Yesterday, Starbucks decided to close most of the stores across the country for three hours for Espresso Excellence re-training. They hoped to accomplish common ground for all partners (employees) with the back-to-basics approach by reinstating standards and policies. These milk and espresso standards were drastically changed to ensure the perfect hand-crafted espresso beverage. Milk will always be steamed fresh, espresso shots will be timed and the connection you have with a Starbucks barista will be different and improved.
Howard Shultz’s has a new promise. Every customer’s drink will be perfect, every time. Every shot will be extracted correctly; every pitcher of milk made especially for your beverage, and will customized just the way you like it. The focus is no longer on the growth of the company, but rather on the connection that each barista can have with you. The effort and attention to detail to your beverage will hold greater value than the speed in which it’s made. I firmly believe this is the right move because it brings espresso back to the forefront of Starbucks’ business. Showing genuine great customer service by offering that if the drink is not to the customer’s liking, a barista would love to remake it.
Is this the defining point? Starbucks is trying to refocus, revamp and restore the experience customers have in their stores. Howard Shultz is pulling his company in a new direction, and investors should get excited. The fruits of Shultz’s labor will be seen in the months to come, I guarantee it. Customers will come to Starbucks for the high-quality beverages and genuine customer service. Starbucks glory days are ahead of them. They have trimmed the fat at headquarters by cutting staff, are in the process of getting rid of the products that dilute the brand, and forfeited three hours of business for the entire company to make a bold statement. Starbucks is making a comeback, right now!
Boring Market owns Starbucks Stock.
Tags: Back·Basics·Close·Comeback·Howard·Promise·Shultz·Starbucks·Stores
5 responses so far ↓
1 Rob // Feb 28, 2008 at 12:54 am
I agree this is a good thing and its a huge deal. I love that Starbucks is making a bold move for good not evil. Its great to hear the good news!
2 Alyssa // Feb 28, 2008 at 11:55 am
Interesting, I was wondering when you’d mention this!
I wonder if things really will change, though. Most of my friends saw the meeting as repetitive review and not motivating revival. It’ll be interesting to see whether the new standards you mentioned really do make a difference.
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