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What should Starbucks do to reassert its relevance (if anything)?
#Response DateResponse Text
1.8/8/2008 6:31:00 PMMy guess is that they lost their connection (or sense of community) with the customer -- during difficult economic times. All those Starbucks coffee drinkers didn't just suddenly stop liking the taste of the coffee.
2.8/14/2008 6:40:00 AMAcquire better resources for coffee, use real coffee in specialty drinks, better food, consolidate.
3.8/14/2008 6:44:00 AMPare down. Get back to basics. Offer fewer LTO products that I fall in love with, then get taken away.
4.8/14/2008 6:45:00 AMFire about 500 people in seattle....go back to finding exotic coffee's at a good price. Hire Steve Ballmer.
5.8/14/2008 6:47:00 AMCreate an experience in each store. Empower store manager to reduce wait time, order different furniture/signage, and do whatever it takes to make each neighborhood starbucks an experience that the locals want to have.
6.8/14/2008 6:53:00 AMLower prices.
7.8/14/2008 7:02:00 AMcontinue on current path
8.8/14/2008 7:34:00 AMmake it more affordable
9.8/14/2008 7:38:00 AMReconsider the price/value strategy and respond to economic changes. Show some sensitivity and understanding.
10.8/14/2008 7:55:00 AMstop trying to sell its brand and go back to selling coffee
11.8/14/2008 7:57:00 AMFrom my perspective, it is making efforts to grow its audience...it is introducing new &quot;smoothie&quot; type drinks, seems to be expanding its pastries/food offerings, etc. Not sure what it could do for me to change how I feel.
12.8/14/2008 8:00:00 AMBeing more like home, less impersonal
13.8/14/2008 8:13:00 AMnot sure
14.8/14/2008 8:41:00 AMGo back to its roots of premium coffee and try to be less everything to everyone.
15.8/14/2008 9:27:00 AMexactly what Howard is doing. Get back to the basics, ala Vince Lombardi - this is a football.
16.8/14/2008 9:38:00 AMI'm not sure they can.
17.8/14/2008 9:39:00 AMLimit it's stores so people don't feel like it is in thier face and common. Starbucks use to have a sense of luxury now it seems common.
18.8/14/2008 9:58:00 AMImprove it's customer service
19.8/14/2008 10:05:00 AMClose stores. Go back to pulling espresso by hand. Reduce the number of items. Raise the prices of the ones
20.8/14/2008 10:21:00 AMClose a bunch more stores. go back to really making coffee rather than just pushing buttons. Quit trying to be Mickey D.
21.8/14/2008 10:22:00 AMLower prices in tough economic times (maybe introduce a lower end, lower priced product &quot;, get rid of the sandwiches and other distractions and focus on the core strength of the brand - coffee. I am not sure that their brand value has diminished because they are closing 600 stores...may just mean their business development was a bit ambitious and now they are adjusting to economic times.
22.8/14/2008 10:25:00 AMlower prices!
23.8/14/2008 10:45:00 AMShould work on training its service staff - more oversight. Better choices on small sandwiches.
24.8/14/2008 10:49:00 AMKeep doing what it's done.
25.8/14/2008 10:51:00 AMprice cuts
26.8/14/2008 10:54:00 AMLower prices.
27.8/14/2008 10:57:00 AMInnovate. Surprise me. What was their last innovation - that wasn't a new product? Innovation isn't adding to your product line. I think they forgot that. The way they did business was entertainment and made you feel special and luxurious, it was unexpected....now its pretty standard and they haven't done anything to 're-stimulate' me - adding new products isn't about me the customer its about you the vendor, your adding value for you not for me.
28.8/14/2008 10:58:00 AMWhile it's always nice to know you can return the familiar, I think the &quot;surprise and delight&quot; aspect of visiting Starbucks disappeared. They try to do that by changing up their drinks every now and again (and it works to some extent), but I think it's the ambiance that needs to become surprising. Not an inexpensive proposition, but what if the company found a cost-effective way to change it once a year?
29.8/14/2008 10:58:00 AMReduce their prices on speciality drinks
30.8/14/2008 11:01:00 AMImprove value. Make better coffee. Don't expect me to learn idiosyncratic lingo: Small, Medium, and Large are sizes that anyone can understand.
31.8/14/2008 11:04:00 AMhost events, expand comfortable seating
32.8/14/2008 11:12:00 AMStop over-roasting its beans.
33.8/14/2008 11:13:00 AMJust as WalMart has tried to win me because of it's ads focusing on &quot;social consciousness&quot; rather than JUST lowest price, Starbucks should try more of that...because I think they have an excellent story. I recently read Michael Gates Gill's HOW STARBUCKS SAVED MY LIFE &amp; it gave me a better appreciation of Starbucks as an employer!!!!
34.8/14/2008 11:20:00 AMfocus on the coffee
35.8/14/2008 11:28:00 AMMake better coffee, there is a great European coffee/cafe called Cristanellos (not sure of the spelling). Really like their coffee.
