Some of the best learning happens when you read stories about real people and real companies. Read them for ideas, for lessons, and inspiration. This week’s stories and strategies from real life are about Gap, the Container Store, Urban Outfitters, FedEx, and the Michelin Guide.

From Jena McGregor: At Gap, selling a place to work, not just khakis

“When CEO Glenn Murphy leaves Gap on Feb. 1, as the company announced last Wednesday, he will leave behind a changed retailer.”

From Aaron Taube: The Container Store Pays Employees $50,000 A Year

“Despite starting out with just a $35,000 investment in 1978, The Container Store founder and CEO Kip Tindell has grown his business to one that has 67 US locations and rings up annual sales of nearly $800 million. Equally impressive is the fact that he’s done all that while paying his retail employees nearly twice the industry average.”

From Ashley Lutz: Urban Outfitters Shares Are Crashing — Here Are The Biggest Problems With The Brand

“Urban Outfitters shares are crashing up to 15% after the retailer revealed that sales at its namesake brand are continuing to plunge.”

From Lydia DePillis: How Fedex is trying to save the business model that saved it millions

“Sixteen thousand packages arrive from regional hubs in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, get sifted by Zip code, and trundle through the roller coaster ride of blue tubing that snakes through a giant warehouse. Finally, they are deposited next to the dock of a truck that’s supposed to deliver them to their destination. Except sometimes, a box doesn’t show up — causing enormous frustration for the person in charge of delivering the package.”

From Rich Feloni: History Of The Michelin Guide

“The Michelin Guide, which is now in 24 countries across four continents and will debut in Brazil next year, is revered mostly for its critics, which Michelin calls ‘inspectors.'”