DC Velocity - July 2018

32 DC VELOCITY JULY 2018 www.dcvelocity.com t h ou g ht l e ad er s

Rarely in the fast-changing world of supply chain management does a person carve out a 30-plus-year career with a single company. But when that person is Amy Carovillano and the company is the home organization and storage giant The Container Store, it is simply a matter of keeping a good thing going.

Carovillano opened The Container Store’s first Houston location as store manager in 1988, shortly after joining the company. She then progressed through various roles at the retail chain, helping to shape its culture and business philosophy. Today, The Container Store is an $850 million business with 90 stores nationwide and has been recognized annually as a great place to work.

Since 1996, Carovillano has served as The Container Store’s vice president of logistics and distribution. She oversaw the move from a small manual warehouse to the automated distribution and online fulfillment operation in Coppell, Texas, that was featured in DC VELOCITY’s January 2018 issue. A second distribution and fulfillment center is scheduled to open in the mid-Atlantic region next year.

Q You’ve been with The Container Store for more than 30 years. Why have you chosen to devote the majority of your supply chain career to that one company?

A I can’t imagine working for another company! I was fortunate enough to start at The Container Store in the very early days, so my career has been very dynamic and challenging as we have grown from a neighborhood Dallas store into the nationwide omnichannel retail brand we are today. It’s been a great career journey—and why would anyone leave a company that has been on Fortune magazine’s list of Best Places to Work in America for the past 19 consecutive years?

Q What major changes have you seen in your sup- ply chains during your time with The Container Store?

A When I took over distribution at The Container Store, we were paper pulling on dot-matrix print-
ed “greenbar” in a small warehouse that served our
stores and a few mail order customers, and we sourced
most of our inventory from domestic suppliers. Now,
we’re voice-picking omnichannel orders with auto-
mation, and measuring employee performance with a
labor management system in a 1. 1 million-square-foot
distribution center with inventory sourced from all
over the world. So, I’d say things have
changed quite a bit. Consumer expec-
tations are driving change and putting
pressure on every element of the sup-
ply chain to be faster, more accurate,
more customized, more data-driven,
and more agile. The advances in tech-
nology and data analytics have enabled
amazing innovation—it’s an exciting
time to be in our field.

Q What hasn’t changed?

A The key to success has always been to surround yourself with talented, passionate people, and that still holds true today. With the demands of today’s fast-paced supply chain operations, it’s even more crucial to build a culture and team environment that attracts, retains, and motivates high achievers.

Q What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career? A Navigating change is always difficult, and it’s o important to keep your team positive and motivated. Leading a company through decades of sustained growth, an IPO [initial public offering], the recession, and the changing retail landscape has been pretty challenging, but I would have to say doing this while strengthening our culture and focus on our employees has been the most challenging—and rewarding.

Q What is your proudest professional achievement, and why? A No question—it’s my amazing team and the people I’ve worked with over the years. Nothing is more rewarding than making a difference in someone’s life by helping them develop their skills and realize their potential.

Q What advice would you give someone just enter- ing the supply chain profession? A This is a high-growth, fast-paced profession; you’ve made a great choice! Surround yourself with greatness: a mentor who nurtures you, a boss who develops you, a team that challenges you. Be committed to continuous personal improvement.

Meet and talk to as many people as you can. Go to conferences, be a voracious reader, be curious, and ask questions. There are so many different aspects to supply chain; it’s important to explore and understand where your passion and skills align with the needs of the industry.