36.8/14/2008 11:30:00 AMSupport political causes that will improve the economy in general and put the average person in a position again where he/she can afford a luxury coffee every day.
37.8/14/2008 11:33:00 AMGo away
38.8/14/2008 11:36:00 AMKeep on its equity and be cautious where it adds new shops
39.8/14/2008 11:37:00 AMloyalty programs
40.8/14/2008 11:40:00 AMMove away from its elitist image and be a little more mainstream.
41.8/14/2008 11:41:00 AMthis is a brand that should figure out where it is relevant today in a coffee-saturated world...I would look at going back to its core strengths but I don't think that that is going to be enough to win back customers who have gone elsewhere
42.8/14/2008 11:44:00 AMCut prices, improve quality, normal naming, SOME MORE individuality in stores.
43.8/14/2008 11:47:00 AMHave more coffee options that are on the mild end. Have great customer service with a bit less attitude. Also, like the tall straight mugs they used to sell - don't like the new ones - too skinny and small.
44.8/14/2008 11:51:00 AMBring back sugar-free mocha! Chocolate shouldn't make you feel guilty or unhealthy...
45.8/14/2008 11:51:00 AMMore home town feel. Rotate coffee other the Pike Place
46.8/14/2008 11:55:00 AMbehave like a coffee shop
47.8/14/2008 11:55:00 AMTurn back.
48.8/14/2008 11:59:00 AMdrop the irrational exhuberance (Shere was the board??) and focus on good coffee however they can get it too you
49.8/14/2008 11:59:00 AMFind its place again and play to that audience.
50.8/14/2008 12:01:00 PMThe die may already be cast and irretrevable. They made a decision to go for saturation and constant growth. It's as much a question of their image of uniqueness being lost as any real change in the product. Also, some high traffic stores are not very clean or well-maintained.
51.8/14/2008 12:06:00 PMevaluate more carefully where they go
52.8/14/2008 12:09:00 PMIf relevance means relevance to customers, the obvious answer is by providing outstanding customer service
53.8/14/2008 12:09:00 PMGet the interior closer to each community it's in. It's turning its &quot;third place&quot; concept into indecipherable mass market design and layout.
54.8/14/2008 12:10:00 PMLower the prices. Call 'em like they are: small, medium and large. Lose the giftware.
55.8/14/2008 12:10:00 PMSimplify the choices and the menu. Make it more like a coffee store, grinding the coffee in the stores. The overwhelming smell of coffee should hit you when you walk into the place.
56.8/14/2008 12:16:00 PMGo back to the basics. Coffee and Community.
57.8/14/2008 12:18:00 PMGet back to its roots. Sell good coffeee. Stop selling music and movies.
58.8/14/2008 12:20:00 PMShut down 1/2 its stores, offer free Wi-Fi, get rid of the cranky employees, get back to the roots of the brand.
59.8/14/2008 12:21:00 PMCut back on the new non-coffee based products. Reiterate customer service to the staff and reinstate consistency - layout, knowledge of coffee/service, get back to coffeehouse as comfort house.
60.8/14/2008 12:21:00 PMStay true to what the brand is about. High quality. Third place. Don't mess around with discounts or off-brand products.
61.8/14/2008 12:24:00 PMIt's not &quot;special&quot; any more to get a Starbuck's coffee. Find ways to create unique appeal, whether with the coffee options/quality or with the in-store experience. Make me want to go there over any other location.
62.8/14/2008 12:27:00 PMBest pricing! it is very expensive in Mexico.
63.8/14/2008 12:30:00 PMLower its prices
64.8/14/2008 12:32:00 PMStop trying to sell me music and all that other crap! Just sell what they do best -- friendly people serving caffeine-based beverages in a warm, inviting environment
65.8/14/2008 12:35:00 PMBetter coffee at more affordable prices. Drive through would be nice.
66.8/14/2008 12:35:00 PMIncrease Quality and Improve Staffing
67.8/14/2008 12:39:00 PMdevelop stronger sense of LOCAL community
68.8/14/2008 12:39:00 PMI hear a lot of chatter about prices, many people changing to a &quot;treat&quot; visit instead of daily stop.
69.8/14/2008 12:40:00 PMLower prices. Not try to put local shops out of business.
70.8/14/2008 12:41:00 PMDon't know
71.8/14/2008 12:43:00 PMMake them less cookie cutter and ubiquitous. The coolest one they have is the one attached to the Library in downtown Stamford, CT (I think there is one other one like this on the west coast as well).
72.8/14/2008 12:44:00 PMMore strategic locations, better staff training
73.8/14/2008 12:44:00 PMTry to find ways to make the product and the experience more unique again. Definitely find ways to be healthier!
74.8/14/2008 12:46:00 PMEmbrace the fact that it isn't like that anymore. They should come to grips that there is a store on every corner in NYC and that it's an expectation. There is nothing &quot;community&quot; about Starbucks. They should understand that and just go with the flow and lower their prices.
