra said, "The Container Store is here to stay."
The filing comes after months of other documented financial struggles. In June, The Container Store reported that first fiscal quarter sales were down 12.2% compared to the same period in 2023. The following month, Modern Retail reported that the company hadn't "posted a full-year profit" since 2021.
In September, I visited The Container Store's Sixth Avenue location in Manhattan to see if the storage solutions were right for me and if I could understand the brand's sales decline.
Here's what I found.
When I entered the Manhattan store, I was happy to see it lived up to its name, with aisles and aisles of βΒ you guessed it β containers.
As soon as I stepped inside, I was shocked at the massive space. According to the retailer's website, stores have "an average size of approximately >24,000 square feet (18,000 selling square feet)."
Though this location spanned just one floor, all I could see were aisles and aisles of items lining its perimeter and throughout its center.
The store was largely sectioned by the room you're looking to organize, such as the closet, bathroom, kitchen, garage, office, and more.
I started with the closet section and loved the look β but not the price β of these Drop-Front Shoe Boxes.
During my visit, a case of six was on sale for $59.99, but I still couldn't justify purchasing these, given that my boyfriend and I easily have about 30 pairs of shoes β it would cost us about $300 at a minimum.
But even if we were comfortable justifying the price, I wouldn't expect these boxes to be very apartment-friendly given their size; one case of six measures 11 1/16 inches by 14 7/16 inches by 7 1/4 inches.
As much as I would love to include these in a future dressing room, I had to pass.
As expected, there were plenty of decorative bins, like this Scalloped Maize Storage Bin.
This one was a good size at 11 inches by 15 inches by 8 1/2 inches and retailed for $29.99.
There was no shortage of hangers.
My favorite was the Non-Slip Velvet Suit Hangers, which retailed for $9.99 for a 10-pack.
Though I didn't need any more hangers, I would definitely consider purchasing from here in the future, thanks to the wide selection of colors and materials.
I loved these jewelry boxes by Stackers.
There were plenty of drawer options customers could "stack" to build their perfect custom jewelry box, which I loved.
However, I had difficulty locating the prices of each drawer type on the shelves.
The Stackers Belt Organizer seemed like a great practical gift for the holidays.
This belt organizer, retailing for $24.99, could sit on a closet shelf or in a drawer next to similar organizers.
Moving on to bathrooms, there were plenty of countertop organizers.
There were plenty of decorative storage options, from soap dispensers and toothbrush holders to apothecary jars and trays.
But I don't understand the appeal of acrylic.
The Luxe Acrylic Large Tray pictured above satisfies an itch in my brain that loves the aesthetically pleasing bathrooms I see on Pinterest and TikTok.
But, having been fooled by acrylic pieces, I think these dishes seem more trouble than they're worth. Given the likelihood of dried water, toothpaste, and soap drips, this tray could easily become an eyesore, just like my old acrylic toothbrush holder did.
These pieces don't appear to serve much purpose, especially at a cost of $24.99.
I was shocked to see this makeup organizer retailing for $60.99.
As smart as this storage kit looked, I would never spend this amount when similar options on Amazon are sold at fractions of the price.
And I'm not sure how useful a toilet roll dispenser could really be.
Maybe I'm missing out βΒ and maybe it speaks to the space I have in my bathroom β but for $49.99, I'd rather just grab a new roll of toilet paper from the pack when I need it.
However, I really liked these hair tool storage options.
My hair dryer and diffuser attachment have a bad habit of getting tangled under my sink, so I could see this being a great addition to my bathroom that would be worth the $25.
And I enjoyed browsing the mock closets by Custom Spaces.
One thing I didn't know about The Container Store before my visit was that it has staff designers available to help curate "Custom Spaces."
In collaboration with acquisitions Elfa and Closet Works, "Custom Spaces" was identified as a key part of the company's growth strategy.
Launched in November 2022 as a rebranded expansion of the company's "Custom Closets," The Container Store's Custom Spaces "is defined by three areas of the home: Closet Spaces, Living Spaces, and Garage Spaces," the company said at the time.
As part of this effort, The Container Store launched a new "Garage + Elfa" line in October 2023 and expanded its "Decor+ by Elfa" line in June 2024. Elfa was not included in the bankruptcy.
My favorite section to explore was all of the aisles dedicated to kitchens.
Look at all these storage options!
