Comments on: That Chain With The Green Logo

By: greenervange

greenervange — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:10:37 +0000

Another pro for working Starbucks/SBC: employees only have to work 20 hours a week for insurance. That is rare. Though I often want to barista for an indie, I just can’t do it with Seattle rent and Grad school.

By: Al Sterling

Al Sterling — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:24:29 +0000

Sebastian… This move by Starbucks, and the corporate “spying”, as referred to by many, has been discussed on various coffee forums. I was hopeing to read as open and fair, and complete a comment as yours, but hadn’t found it until reading your take on the situation.

Most small shops are run and staffed by those who are passionate, and more driven by the art and science of coffee. I myself am a bit more “the business of coffee”, but can better appreciate others when they display an understanding of all three elements; the art, the science, and especially the business of coffee.

You came right out and shared that you were not driven by the same profit motive as most corporate chains. For that, I better understand the context of your comments. And the fact that you can realize the business value in Starbucks allows me to better appreciate your opinions. Thanks, Al

By: allsburg

allsburg — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:26:02 +0000

I think about a coffee shop that I would go to regularly in the mid-nineties. I lived in an area of West Los Angeles without a lot of character or ambiance. (Sure, go ahead and say it: I’ve just described all of L.A.) There was a grocery store, but no restaurants or other service establishments around. Then this coffee shop opened, and it gradually opened up the neighborhood into a real community. I met my neighbors for the first time, got to know some of the baristas, and met a ton of random and interesting people. It was the kind of place you could sit down in for hours, and no one gave you the evil eye. They had these huge, comfy chairs, and a chess board. It improved my life, and my experience living in the neighborhood. And, of course, it was a Starbucks.

Now I live in Seattle, and when I hang out in coffee shops, they are small, independent places. What I like about your blog is that you understand that Starbucks isn’t 100% evil. It sure made a difference in my old neighborhood.

By: Gomez

Gomez — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 07:14:53 +0000

Location location location; man, all of us indies would die to know the SBUX formula for choosing a successful location.

Their formula over the preceding 15-20 years was to open a location near existing coffeehouses and then wipe them out of business. It helped that they had a decent, simple product, but really their approach to growth was similar to how cancer kills you. Once they saturated each market, then they spread out according to location and demand at their existing stores.

That model isn’t working as well for them these days (especially now that they’ve faced some cultural backlash in the last 10 years, which has allowed indy coffeehouses to grow), and so now Howard’s trying new ways to grow money, like the 15th Avenue idea.

By: Chase

Chase — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 03:54:18 +0000

I very much enjoyed your list of principal differences. I’ve been immersed an the indie coffee scene since I could get away with jumping on a bus and going into the city. I never thought in a million years I’d ever work for Starbucks, but I have. Everything you cited truly illustrates why Starbucks is just not getting ahead. They get MORE corporate as time goes on. People often forget Starbucks was the original independent coffee house once upon a time. Even when I’d first joined the company, it did have a touch of that in the air.

But you walk into a starbucks, is stinks of corporate flair. When you walk into an indie no matter how good or bad it is, it always has a vibe about it, its like a living person, unqiue, different, full of feelings.

I’m actually embaressed for the people who camped out all over seattle to try and understant a genuine coffee house experience.