75.8/14/2008 12:46:00 PMlower price coffee
76.8/14/2008 12:47:00 PMRefocus on the identity of their core brands...
77.8/14/2008 12:51:00 PMPull back on the rapid development of every corner site as a new location. Find out what their CORE customer is looking for..and deliver on it.
78.8/14/2008 12:52:00 PMI think they are making the right move going back to focusing on coffee (although then why did they just launch smoothies!). While it used to be that Starbucks had a perception of being uppity or elite, I liked thinking my barista was a bit of a rock star. I don't think this is the case any more. They need to find a way to be special again, and market proliferation doesn't seem to do that.
79.8/14/2008 12:52:00 PMIf locations had a strong local community connection I'd be more inclined to get Starbucks beans/supplies for home. Free Wi-Fi access: I was recently VERY annoyed to learn Starbucks contracted with s.o. other than my provider and wanted me to pay $10 for online. I went to McDonald's instead, used internet for 4 hours and spent ~$8 on food.
80.8/14/2008 12:55:00 PMRetrench. Go back to hand crafted, through and through. Go for high margin at the grocery store and through licensing. And when in a high traffic, high volume location, don't try to be a sit- down place. A walk-up window serving high quality products in high volume would be preferable to an over crowded, dirty shop where lounging is not really something that works for anyone other than vagrants.
81.8/14/2008 12:55:00 PMkeep the same quality, bit ditch all the unecessary frills, maybe narrow down the choices on the menu? Keep the costs down. Maybe only have one type of drink...e.g. I really liked the dulce de leche, but they took it away and have all these other drinks that are almost the same, but not quite...there are too many choices and things I have to think about -cinnamon, blended, hot or cold etc. I'm forced to find the closest thing that's not quite the same as the drink I liked and I end up feeling like I just paid $5 for something I needed to compromise on.
82.8/14/2008 12:55:00 PMConsistent brand promise and delivery.
83.8/14/2008 1:00:00 PMGo back to its core of being the &quot;third place&quot;
84.8/14/2008 1:02:00 PMN/A
85.8/14/2008 1:03:00 PMNot sure...
86.8/14/2008 1:04:00 PMPick whether they're FAST (rush-rush-get-the-order-get-the-coffee) or GOOD (relax, have a cup, talk about the flavor choices that make a perfect drink for today's visit) and go with that. And, frankly, don't make me feel like I should be a Democrat/Socialist/Communist in order to be accepted there. I'm not, and don't like feeling like I'm &quot;behind enemy lines&quot; when I arrive... DITTO to Whole Foods.
87.8/14/2008 1:09:00 PMBuilt the feeling and work space
88.8/14/2008 1:10:00 PMOnly man tries to find zero deficits per thousand. In nature, things dies when they no longer work. Maybe Starbucks needs to be reminded of who they are: a friendly, local coffee shop where people serve a decent cup of coffee and know you by name.
89.8/14/2008 1:13:00 PMFocus on service. Engage with its consumers on a store-level (ie: education, coffee cuppings). If they want to assert an expereince/atmosphere, I'd highly recommend they cut waaaay back on all the other wares they're trying to sell. They feel like retail stores rather than a place where you'd like to hang out with the paper.
90.8/14/2008 1:14:00 PMreduce its prices
91.8/14/2008 1:16:00 PMThank God Howard is back. They need to re-emphasize the &quot;experience&quot; of going to a Starbucks. They had it right from the start. Don't treat coffee as a commodity, treat it as an occasion and make it special.
92.8/14/2008 1:17:00 PMThey need to develop an emotional strategy for the brand (my mantra) to articulate and then deliver the experience the brand wants to create --not the one they started with, but has been encroached upon by competitors in the coffee space.
93.8/14/2008 1:21:00 PMwhy is coffee more celebrated then beer, wine, or juice?
94.8/14/2008 1:21:00 PMfocus on coffee, eliminate fast food approach, drop some of their products' silly names
95.8/14/2008 1:22:00 PMBecome more promotional -- especially in this economy.
96.8/14/2008 1:24:00 PMGet over this hump, stick to what it's good at; provide high quality product and unmatched service and atmosphere. Be more selective about locations.
97.8/14/2008 1:26:00 PMClose some stores and focus on consistent and quality delivery of the basics. We do not need yet another flavour combination...
98.8/14/2008 1:27:00 PMCater to the community
99.8/14/2008 1:28:00 PMBack to basics, reconnect with community
100.8/14/2008 1:28:00 PMStick to a core competency - ambiance, specialty roasts, quick service. Music can still be explored, but don't add things just to grow (like McDonald's). Less can be more.
101.8/14/2008 1:29:00 PMclean up stores, offer more nutritious options, get refocused on quality over quantity of stores
102.8/14/2008 1:30:00 PMOffer different types of coffee (not flavored) and charge less
103.8/14/2008 1:34:00 PMNot sure.
