I’ll be honest, I did not see this one coming. If you’re an organizing addict, you may have heard the big news: The Container Store is merging with Bed Bath & Beyond. As someone who has built a career around organizing spaces and who has a long-standing relationship with The Container Store, I’ve been following this story closely since it was shared publicly. I have thoughts. And I figured you probably do too.
So let’s break it all down. At least what I know as of now.
If this feels like it came out of nowhere, let me give you a little context. The Container Store has had a rough few years. They filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2024 — in part because a $40 million investment from Beyond (the parent company behind the new Bed Bath & Beyond) never materialized — and exited bankruptcy in early 2025. After that, the company spent 2025 making significant changes: new top leadership came on board, the chief merchant left, about 70 people were let go, and capital projects were paused.
Meanwhile, Bed Bath & Beyond (yes, it’s back — it was relaunched as an online retailer after its own bankruptcy and has been quietly rebuilding) has been on an acquisition spree under CEO Marcus Lemonis. This past February, BBB announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire The Container Store for $150 million through a mix of common stock and senior convertible notes. The deal is expected to close in July 2026.
What Exactly Is Being Acquired?
This isn’t just a store buyout. The deal includes The Container Store, its Sweden-based Elfa business, and Chicago-based Closet Works. More on what that means for Elfa in a moment — because I know that’s the question some of you may have.
The transaction is expected to add more than 100 retail locations to Bed Bath & Beyond’s portfolio, representing over 2.2 million square feet of retail space. Stores will be rebranded as “The Container Store / Bed Bath and Beyond.”
As part of its broader vision, Lemonis has outlined an “Everything Home” framework built on three pillars: omnichannel retail brands, protection and financial services, and home services and installation. The Container Store fits squarely into that third pillar.
What’s Happening In Stores Right Now
Here’s the part that’s most relevant if you’re heading into a Container Store in the near future: things are changing fast.
The Container Store launched a chainwide “Store Changing” event beginning April 24th, with 98 stores nationwide resetting their selling floors to prepare for the phased integration of Bed Bath & Beyond products.
As part of the reset, the company is liquidating approximately 30% of select categories and SKUs to streamline assortments, improve space productivity, and create room for new products expected to arrive in phases throughout the year.
So yes — there are some significant sales happening right now as they clear floor space. If you’ve been eyeing something at TCS, now might actually be a good time to check in-store. Products that are being phased out to make room for BBB merchandise are being marked down, and deals are out there.
Over the coming months, stores are expected to shift to a combined format that expands beyond organization into a broader home offering, with new services tied to flooring, lighting, kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathroom cabinetry.
What About Elfa?
This is the question I’ve received more than any other since this news broke: Is Elfa going away?
Short answer: No. In fact, quite the opposite.
Elfa — founded in Stockholm in 1948 — is one of the world’s leading modular storage and organization brands, known for its customizable closet systems, shelving solutions, and space optimization products. Historically, it has been distributed in the U.S. primarily through The Container Store.
Under the new ownership, Elfa is actually being positioned for growth. Anders Rothstein, who has led the Elfa business for approximately 10 years, will be named Global CEO of Elfa International AB and will oversee all worldwide operations. Bed Bath & Beyond expects him to expand distribution, accelerate product innovation, and position Elfa as a standalone global brand — extending its reach through direct-to-consumer models, self-serve retail formats, and broader distribution partnerships.
Lemonis has described Elfa as “one of the most important growth engines” within the Home Services platform, and has said the company plans to grow the brand well beyond its historical constraints and fully realize its global potential.
For those of us who design with Elfa and recommend it to clients regularly — this is genuinely good news. The brand isn’t being diluted or discontinued; it’s being invested in.
My Personal Take
You already know that Elfa has been a cornerstone of my work at Simply Organized. I’ve been designing with it and recommending it to clients for the entire time I’ve been running this business — over a decade. It’s a system I trust, and my clients trust it too. So when news like this breaks, of course I’m paying attention.
My honest first reaction? A little sketchy, if I’m being candid.
I’ll admit — I didn’t fully realize what had happened with Bed Bath & Beyond before this merger was announced. I knew things weren’t great, but I didn’t know the full picture: that they had actually filed for bankruptcy, closed all of their physical storefronts, and pivoted to an exclusively online model. And apparently, they were doing pretty well there. That genuinely surprised me, because Bed Bath & Beyond is not a website I’m going to when I’m looking for home products or organization solutions. It’s just not where my mind goes.
And honestly, that’s part of what made me hesitant when I first heard about this merger.
When I think about Bed Bath & Beyond — based on years of walking through their stores — I think about bedding. I think about towels. Bathroom accessories. The kind of stuff you register for when you get married. I don’t think about home organization. I don’t think about the thoughtful, functional, purposeful approach to how a space works that The Container Store has always represented.
So when I started reading that the plan involves bringing bedding and towels into The Container Store — into a space I’ve always associated with intentional organization — I’ll be honest: that feels a little strange to me. These are two very different brands with very different identities, and I’m not entirely convinced that putting them under one roof is going to feel cohesive to the customer walking through the door.
I want to be wrong about this. The Container Store has meant a lot to my business and to my clients, and I want it to thrive. And as I mentioned above, the news around Elfa specifically is actually encouraging — they’re investing in it, expanding it, keeping the leadership in place. That part I feel genuinely good about. I’ve been working with Elfa for my entire career, and I hope it continues to evolve and improve. I believe it will.
But the overall merger? I’m cautiously skeptical. I’ll be watching how these stores evolve over the next several months, and I’ll share what I see. For now, the products you know and love — including Elfa — are not going anywhere. And that’s what matters most to me.