These Montana Jars were added to my holiday wishlist immediately.
These jars appeared straight out of my Pinterest dreams and seem perfect for holding baking ingredients like flour and sugar.
The collection includes three jar sizes: 1.5 quarts, 2 quarts, and 3 quarts. They retail for $19.99, $21.99, and $26.99, respectively, making the full collection about $69.
Plastic and stainless-steel scoops were also available on another shelf nearby.
This water bottle organizer also deserves a spot in my cabinets.
YouCopia's Upspace Bottle Organizer 2-Shelf holds eight to 10 bottles and costs $24.99.
This bakeware organizer makes great sense, especially in a small living space.
Even if I'm not happy with its $65.99 price tag.
I also appreciated this shopper-friendly display for mapping drawer organizers.
If you're looking for something specific, visit the store with measurements in mind so you don't have to guess what product would best fit your space.
However, I wasn't sold on this $45 spice rack.
Call me picky, but I wouldn't like picking through the bottles to find the spice I'm looking for, and I'm not a huge fan of labels.
But if you are a fan of labels, they have plenty.
Near the crafting section were packs of labels for kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, playrooms, and more.
Each pack from the "Everything Organizer Collection" retailed for $12.99.
I moved on to more storage options for clothing.
This section included plenty of laundry baskets to choose from.
I have closet organizers like these, which've been a lifesaver for small spaces.
They're perfect for maximizing closet space when there isn't much room for dressers.
I also found a few kid-friendly storage options.
These animal-themed bins seemed perfect for a child's bedroom or an elementary school classroom, but I was a bit surprised by the cost.
For example, the peacock storage cube was listed for $19.99, but another unpictured sloth cube was listed for $26.99.
There were also sets of rainbow-colored storage bins and rolling chests.
I was surprised to see Jason and Kylie Kelce while walking through the garage section.
Malhotra told Modern Retail in July that the brand is "starting to do more collaborations."
"I think the partnership we did with the Kelces was really encouraging for customers to see," he said. "Oftentimes, they think that expense is a reason why things are not done, and they look at someone like the Kelces and they go, 'Obviously money is not an issue for them.' Their issue was knowledge, time, and solutions, and that's why they wanted to work with The Container Store."
There were plenty of options for trash cans, too.
Ranging in size, color, and material, I loved the variety available.
I also enjoyed browsing the office and stationery sections.
There were so many trinkets, pens, and notepads to choose from.
There were fun options, like this candy-themed highlighter pack.
I would've loved having these in my pencil pouch in elementary school.
I liked the simplicity of this to-do list by Ramona & Ruth.
If I didn't already own four different notebooks and calendars, this would've been a very easy $15.99 out of my wallet.
I was also surprised by the number of seemingly random trinkets available.
Like this beginner crochet kit.
Here's another example: mushroom bookmarks.
I'm still unsure if this design makes much sense, but it is cute.
At this point, I started losing track of what aisles I'd already toured.
There were just so many choices.
Here are some more options in case you haven't seen enough.
The Weathertight Clear Totes looked like a great choice for reusable moving boxes and basement storage.
Prices ranged from $14.99 for a 6.5-quart tote to $34.99 for a 74-quart tote.
And who doesn't love a clearance section?
The store's clearance options were robust, with different plates, bowls, glassware, decor pieces, and more.
My favorite clearance item was this marble wine chiller.
Though this definitely wasn't a need, I'm disappointed I didn't snag one while it was on sale for $29.40.
Overall, my trip to The Container Store made me realize that I'm probably not the brand's target audience ... for now.
Malhotra told Modern Retail in July, "There will always be a cheaper alternative to a plastic bin. Our objective is not to compete there because we don't have the scale and buying power to do so."
Instead, he said it's about offering "a white glove experience" through Custom Spaces and the brand's merchandise. He added that The Container Store differentiates itself from the Walmarts and Targets of the world by spending time with customers to help them choose the right products for their space.
Therefore, it seems that The Container Store is looking to target shoppers who have an established home base and plan to invest in it for years to come.
As a 20-something-year-old who plans to bounce from rental to rental for the next few years, I'm nowhere near that phase of my life. So, buying more expensive organizers that may only fit my current apartment isn't worth it.
However, if you have the money, space, and time, I completely understand falling in love with The Container Store. But for now, my visits will simply remain sources of inspiration.
The Container Store did not reply to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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