104.8/14/2008 1:35:00 PMI think it was a good PR move to close and re-focus on the art of coffee, but they're not walking the talk...
105.8/14/2008 1:36:00 PMFocus on community activities at the locals.
106.8/14/2008 1:37:00 PMNothing
107.8/14/2008 1:39:00 PMStop closing stores and stop lowering prices. They are cheapening their brand.
108.8/14/2008 1:40:00 PMbecome more local - 5 cents from each cup goes toward neighborhood schools - not to clean water in another country.
109.8/14/2008 1:43:00 PMClean-up the stores and improve operations. They seem to be moving slower to complete orders recently.
110.8/14/2008 1:44:00 PMClose more stores, stop selling sandwiches and all the &quot;extra&quot; things. pare back the coffee/specialty drink choices.
111.8/14/2008 1:47:00 PMGet smaller, and focus on making great coffee
112.8/14/2008 1:48:00 PMfind a way to distinguish itself, reestablish a relevant niche, can a grip on its prices
113.8/14/2008 1:52:00 PMDon't make every store so generic. Leave some room for local flair and neighborhood influence.
114.8/14/2008 1:52:00 PMBack to the coffee house roots!
115.8/14/2008 1:57:00 PMIt's a victim of its own success, isn't it? Wall Street will hate this, but it should really stop its expansion, focus on the products and try to retain a modicum of exclusivity. Its very pervasiveness runs counter to the essence of the brand - it shouldn't be selling its beans in Safeway, for example, or becoming the king of drive-thrus. The brand is about the service and social experience, not just the coffee.
116.8/14/2008 1:58:00 PMFocus on the beverages and food.
117.8/14/2008 1:58:00 PMStick to what it knows best. Coffee and specialty coffee drinks. Bring in improved and healthier &quot;treats&quot; to go with the coffee.
118.8/14/2008 2:00:00 PMStick to the fundamentals - good product delivered with personal service in a nice atmosphere.
119.8/14/2008 2:00:00 PMGo back to the basics of focusing on quality coffee at a reasonable to premium price point and develop each shop with local market relevancy. Starbucks lost their unique appeal when they started opening a shop on every corner. It wasn't special anymore but rather just another coffee chain with higher prices.
120.8/14/2008 2:00:00 PMClose stores that aren't profitable, re-train crew to become part of the neighborhood feeling, return to the original concept of offering special coffees I can't get anywhere else.
121.8/14/2008 2:01:00 PMDrop prices. Remove tip jar from drive through window.
122.8/14/2008 2:01:00 PMBack to basics, Grass-roots efforts, don't look like the mega-company. Look at what Krispy kream is doing in Puerto Rico.
123.8/14/2008 2:06:00 PMBe more cognizant of where they open (did they really need a bank building to brew coffee in?), and offer better value for consumers cutting back and to be more competitive with the plethora of competitors.
124.8/14/2008 2:10:00 PMWould prefer they all had drive-throughs
125.8/14/2008 2:14:00 PMgo back to actually grinding the beans for espresso drinks, selling beans from the bins, focusing on coffee vs. hawking all the other non-coffee related, over-priced junk in the store, like plush toys, books, etc.
126.8/14/2008 2:17:00 PMRe-establish their uniqueness in the marketplace. Hard to do with one of their retail locations on every corner. I feel Harley-Davidson is heading in the same direction. Every Tom, Dick and Harry can be seen passing one another on their Harleys these days. It is difficult to determine at what point a company should limit production to avoid saturation of the market and hence lower demand for its product or service.
127.8/14/2008 2:18:00 PMKeep closing the stores...
128.8/14/2008 2:20:00 PMBack to the basics-Focus on high quality product delivery and customer service.
129.8/14/2008 2:20:00 PMget attractive women to serve coffee
130.8/14/2008 2:22:00 PMAccept defeat.
131.8/14/2008 2:25:00 PMHealthy drinks and food might help. Cutting prices. And they're right to close stores. They might think about partnership with nearby businesses with discounts or onsite presence.
132.8/14/2008 2:27:00 PMThe passion of the baristas in the early days made Starbucks. Rapid expansion made it difficult to continue to find that caliber of people.
133.8/14/2008 2:28:00 PMFocus on Core and offer Free Internet
134.8/14/2008 2:28:00 PMMore community involvement, less expensive. It's not about the coffee it's about the brand.
135.8/14/2008 2:29:00 PMFOCUS and CORE.
136.8/14/2008 2:30:00 PMI would like to see them more become more full service with a nice variety of foods as opposed to their strategy of greater focus on the overpriced bitter coffee they serve.
137.8/14/2008 2:30:00 PMKeep the status as the original
138.8/14/2008 2:31:00 PMRemember that I'm not paying for a $4 a day coffee. It's for the coffee and the perfect service- -and remembering that I'm a regular. Some baristas do this, and have my drink started as soon as they see me walk in the door. I LOVE that.