Change is always a little unsettling — especially when it involves a store that many of us in the organizing world have built our businesses around. But based on everything that’s been made public, the core of what makes The Container Store special isn’t going anywhere. It’s actually being expanded.
The Container Store’s Elfa and Closet Works brands are expected to anchor the company’s move into design, customization, and installation, expanding the business beyond product sales. That sounds, to me, like a company that understands why people love this store in the first place.
I’ll be watching this transition closely and sharing updates here as things continue to unfold. In the meantime, if you’re curious about what’s on sale right now, head to your local Container Store — the “Store Changing” reset is happening now.
As always, I’m here to help you make sense of your space — no matter what changes come our way.
What are your thoughts on the merger?
Back soon with more!
xo,
Sam
Thanks for the update & details. I’m not happy about TCS merging w BBB. BBB went bankrupt for a reason — their horrible politics & policies, and, the quality of products they offered tanked—badly. I used to trust BBB for good selection & good quality. Before they filed bankruptcy, you couldn’t pay me to shop there. Everything was right out of China-cheap quality!! Seems TCS is just trying to survive. They would have fared better if they’d offered lower prices when they were ahead. I’m very curious how much China is involved with this merger and/or if the products offered will continue to be low-quality from BBB as before. What BBB did to the My Pillow company was outrageous!
Hi – thank you for the comment!
This is certainly an interesting take. I didn’t shop at BBB enough to know any of this. I do agree that I hope TCS survives and in fact becomes even more successful. So many of us in this career depend on their products and prefer not always buying from Amazon.
xo,
Sam
Regarding what the Bed Bath & Beyond “did” to My Pillow… MyPillow and their shady sales tactics did that to themselves. They’ve been a shady company for a long while, and have become increasingly shady over the past several years. The Better Business Bureau cited several specific issues that led to an “F” grade, including the continuous “BOGO” Sales. According to BBB and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, if an offer does not have a strict time limit, the sale price effectively becomes the regular, everyday price. MyPillow was also guilty of misleading packaging. Photos on some retail packaging displayed a premium, gusseted pillow, while the box actually contained a standard pillow. MyPillow also advertised a “full warranty,” but customers reported being charged hidden fees to return the pillows. Finally, the BBB received and investigated over 230 consumer complaints, largely stemming from confusion over the continuous BOGO pricing and the return process. None of those complaints were ever resolved. All of this not to mention how controversial the CEO is, to say the least.
Wow, this is SO interesting! Thank you for sharing!!
Sam
Hi Sam,
I’d heard talk of th is from our store for some months now, especially having just invested in a Preston closet re-do. And, honestly, I’m excited about it. I think it will be a good marriage in which each partner complements the other. I’ve been surprised at BBB’s growing market presence and see good possibilities here. And, quite frankly, while Elfa is the bones of TCS, other products are starting too look redundant, but then I’ve been shopping TCS for several decades so maybe that’s just me.
Let’s give new leaders a chance and keep supporting this new model for what could be a very good fresh option for even more of us!
Someone said (and I have no idea who), “Change is good. It’s the transiton that’s painful.”
Hearing the news of this merger makes me feel a little nervous, too. When I worked at TCS, people asked all the time for things like sheets and bath towels – they were looking for a complete solution for organization AND the stuff that would go into their new storage products. In recent years I am now a customer, and I have been a surprised by a lot of the offerings, especially on the aisle headers; they seem out of place, often too luxurious and expensive for some of the markets they serve, and out of sync with the other products offered in the store. I hope the merger will bring into focus those extra items that best complete a solution for a customer looking for a one-stop shopping trip.
Hi Angela,
I couldn’t agree more about the odd product offerings on the end caps. All of the professional organizers I know were unhappy with these items taking up shelf space for the items we need that are always out of stock. Personally, I felt that they should stick to what they are good at and just keep the best sellers in the store all the time. I now have to mostly order online from TX to get the full quantity of what I need for our projects.
I haven’t been into my local store yet – unsure if the store has been updated to the new TCS / BBB format. Have you been able to see one yet?
xo,
Sam
Bed Bath and Beyond actually went out of business. Overstock.com bought the name and re-booted the website (just not the stores). I always tried to buy home products at TCS because it was a great company – often on those “best places to work lists”. I was truly sad to hear the news they were being acquired, but it seems to be the way business is moving : towards giant faceless conglomerations.
Hi Christy,
Thank you for the comment – I agree! I wasn’t thrilled about this merger. I know this is the way seems thing to be moving nowadays but I have a hard time seeing these two brands come together. Although somewhat in the same space, still seems different to me. Hard to imagine Elfa and closet systems mixed in with bedding and small appliances. 🙂
xo,
Sam
Thanks for your write up. Went to Container Store today. Sooo many empty shelves. Products I intended to buy disappeared. Very sad. Am guessing all wrapping papers and party supplies will be replaced by those of BB&B. Much lower grade and I never purchased. At BB&B I have purchased small appliances. On their website now for toasters are only 2 & both Cuisinart. Why? I never really bought bedding at BB&B. Most of the choices were fabrics I am not interested in or prints and patterns not attractive. If I found one I liked the price would be a no for me. Mostly I shopped in the kitchen appliance section. Am really sad about this merger. Yes I will check out the store but I can tell already that some items no longer at The Container Store will certainly be missed. Like the ones I couldn’t get today. I am not really an online shopper so the thought of AI replacing those jobs does nothing to entice me. Wishing everyone much luck.
Hi Mary and thank you for the note / thoughts! It’s been a while since your comment and wonder if you’ve been able to see your local store yet. They may or may not have updated it yet. I know they were rolling them out in phases.
I haven’t been into my local store yet, but do have the same concerns as you do. I wonder what will happen to the gift wrap wonderland. I always loved that!
xo,
Sam