$tarbucks

Recently while flipping through the channels in the wee hours of the morning, CNBC stopped me in my tracks. Not only am I a sucker for a good documentary, but I found this one particularly interesting. It was on the Starbucks empire. The following link will give you an idea of what the show was about.  Money in a cup My mouth literally was hanging open while the pure genius of the Starbucks Company has made a single cup of coffee into a status symbol.

One point that I found interesting is that Starbucks does not market in the media. You will never see a commercial on television because they do not see it as fit. Instead the company relies on customers walking around with their cup. Why in the world would Starbucks not market on tv? Starbucks customers love the coffee shops and the delicious coffee. They feel as though they are in a cafe in New York City or Boston or Paris, not in their own backyard. The customers also feel like Starbucks is their best kept secret, when really there are billions of people who have tried the coffee worldwide, and practically a Starbucks on every block in NYC. If commercials started showing up on tv, the secret would be out!

Another way Starbucks has built a great reputation in marketing is through their wide variety of products. If someone is not a coffee drinker, they could still enjoy the great Cd's that the company compiles. The music is soothing, jazzy, and on the cutting edge. What other coffee company ever won Best Album of the Year at the Grammy's? Starbucks also has a extensive inventory of ceramic and plastic mugs, coffee makers, espresso machines, books, aprons, and seasonal decorations.

A great way the company has encouraged customers to stay at the shop is through free WiFi and of course their music. The cafe is a great place to get out of the house and remain productive, all the while ordering more coffee and possibly getting a snack. Even though there are Starbucks haters, I personally enjoy the coffee, the atmosphere, the authentic feel, all for the low price of $4 a cup. Who could deny that?

What are other inventory items that you would like to see Starbucks have? Are there any diet regulations that you may have that Starbucks has not met?