139.8/14/2008 2:31:00 PMI liked the idea of Starbuck's serving wine and dessert in the evening, what happened to that notion?
140.8/14/2008 2:32:00 PMFocus on being faster for simple drinks -- honestly, I don't think you can give a chain the homey feel I like for the coffee shops I like to spend hours at!
141.8/14/2008 2:33:00 PMUpgrade the stores -- our favorite is the large one in Issaqaw WA w fireplace, newspapers, etc
142.8/14/2008 2:38:00 PMAdded value- If I am going to pay 5.00 for a cup of coffee NOW, it better come with a free cd or lunch!
143.8/14/2008 2:40:00 PMcould be more relevant with better food options
144.8/14/2008 2:41:00 PMcheck market value. look at Mickey D's--they are offering GREAT coffee at a normal price.
145.8/14/2008 2:42:00 PMGo back to normal small/medium/large sizes. Charge a reasonable price for a cup of joe. make ordering less complicated. I can never remember latte from mocha from whatever but I think I like speciality drinks. Figure out how to make it faster. How can they turn out espressos and cappuchinos on a dime in Italy but it takes 10 minutes at starbucks????
146.8/14/2008 2:43:00 PMLower the price of its coffee drinks, focus on improving the product - we don't need new coolata drinks or CDs or partnerships with Apple. Just sell a good product, a little less expensively.
147.8/14/2008 2:43:00 PMI am not typical - not a heavy coffee drinker. My needs are as a meeting place. Some Starbucks have this function, while many city-center ones cater to take out beverages for office workers, and others to drive through customers in their cars. Overall, it has become too complex. It needs to look at the product range, and making a visit simple again.
148.8/14/2008 2:44:00 PMRide it out...
149.8/14/2008 2:46:00 PMWhat they are doing - back to basics
150.8/14/2008 2:48:00 PMdefinitely close those 600 stores, maybe more.
151.8/14/2008 2:49:00 PMcome back to their principles
152.8/14/2008 2:49:00 PMOwn healthier breakfast...assume that Starbucks consumer is somewhat more health conscois than the egg mcmuffin eating Mickey D's consumer and possibly they could target convenient but not fat laden alternatives.
153.8/14/2008 2:50:00 PMStop trying to be all things to all people ... get back to the roots!
154.8/14/2008 2:52:00 PMStick to coffee and an atmosphere of bringing people together. While I love my drive through, I also love being able to read the paper in a quiet nook.
155.8/14/2008 2:54:00 PMIt needs to focus on company owned stores, quit selling their coffee and merchandise everywhere, and create a community place like they used to.
156.8/14/2008 2:56:00 PMAdd value and give you more
157.8/14/2008 2:58:00 PM1. Improve the coffee 2. Drop the faux Italian nomenclature 3. Adapt to local tastes and style 4. Become local as a venue for exchanging information -- events, bulletin boards, online communications 5. Abandon plans to extend the food offerings and simply make what's there much better
158.8/14/2008 2:58:00 PMClean the place up. Simplify all the choices.
159.8/14/2008 2:59:00 PMOpen one on the South side of Holland, Michigan - and let me manage it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
160.8/14/2008 3:02:00 PMMaybe state the fact that it has become a common thread in our daily lives. While still a premium product, Starbucks appeals to all ages, lifestyles, etc. Acknowledge and assert their own necessity.
161.8/14/2008 3:13:00 PMGet back into the coffee business
162.8/14/2008 3:25:00 PMthey also need to pay attention to the service -- the people that worked there used to distinguish the experience -- they were friendly and knowledgable and they have not kept that up
163.8/14/2008 3:28:00 PMCut back on stores; stop selling so many things; get back to making a good cup of coffee. Are they in the coffee business? The music business? The coffee accessory business?
164.8/14/2008 3:32:00 PMTelevision - Nature programming, adventure travel sponsored videos, books and marketing. Travel Series of books....like lonely planet.
165.8/14/2008 3:32:00 PMlocation location location
166.8/14/2008 3:33:00 PMOur starbucks gets minimal business - it has become a favorite hand-out for the middle school kids. They are attracted to the specialty drinks.
167.8/14/2008 3:35:00 PM1. Go back to a more strict image, more micro niche. (after all, that's what people respond to) 2. Move away from a fake invironment - like printed cork or printed wood - use the real stuff.
168.8/14/2008 3:38:00 PMGet back to basics. This is a neighborhood coffee/tea/refreshment house supposedly in the best 'olde' roadhouse tradition.
169.8/14/2008 3:40:00 PMShoot it. That horse is dead.
170.8/14/2008 3:43:00 PMclose stores; be &quot;friendlier&quot; to appeal to all (less of the sense that one almost needs to &quot;qualify&quot; - hence the jokes about knowledge and competence in ordering - or be of a certain status to walk in the door
171.8/14/2008 3:44:00 PMGet back to basics--make good, REASONABLY PRICED coffee.
