Kip Tindell, CEO of Container Store Group, will be named as chairman of the National Retail Federation (NRF) next month and the organization may never be the same. Mr. Tindell, an advocate of conscious capitalism who manages a company known for its "yummy culture" is hoping that some of his thinking on topics like the minimum wage will rub off on peers in the group.
Mr. Tindell is known for supporting a raise in the national minimum wage, a position that conflicts with that promoted by the NRF. Earlier this year, a press release from the group described proposed legislation to raise the minimum as "an anti-job tax that would lead to higher labor costs for employers and fewer opportunities for young and entry-level workers."
In an interview with Bloomberg News yesterday, Mr. Tindell said, "I'm working, frankly, to get the NRF to maybe moderate its view on that. It's unbecoming to speak out against raising the minimum wage."
In response to Mr. Tindell's remarks, NRF senior vice president Bill Thome, said, "We look forward to Kip's continued leadership in facilitating the larger discussions on a myriad of complex challenges and opportunities that impact retail enterprises of all types and sizes. Diverse opinions and perspectives from NRF members are what make our industry strong and our advocacy efforts effective."
Mr. Tindell's company is known for paying its employees well. In his new book, Uncontainable: How Passion, Commitment, and Conscious Capitalism Built a Business Where Everyone Thrives, Mr. Tindell writes that his company pays floor sales people 50 to 100 percent above the average for the retail industry, with full-timers making about $50,000 a year.
"Our people feel mildly tickled about their compensation," Mr. Tindell wrote. "Most businesses have people who don't feel good about their compensation. And in the aggregate, the totals for those companies don't look good either."
- Minimum-Wage Backers to Get Unlikely Ally From NRF - Bloomberg News
- Retailers Opposed Increase in Federal Minimum Wage - National Retail Federation
- Container Store CEO on its 'Yummy Culture' and 'The Customer Dance' - The Wall Street Journal (sub. required)
- Uncontainable Launches Today! Enter to Win! - Container Store