7 stores every single day
September 5th, 2007
Howard Schultz, founder of Starbucks: "We open 7 stores every single day"
In this day and age, how on earth could anyone consider that as something to be proud of?
6 Responses to “7 stores every single day”
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September 7th, 2007 at 07:59 AM
You provide people with choice when it comes to cafe, there are employment opportunities, you make money. For sure it is something to be proud of.
September 8th, 2007 at 06:36 PM
I'm all for employment opportunities and business growth but when you walk through the streets of a city and count 8 Starbucks in around 30 minutes, it just seems overkill. No doubt every café makes money but where's the variety? Where's the unique atmosphere of small independent coffee shops?
No doubt with every Starbucks store that opens they lose favour with more and more people, although no doubt they gain more regular customers!
September 11th, 2007 at 03:54 PM
Fortunately Matt, we now have enormous supermarkets round every corner, offering a wide variety of basic and specialty coffees. Does that make up for it at all?
September 11th, 2007 at 03:58 PM
Good to meet you both last night btw. I tried out SM this morning, and it's good. I think I'll use it for my homepage that I've been getting around to for about a year.
September 11th, 2007 at 06:33 PM
Nice to meet you too. Coffee being sold in supermarkets on every corner is exactly the same as a Starbucks on every corner (only selling the coffee in bags instead of cups) so would in no way make up for it.
I'm lucky enough to live in a town that (at present) is full of great little independent coffee shops and cafés. All with a lot more character than Starbucks. I only hope it stays that way.
September 11th, 2007 at 07:03 PM
The main issue I take with Starbucks is just how old-school they are. A modern company's business aims should be about a balance of growth and addressing inequalities of the past - "capitalism with a conscience".
I imagine that Starbucks have enough money to start making most of the coffee they sell fairtrade. They may have to stop opening some many stores, but I personally feel that it would make them a more appealing company.
Instead, they are sticking to a business plan laid out years ago which often results in the exploitation of the fairtrade scheme for advertising.