172.8/14/2008 3:44:00 PMthey need to be more stringent in their use of fair trade products.
173.8/14/2008 3:46:00 PMStrategically, it seems they assumed everywhere they put a store, the attractive culture would follow bringing many new regulars. I think the novelty appeal wore off for many, or simply did not catch on in many locations. They should have made more of the new stores drive-throughs. I only go into non-drive-throughs when desperate.
174.8/14/2008 3:46:00 PMNarrow the focus. They're all over the place: international appeal; charitable involvement (which is good, don't stop); music and arts; conversation and community; oh, and then coffee. And smoothies. And health add-ins. And. ... on and on. Be coffee and coffee drinks -- done really well.
175.8/14/2008 3:55:00 PMMore calorie conscious offerings. Fewer, trendier stores. Free wifi.
176.8/14/2008 3:56:00 PMMore drive-thrus.
177.8/14/2008 3:59:00 PMKeep the main thing the main thing. In Shultz' biography he wrote of a passion for creating the best of the best in a coffee experience. Somewhere the focus shifted away from the product and the experience.
178.8/14/2008 4:00:00 PMSlim down, remove excess fixturing and replace with tables and comfortable chairs; get out of the music business (nobody cares, except Apple).
179.8/14/2008 4:02:00 PMCooperate with competitors. Minimize waste. Find new ways outside the store to get me a great, customized cup of my favorite specialty drink.
180.8/14/2008 4:02:00 PMI think it has stayed relevant to consumers today.
181.8/14/2008 4:07:00 PMLower prices and make some milder versions for the American taste/stomach.
182.8/14/2008 4:09:00 PMMake better coffee; lower the price.
183.8/14/2008 4:09:00 PMlower prices
184.8/14/2008 4:12:00 PMI've written them off. They gave me the opportunity to explore alternatives and I've become content with the alternatives.
185.8/14/2008 4:12:00 PMMake it special again.
186.8/14/2008 4:14:00 PMConcentrate on coffee and people who shop there only.
187.8/14/2008 4:14:00 PMTry less to be the store for everyone, and go back to what it does best. Plus, the staff training has obviously gone down the toilet - they are surly, rude and JUST NOT INTO SERVICING THE CUSTOMER!!!
188.8/14/2008 4:19:00 PMI don't think it can do anything - for me.
189.8/14/2008 4:19:00 PMFocus on coffee and authenticity, become less programed, less qtrly promotional and get closer to the coffee customer allow for even more localization
190.8/14/2008 4:20:00 PMGo back to simplicity.
191.8/14/2008 4:23:00 PMNot much can be done. The number of outlets must be brought down. A few appealing new products or new services might help too.
192.8/14/2008 4:28:00 PMFocus on the business and forget about all the bad press coming from editors and columnists
193.8/14/2008 4:28:00 PM1. Be less corporate. Introduce some local color to each shop, so they don't all feel the same. Continue with great design/aesthetics of products (mugs/posters etc) but make room for local embelishments. 2. Be more scarce.
194.8/14/2008 4:28:00 PMmove into Middle America
195.8/14/2008 4:32:00 PMGet real, relevant, and local. Forget the cookie-cutter mentality and stop trying to be what you are not (a fast food joint with drive-thrus). Become a local coffee shop again with great products and service.
196.8/14/2008 4:33:00 PMLower prices and do some couponing/discounts in the FL area. They love discounts in Florida.
197.8/14/2008 4:37:00 PMReduce the number of stores, make going there a pleasure not a convenience.
198.8/14/2008 4:37:00 PMStick to anything and everything coffee. And be happy that customers give them their $4+ everyday. Classic branding faux pas. make the market (pie) bigger vs. trying to get a bigger piece of pie.
199.8/14/2008 4:40:00 PMForget trying to be McDonald with breakfast sandwiches and salads. Go back to their foundation and focus on what made them Starbucks to begin with.
200.8/14/2008 4:51:00 PMdrill back to the stores that are necessary. it's not all about convenience of where to get your coffee. find something else to make money with or open a whole new chain of stores. don't be redundant.
201.8/14/2008 4:51:00 PMScale back and go back to their roots...get innovative again! It's just too much &quot;mass&quot;.
202.8/14/2008 4:52:00 PMback to basics. Don't try to be everythign for everyone.
203.8/14/2008 4:52:00 PMGet real. It's become too institutionalized, cold, sterile...in January it feels as cold inside a Starbucks as it does outside. Nothing charming nor &quot;Italian&quot; in its culture anymore.
204.8/14/2008 4:53:00 PMBack to basics
205.8/14/2008 4:53:00 PMImprove quality of drinks, better customer service, improve store cleanliness, healthier food instead of all the sugary stuff, update the furnishings - look too much like late 90's chic
206.8/14/2008 4:54:00 PMFocus on outstanding coffee /beverages and expected variations on that theme.
