Archive for 'January, 1970' category.
Todd Sullivan goes after CEO Jim Donald, saying “his flaccid idea of giving away 10,000 t-shirts needs to be critically looked at.” It’s a “bizarre promotion with somebody most people have never heard of — designer Mychael Knight, a finalist from the Bravo TV show Project Runway.” Sullivan writes: “I am going to go out […]
That’s what Time magazine’s Bill Saporito says. At his Manhattan Starbucks, “they’ve mastered the art of have exactly one less person on hand than needed.” His message to Howard Schultz: “You don’t need more ambiance, you need more throughput. More machines, more sales terminals. You want us to smell the coffee, just grind some. In […]
You’ll find it here.
Published by Jim RomeneskoContinue reading: Looking for Howard Schultz’s "The Commoditization of the Starbucks Experience" memo?
Both letters came in Monday morning.
Corey M. writes: In the past week I have had to ask the staff at the Starbucks in Duncan British Columbia to please turn down the music. It is so loud and annoying that people cannot have conversations or read a newspaper without ear splitting music piped from the ceiling. […]
Starbucks is testing having its baristas scoop loose coffee beans and grinding them in some stores — something that chairman Howard Schultz singled out in his memo as an important part of the company’s heritage. Anne Saunders, Starbucks senior vice president for global brand strategy, says the company wants to tweak the merchandise sold at […]
The personal aircraft perk given to Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz is much higher than what’s given to executives at public companies across the U.S., according to an executive compensation watchdog. Reporter Craig Harris says it’s somewhat ironic that Schultz wrote in his memo: “Let’s be smarter about how we are spending our time, money and […]
Jim from Oklahoma City writes to STARBUCKS GOSSIP: I would like to bring something to light that has been a persistent problem with the Starbucks stores in the greater Oklahoma City area: For over two years now, the baristas flatly refuse to stir the mocha lattes. While this may seem trivial to some, I don’t […]
FON is giving a free wireless router to anyone who lives near a Starbucks store so customers can get wireless Internet service for just $2 a day, as opposed to the $10 that Starbucks/T-Mobile charges. (”FON + Starbucks = cash”) || “Fon Takes on Starbucks”)
> Why bother when so many coffee shops have free wireless?
Published […]
“…. and a net positive for the world. Even if some of the romance is lost,” says a Los Angeles Times editorial on the Schultz memo. (Los Angeles Times)
Published by Jim RomeneskoContinue reading: "The commoditization of both the Starbucks brand and good-quality coffee may be irreversible…"
Both the Seattle Times and Post-Intelligencer did fairly lengthy stories on Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz’s memo, which was leaked to Starbucks Gossip earlier in the week. (Starbucks, of course, is based in Seattle.) || Also: Here are the Wall Street Journal and New York Times stories.
Published by Jim RomeneskoContinue reading: Read the Seattle newspapers’ coverage […]
Starbucks spokeswoman Valerie O’Neil says the memo [in the post below] by Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz is “a reminder of how success is not an entitlement. It has to be earned every day. We can’t embrace the status quo.” || TV ALERT: CNBC tells me they’re doing a half-hour segment on the Schultz memo at […]
Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz wrote this to CEO Jim Donald earlier this month. The memo’s authenticity has been confirmed by Starbucks.
From: Howard Schultz
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 10:39 AM Pacific Standard Time
To: Jim Donald
Cc: Anne Saunders; Dave Pace; Dorothy Kim; Gerry Lopez; Jim […]
Starbucks is increasing efforts to sell its pre-made coffee drinks, coffee beans for home brewing and other branded caffeinated products. Those efforts include wider distribution, a new ad campaign and even plans for vending machines that will spit out hot coffee drinks with the touch of a button. If more Americans start drinking their Starbucks […]
A Starbucks spokesman says “we’re thrilled that there’s this much interest in the campaign.” (Somebody here posted last week: “There are 200,000 t-shirts it says it in the promo workbook.” Does that person care to explain the false information?) (Seattle Times)
> Earlier: Starbucks gives away a “very limited number” of T-shirts
Published by Jim RomeneskoContinue reading: […]
I like how Caribou Coffee gives you a choice: a wallet card or keychain. Does Starbucks have a keychain-card in the works? Let us know, insiders. (Feel free to suggest other card improvements.)
