Posts Tagged ‘starbucks’

The Starbucks Trenta: Because Bigger Drinks Are Always A Good Idea

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

“Starbucks Corp. will roll out its biggest drink size yet — the 31-ounce “Trenta” — in all its U.S. coffee shops by May 3, the company said on Sunday. The new size will be available only for iced coffee, iced tea and iced tea lemonade drinks in the United States. The Trenta is 7 ounces larger than Starbucks’ “Venti” cup for iced drinks, which currently is its largest size on offer. Drinks in the Trenta size will cost 50 cents more than similar Venti-sized iced drinks, the company said.”

What do you think?

How much would an extra $0.50 add to your daily iced coffee habit?

Starbucks Fishes For Customers With Free Stuff

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Would you like a free e-book with that grande caramel macchiato?

  • In an effort to boost profits, Starbucks is trying a new promotion with partner Yahoo! to bring free e-books, movies, online news subscriptions, and mp3s to customers using its free wifi.
  • The online freebies will only be accessible through Starbucks wifi networks, meaning customers will have to return to a shop to pick up where they left off with their books and movies. Alternately, they can purchase the product from the provider, which gives Starbucks a portion of the profit.
  • To make the program happen, the company has partnered with The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Apple, Patch, Zagat, HarperCollins, Penguin Group, and SnagFilms.

Facts & Figures

  • Starbucks made its wifi free to everybody this July.
  • Users logged in to Starbucks wifi over 30 million times in September.

Best Quote

“Users across the Internet are moving more into this ‘snackable behavior’ to begin with.” – Burke Culligan, Vice President of Product Management at Yahoo!

Guns And Coffee Go Together Like Peas And Carrots

Friday, March 12th, 2010

A fast-spreading movement in the pro-gun community has taken the Starbucks coffee contingent by storm.

  • As firearms fanatics and gun-control advocates battle over an issue known as the “open carry” movement (a demonstration by gun owners of carrying their guns in unconcealed holsters in public areas and private businesses where allowed), Starbucks, in full compliance with state open-carry weapons laws, has been caught up in the middle of the raging debate.
  • Starbucks, along with some other establishments, has refused to ban guns, causing uproar in the gun-control community.
  • Some retailers have banned guns from their stores for fear of losing out on potential customers with hoplophobia (fear of firearms).

Facts & Figures

  • The “open carry” movement started gaining momentum in 2004 after pro-gun advocates began researching state laws only to find that many states do not have laws that prohibit carrying unconcealed firearms.
  • In the 43 states where open carry is legal, Starbucks has around 4,970 company-operated stores.
  • Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Home Depot Inc., Best Buy Co. and Barnes and Nobles Inc. also allow unconcealed weapons in the respective states that allow such an activity, and have all become “open carry” friendly sites and milieus for informal “open carry” demonstrations.
  • Companies such as Peet’s Coffee & Tea have disallowed carrying unconcealed weapons in their stores, despite the legality of such an action.

Best Quote

“I think the policy shows complete disregard for the safety and sentiments of their workers. The only thing worse than a yuppie upset with how their frappuccino turned out is a yuppie with a gun who’s unhappy with how their frappuccino turned out.” – Erik Forman, a Starbucks barista, union member, and ostensible hoplophobe and sensationalist from Minneapolis