207.8/14/2008 4:56:00 PMget back to a more grassroots approach w/ local pastries, reduce drink costs and be less of a rat race. I still love them though!
208.8/14/2008 4:57:00 PMLess stores, but each one a great one.
209.8/14/2008 4:59:00 PMfewer locations, bedtter cookies, become fine chocolate sellers, more diversity in the decore
210.8/14/2008 5:04:00 PMFocus on coffee. Then focus on community meeting space. Empower their staff.
211.8/14/2008 5:05:00 PMmuch of what they're doing seems genuine: improved product offerings. more focus. less food etc
212.8/14/2008 5:06:00 PMsale coffee
213.8/14/2008 5:11:00 PMClosing the stores was probably the right move--just handled poorly. They need to refocus and promote whatever efforts they make to re-energize their employees--that's where they can create some differentiation. I don't think it's the coffee.
214.8/14/2008 5:17:00 PMClean the place up to start with. Bring back some uniqueness with their coffee. They don't sell any coffee product that isn't just as good for less money elsewhere.
215.8/14/2008 5:38:00 PMto become more selective
216.8/14/2008 5:38:00 PMReturn to its real roots...
217.8/14/2008 5:39:00 PMClose stores. Get humble. Empower local stories to have some local flavor.
218.8/14/2008 5:42:00 PMThey could have a loyalty program, or offer new drinks more often
219.8/14/2008 5:45:00 PMStick to what they know best -- coffee and related drinks
220.8/14/2008 5:56:00 PMna
221.8/14/2008 6:01:00 PMno idea
222.8/14/2008 6:06:00 PMBack to it's roots. Cut the ancillary products. And get decent pastries.
223.8/14/2008 6:48:00 PMHealthier menu alternatives and better value
224.8/14/2008 6:49:00 PMCut prices, continue offering breakfast sandwiches
225.8/14/2008 6:51:00 PMNot worry so much about relevance and simply live with the fact that it's a chain. The whole &quot;third place&quot; phenomenon around Starbucks served its purpose 10-12 years ago...which is what enabled Starbucks to become the chain it now is.
226.8/14/2008 7:13:00 PMbetter value for the same products
227.8/14/2008 7:13:00 PMit could lower some prices, or have a sale item of the week.
228.8/14/2008 7:15:00 PMaccomodate the prices and persue a new market, allow the customers to have a unique and personalize customer service.
229.8/14/2008 7:17:00 PMDo more community work. Connect more at the local level.
230.8/14/2008 7:40:00 PMLower its prices for sure
231.8/14/2008 8:00:00 PMActually treat customers well
232.8/14/2008 8:03:00 PMimprove quality of coffee.
233.8/14/2008 8:15:00 PMtighten # of stores but NIMBY
234.8/14/2008 8:49:00 PMPull back and regain quality control, which is exactly what it seems to be attempting by closing stores and (re)training staff.
235.8/14/2008 8:56:00 PMYou're grasping for a topic. Its not like sales halted overnight. Its a capital efficienciy equation....
236.8/14/2008 9:06:00 PMStay on premium end and focus on right locations/stores (vs. ubiquity).
237.8/14/2008 9:10:00 PMImprove their espresso drinks by 100% and by trying NOT to be all things to all people. Also less merchandise!
238.8/14/2008 9:27:00 PMtoo late
239.8/14/2008 9:59:00 PMConsolidating the stores was a good first move. I like that they're planted within popular retailers and grocers so that they're convenient enough without annoying the masses with another stand-alone store.
240.8/14/2008 10:09:00 PMLiving in Seattle, I have a lot of options and I am not sure I would be as loyal as I once were.
241.8/14/2008 10:10:00 PMTake a look at their costs for a cup of coffee.
242.8/14/2008 10:11:00 PMHonestly, I don't (or didn't) think the coffee is that great. I think Pete's is better. I also think they should be more select in the non-food items they sell. And, if they're going to sell cups and glasses, forget the branding. They oftentimes have nicely designed items but who wants Starbucks all over your coffee mugs or patio drinkware?
243.8/14/2008 10:34:00 PMi really don't know. i don't think they can improve un taste, they're dealing with a mass talent base. cost? attitude?
244.8/14/2008 11:16:00 PMshrink the choices, free wifi and not just for 2 hrs, comfy chairs and lounge like atmosphere
245.8/14/2008 11:17:00 PMAssess it's current customer experience around the world, document what works and plan how to return to the quality of experience they used to be famous for.
246.8/14/2008 11:50:00 PMdont know. Free coffee?
247.8/14/2008 11:51:00 PMI have no idea and less interest.
248.8/15/2008 12:31:00 AMLower the prices
249.8/15/2008 12:54:00 AMBring back the coffee smell into the outlet.