Published by Jim RomeneskoContinue reading: Suggestion for Starbucks: Offer your cards in keychain format
Starbucks got into the breakfast game with warm sandwiches because “customers asked for it,” says Tom McMahon, a Starbucks regional vice president. “It’s safe to say, we can grow our food business 10 percent over the next year, he says.
Newspaper reporter: Will you ever do combo meals?
McMahon: No. There’s things we never do. We […]
The locks on at least nine stores were damaged and prevented employees from opening at the usual time on Friday morning. This type of vandalism has previously occurred at Starbucks stores in Chicago and other cities. (KPTV.com | OregonLive.com)
Published by Jim RomeneskoContinue reading: Several Portland-area Starbucks hit by vandalism
Feeling lucky? Go ahead and try to get one of the T-shirts being given away online from Feb. 15 through Feb. 28. The “My Starbucks” T-shirt is designed by Mychael Knight, a finalist from the Bravo TV show “Project Runway.” A “very limited” number of shirts — 1? 5? 50? 50,000? — will be […]
Read the transcript of the latest conference call. Starbucks CEO Jim Donald, chairman Howard Schultz and others discuss the company and take questions. (Seeking Alpha)
Published by Jim RomeneskoContinue reading: What Starbucks execs say when they’re meeting with analysts
Intelligentsia Coffee CEO Doug Zell says: “Let’s be honest. Without Starbucks, the public’s awareness of specialty coffee would be a lot less prevalent. Where they are now versus where they were ten years ago are different things. That they’re successful at the expense of other smaller companies that weren’t developing coffees is irrelevant, I think. […]
Andy Seestedt of CBS News Productions writes: CBS News Productions is currently putting together a documentary on Starbucks. I’m seeking a barista who worked in the original Pike Place Starbucks in the early days — pre-Howard Schultz — or ideally, who was working there when Schultz began to take over. Please e-mail with any leads. […]
Bill Virgin, the author of this column, isn’t the first journalist to suggest that Starbucks — or Howard Schultz himself — was behind the leak of the “Commoditization” memo. I can assure you it was not planted here by corporate. The person who sent it to me was genuinely fearful of losing his/her job and […]
In past years, Starbucks has sent its shareholders a $3.50 gift card along with its annual report and proxy. This year they’re only getting a coupon for two drip coffees. One investor says: “I’m not going to sell my stock because they’re only sending me a coupon for brewed coffee instead of a latte, […]
Starbucks US president Jim Alling discussed Howard Schultz’s memo during a visit to his alma mater, Thunderbird School of Global Management. “It’s a good time to be introspective. It’s a good time to attack ourselves. It’s a good time to get back to your core when you’re successful. We recognize our success is not an […]
You know how sometimes you’ll find yourself walking down a tree-lined street, wearing a spectacular trench coat and adorable shoes, carrying one paper shopping bag, out of the top of which pokes a baguette and some unidentifiable leafy greens, and…
Published by JessicaContinue reading: Independent Spirit Awards Fug Carpet: Well Played, Maggie Gyllenhaal, AGAIN
When I first saw this photo, I was completely confused. Was it a sculpture? A whimsical boot-shaped cigar-cutter? A magnifying glass for foot fetishists? Some sort of jar-opener? What? It couldn’t be an actual SHOE that somebody would WEAR, so…
Published by HeatherContinue reading: Wild Fugs
Must… suppress… frustration… My, what a nice… pedicure! And don’t her eyes look lovely. And, gosh, her teeth are so nice and white. What else, what else… oh yes, that dress would look so adorable with a cute pair of…
Published by HeatherContinue reading: Independent Spirit Awards Fug Carpet: Laura Dern
Dear God, it’s me, Beyonce, I’m so grateful the Oscars are over. Having to sit there and look happy for everyone when I wasn’t nominated for anything was hard. Thank you for allowing me to remain calm and collected when…
Published by JessicaContinue reading: F’Day
Oh, Shannnnnnyynn Sossssammmon. Why? You look like a downtrodden Dust Bowl victim, crossed with a mime. Also, while I know this has nothing to do with your outfit, can we mention again that you named your child Audio Science? Those…
Published by JessicaContinue reading: Independent Spirit Awards Fug Carpet: Shannyn Sossamon
KATE: Hey, Pete? PETE: Uhghhgojf. KATE: Do you think that just maybe once, you could NOT look like you are sweaty, faintly green, and moments away from dying? PETE: Need… blood… of virgins… KATE: Oh, shove off, Pete, you were…
Published by HeatherContinue reading: Pete Fuggerty
