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Trouble Brews at Starbucks

In:

Submitted By itsvicktime
Words 765
Pages 4
Victor Huynh
A00340857
MKTG 3379
INTRODUCTION
Starbucks’ confirmed it’s trouble in 2007 when the company had experienced 2 quarters of flat growth in same-store sales, and then its first ever decline in the fourth quarter. Gas prices increased therefore their consumers’ like many other retailers felt the pain. Howard Schultz was Starbuck’s visionary leader and CEO from 1987 to 2000. Replaced by Jim Donald, Schultz is being brought back to aid in the restoration of Starbuck’s cachet as a premier brand.

ANALYSIS
The main vision of Howard Schultz was to create a romance with coffee. Similar to coffee bars in Italy he wanted a place where customers could have a relationship with the coffee and coffee bar. He believed that coffee was a social aspect which would create a link between the customer and Starbuck’s if done right.
Where did Starbuck’s go wrong? Starbuck’s growth had become very rapid in order to please Wall Street. The fact that Starbuck’s had doubled its pace of expansion while already being rapidly growing changed the profile of consumers, as well as the brand perception. The store had no longer become the destination and relationship rather than a quick and grab and go process. The study showed that with more accessibility the stores became, the more the products were being consumed outside the store. The Starbuck’s drive-through convenience had soon become associated to fast food.
An effort to reduce costs and improve operational efficiencies affected the customer experience. Machines were brought in to improve efficiency while taking away from the customer experience of seeing someone make your coffee. Pre-ground coffee reduced costs but at a loss of aroma to help set the Starbuck’s ambience. Efforts to reduce maintenance costs left stores configured with less carpet and fewer cozy chairs.
With the commoditization of Starbuck’s it took away

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