250.8/15/2008 1:21:00 AMLower prices / proper baristas /
251.8/15/2008 1:44:00 AMchange the coffe, the food and the prices
252.8/15/2008 2:08:00 AMCompete for customers with a strong identity and good prices
253.8/15/2008 2:45:00 AMclean up the stores, offer free wi-fi, free refills on drip coffee
254.8/15/2008 3:02:00 AMexpand loyalty programs cross promos perhaps
255.8/15/2008 5:18:00 AMGet back to making real coffee drinks. Make their stores comfortable again. The chairs and atmosphere are less than welcoming now.
256.8/15/2008 5:20:00 AMChange their name and compete with themselves.
257.8/15/2008 7:10:00 AMserve great coffee (not bitter swill hidden by flavored syrups and whipped cream) and have baked goods that don't taste like they were baked months ago and thawed that morning.
258.8/15/2008 8:35:00 AMReally think about ethical issues such as fair trade products and not just do them as a token gesture. Also revamp the interiors, they look quite dated these days. Plus the customer service often leaves something to be desired. Basically, all the key things to running a good food/drinks outlet.
259.8/15/2008 12:32:00 PMProvide the experience they claim rather than being like IKEA where the customer does the work. If you charge premium price I expect flawless service.
260.8/15/2008 1:42:00 PMgood question....
261.8/15/2008 2:39:00 PMI think closing the stores is a good thing. and make the remaining one's cooler. They do a lot of things right. Like the free download card for iTunes and the great coffee. They are a little piece of home in airports. I still like Starbucks - I just got married and it's too expensive.
262.8/15/2008 3:18:00 PMgo back to the roots, but still offer music / entertainment - but less of a mix and more of a &quot;special, exclusive feel&quot; and take the price down slightly
263.8/15/2008 3:53:00 PMReduce the specialty coffee-based drinks and start offering specialty sodas (root beers, colas, fruited drinks).
264.8/15/2008 4:33:00 PMBetter coffee.
265.8/15/2008 4:54:00 PMLower prices.
266.8/15/2008 5:35:00 PMGo back to making coffee, and stop over-roasting the beans
267.8/15/2008 6:23:00 PMReach out to its once loyal customers more effectively--not just free syrup offers
268.8/15/2008 7:31:00 PMLower their prices
269.8/15/2008 8:21:00 PMCreate a new brand more upscale, better coffee, ceramic mugs, more local coffee shop. In China the Starbucks I went to were like that.
270.8/15/2008 9:45:00 PMcontinue to innovate, revisit value equation
271.8/15/2008 11:22:00 PMLess about merchandising and more about the coffee.
272.8/16/2008 12:04:00 AMRoast their coffee less. Instead of having two people taking orders and one making coffee, have more coffee makers (baristas?)
273.8/16/2008 1:39:00 AMA lot of the older and downtown stores have better setups for lounging and meeting. The opened so many suburban stores that they started cheaping-out and they aren't as compelling as public meeting spaces.
274.8/16/2008 12:23:00 PMOffer the creamer stuff and maybe it will taste better to me!
275.8/16/2008 9:18:00 PMn/a
276.8/17/2008 4:46:00 PMCut prices and stop putting on airs.
277.8/17/2008 5:30:00 PMContract a bit and get rid of smelly sandwiches adn fast food feel
278.8/18/2008 11:24:00 AMgo back too it roots. go private
279.8/18/2008 1:51:00 PMI think they need to try to give customers the perceived image of a niche coffee shop while still growing.
280.8/18/2008 2:22:00 PMAppeal to &quot;basic&quot; coffee drinkers.
281.8/18/2008 2:25:00 PM?
282.8/18/2008 2:28:00 PMFocus on quality experience for the customer not the image they've created for themselves.
283.8/18/2008 2:34:00 PMgo back to core drinks and master those. stop introducing new products for the sake of new news.
284.8/18/2008 3:25:00 PMStay true to the core and say no to Fast Food tactics. Slow rebound plan, not quick fixes. Move back into an upscale aspirational mentality.
285.8/18/2008 3:50:00 PMA marketing campaign would be nice. Something that was unusual and hit people in the head. Also, maybe a few less locations so there's a sense of uniqueness.
286.8/18/2008 4:13:00 PMOffer free wi-fi.
287.8/18/2008 4:53:00 PMFocus on its core
288.8/18/2008 8:16:00 PMreflect more the personality of its neighborhood, continue to focus on publicizing its values, figure out how to provide better tasting food, less expensive
289.8/19/2008 11:51:00 AMOn the one hand they should retrenchg go back to being like a local coffee shop. But Wall Street will never allow that to happen. On the other hand, they should just go full bore and continue to expand, but with more care for the experience (better trained help, cleaner stores, etc.) Or maybe they could mix the two, establish some really amazingly cool coffee shops in a few locations, while growing the others more generically. The best of both worlds -- and maybe the glow of the &quot;flagship&quot; shops would extend to the rest of the chain.