Comments on: Starbucks’ growth paradox

By: Ad Speak Admonition #1: Words are nothing when not followed by action

Ad Speak Admonition #1: Words are nothing when not followed by action — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:51:54 +0000

[...] Starbucks… you’ve made a national announcement and subjected your loyal throngs to a day without [...]

By: Rafi

Rafi — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:13:11 +0000

Starbucks may have over 13k shops worldwide but when they opened in Israel they soon closed down again as they did bad business. Their coffee just didn't taste of coffee and was too expensive.

However, that said, when I was in the US earlier this year I found myself drinking a lot of Starbucks coffee because it was good enough and ubiquitously available. Flying back via Madrid, I saw a Starbucks stand in the airport and automatically bought there, out of comfort factor.

The interesting point was though that at the stand in Madrid they offered options of different strengths of coffee. I went for the strong - it tasted more like real coffee. So maybe they learnt after all.

By: Yael

Yael — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:03:30 +0000

Starbucks has done something really well and has managed to replicate it very successfully.

I think they've reached a 'glass ceiling', though.

There's a point in time where you can't really keep your past growth pattern growing and the newness and freshness can easily wear off in consumer's eyes.

The sameness is what makes it problematic. Like Wack commented, you get sick of seeing the same chain stores over and over wherever you go.

It IS possible, though, to create a strong unified brand image over a chain while leaving enough room for local flavor and individuality per store.

An example of a brand doing this is Camper (http://www.camper.com). This is a neat, Spanish footwear company with stores worldwide. Each store is completely unique from the next - with a lot of fresh artist-infused decor.

The beauty of this is instead of 'seen one, seen them all' it's a joy to make sure you visit each one when you travel to see the unique local flavor of that particular store.

If you want to read more about it and see some pictures, check out Metropolis Magazine's article on Camper (http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=2984).

By: Wack

Wack — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:19:30 +0000

The reason why people go to startbucks is nothing new, same as MacDonalds... They go because they know what to expect: the same nasty "coffee" anywhere in the World.

The whole community thing (the Starbucks marketing gimmick, not the idea expressed in this post) is such a joke... There's absolutely no way they'd change their assembly line approach, that's the whole point of their biz model.

I haven't had Starbucks coffee in about 10 years, thankfully they're still a couple coffee shops left in NYC... Although my fav disappeared a few years back, was not too far from Union Square where there's literally 3 freaking Starbucks (on 3 sides of the square...).

Why I don't go there? The fact that I can't stand seeing the same chain stores over and over anywhere I go is part of it, but mainly it's because the stuff they're selling is NOT coffee... You can dress it up with fictional Italian names like dopio con crappa all you want, it's still not coffee.

Before thinking about community and stuff, they should consider making good coffee and edible pastries, but that's not gonna happen either :)

By: Ternel

Ternel — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:34:07 +0000

Here in Manila, Philippines. Everywhere you go you see Starbucks. Its like a mushroom. I tried once their espresso...It sucks and they're using paper cups? Ha? After that, ok I'm done no more S-B for me. Funny 7-11 serves coffee and it taste really good.

By: motion sickness » Blog Archive » Delocator

motion sickness » Blog Archive » Delocator — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:56:03 +0000

[...] While reading this interesting article on community and Starbucks, I was pointed to this interesting tool. It is called Delocator and it basically allows you to find a coffee shop that is not corporate in your neighbourhood. Call it anti-Starbucks or whatever, but I think its a good idea. [...]

By: xavier

xavier — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 02:07:58 +0000

"authenticity and community?" Ugh. Awareness of this man's conceit has sure decreased brand value in one consumer's mind.

The day Starbucks turns its network of 13,000+ stores into free* wireless access points is the day they have any right to even think those two words in proximity to one another.

*with all the modifications on "free" that real community hubs have devised in making it feasible>

By: Ida

Ida — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:08:48 +0000

I doubt your opinion is worth less just because you don't make as much as Mr. Schultz.

I wonder if the genius in the branding of Starbucks has more to due with engaging a new void in community rather than actively facilitating community building. Commute times are get longer. Options for live civic engagement diminish. People are starting their own families later in life. Starbuck's brand of community is compelling in the midst of this. I agree with Kevin that a brand that depends on a physical presence might loose its influence once each place becomes too local.

I give Starbucks credit where it is offering something new, like in Sparta, Illinois where Paul's friend lives . For me in Brooklyn though, I'm going to opt for the local coffee shop.

By: paul merrill

paul merrill — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:57:24 +0000

It's easy to be snobbish about coffee, as some of the comment-ors above have been.

You gotta live in a place like Sparta, Illinois, where my friend Dave lives, to appreciate what a beautiful thing Starbucks can be.

By: Callie

Callie — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 23:11:37 +0000

Doppio ristretto con panna = two shots of espresso, pulled short (this produces a more mellow, less bitter shot) with whipped cream.

For here, too. NEVER to-go. Espresso does not belong in paper cups.