Garrett Boone never considered a career in retailing. He grew up aspiring to become an architect, later opting for a bachelor’s degree in European history from Rice University and a master’s in history from the University of Texas at Austin.
In 1976 Boone and two friends, Dallas architect John Mullen, and Kip Tindell discussed opening a handmade furniture store. After two years, the idea came to Boone for an original retail concept following a visit to a home improvement show in Dallas in January, 1978. They decided to open a retail store offering exceptional, eclectic mix of products devoted to helping people organize and simplify their lives; The Container Store opened in Dallas July 1, 1978.
Garrett is now Chairman Emeritus of The Container Store, which was sold to a private equity firm in 2007. With proceeds from the sale, he, his wife Cecilia and their three children founded The Boone Family Foundation that same year. Garrett serves as president of the foundation.
Garrett has a strong interest in creating a more sustainable environment, which is the driving force behind The Boone Family Foundation’s efforts to promote environmental stewardship. He co-founded Texas Business for Clean Air (TBCA) Foundation in 2006. The organization promoted ‘clean air is good for business in Texas,’ was the subject of a Robert Redford documentary Fighting Goliath: Texas Coal Wars and earned the 2010 CATEE (clean air through energy efficiency) Outstanding Nonprofit Organization of the Year award. He also serves as vice-chair of The Trinity Park Conservancy and a board member for Groundwork Dallas. He is involved in helping to create National Park quality environments in the Great Trinity Forest in Dallas. In 2007, the year he and his family founded the foundation, Garrett was named first runner-up for Texan of the Year awarded by The Dallas Morning News because “he rallied businesses to stand up for clean air” and “spoke up at a time when it was neither expedient nor easy.”
Garrett is on the board of TreeHouse, Inc., a retail concept that provides sustainable, healthy, energy efficient solutions for the home. He is associated with Paddling Trails and Bird Count Initiatives and is a member of the advisory board for The Dallas Women’s Foundation. He serves on the National Advisory Board of Honored; is an advocate for public education and served on the Dallas ISD Star Commission to share business best practices with the school district.