Marketing Analysis : Starbucks 's Indian Market

Starbucks is dominant coffee brand in North America, which also is well-known worldwide. Established in 1971 as coffee shop oriented to a niche of coffee purists, in late 1980’s it turned to be a constantly growing chain of stores that sold whole-beans and premium-priced coffee to mostly affluent, well-educated customers. In years 1992-2002 company was showing at least 5% annual growth. And by 2002 Starbucks was serving already 20M customers in 5886 stores (both operated and licensed) around the globe, had $3.3 billion net revenues and was opening 3 new stores a day in average.

Starbucks is one of the leaders in coffee industry. Starbucks has entered into many new markets and today it has more than 16,000 outlets across the globe (Johnson, Scholes and Whittington 2011). Due to unlimited business opportunities, Starbucks Corp has set strategies to enter India as it is next major hub for development in near future. Previously Starbucks has gained wide success in China and Japan due to high consumption of coffee and tea. Since its inception, Starbucks has tapped the major markets across the world, India was left untapped. In India, Starbucks has setup alliances with TATA Global Beverages which is a unit of TATA Group of Companies. Starbucks along with TATA has started with an investment of $80 million and plans to open 50 coffee shops in a year. Currently few coffee shops has been setup by Starbucks, however in near future, it is expected that the company will achieve its target in capturing Indian market (Lamb2009). Thus, besides sourcing coffee beans from TATA, Starbucks can now explore more Asian markets (Hitt, Ireland and Hoskisson 2012).

7) The significance of the shift from transaction-based marketing to relationship marketing is that firms realize that just attracting customers to buy their products is not quite as important as establishing and maintaining relationships with them so that they will turn into loyal repeat customers. Relationship building begins early in marketing. It starts with what customers want and need, and then developing high-quality products to meet those needs.

starbucks Corp., an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington, has expanded rapidly since its opening in 1971. These outrageous success was due to its well-developed strategy vision which lay out the company's strategic course in developing and strengthening its business. Starbucks is a global corporation that sells authentic coffee in 30 countries, reporting revenues of nearly $5.1 billion in 2006. The main goal of Starbucks is to embrace diversity by applying the highest standards of excellence. Starbucks strives to perfect the relationship with the working class by making the service as fast as possible because they believe that every customer has their own personal rate. One

Starbucks mission is to "inspire and nurture the human spirit-- one person, one cup, and one neighbourhood at a time.”

Former Starbucks Executive Scott Bedbury once said “Brands need to communicate that they are along for the ride. They are made of flesh and emotion. That they are made possible by people” (10 Quotes from Starbucks Executives, 2010, para. 6). Starbucks’ beliefs in customer service, community solitude, and a strong business core stretch far behind just a belief in a quality caffeinated product. “We make sure everything we do honors that connection – from our commitment to the highest quality coffee in the world, to the way we engage with our customers and communities to do business responsibly” (About Us, 2011, para. 4). Thus, this commitment is the motivation behind Marketing Team A’s proposed

coffee in the world. The goal of Starbucks is to establish the company as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining the organization’s uncompromising principles. In addition, Starbucks wants to develop its brand beyond being the preferred outlet from which to purchase coffee to becoming the preferred consumer brand.

As a well-established coffee retailer and over 35 years of success, Starbucks is at the maturity stage in the product life cycle. It is in this stage that Starbucks needs to shift gears and focus on marketing program modifications by increasing the number of customers and customer visits (Kotler, 2009, pg. 185). While improving service will attract first-time customers and retain current ones, further marketing modifications will need to be made if it wants to continue to grow. More advertising, distribution, sales promotions, and personal selling are a few of the ways to modify the marketing program.

This paper is structured around the Eclectic Paradigm (OLI Framework) and incorporates a PESTLE analysis and attempts to bring out the major areas of concern for Starbucks Corporation in order to enter the India market. Although, the FDI regulations and legal requirements have been reformed over the last couple of years and doing business in India is gradually improving, it seems that Starbucks needs to focus its attention more towards the economical and socio-cultural areas rather than the political and legal aspects of the business environment in India. OWNERSHIP SPECIFIC ADVANTAGES The Starbucks brand has become almost synonymous with coffee all around the world and the same is the situation in India even though India does not have a single Starbucks outlet. Having opened its first store in 1971, Starbucks has been highly successful in starting a cult following that has put the Starbucks brand at a level higher than just a coffee shop. The passionate staff and their unique blends of the best coffee beans have propelled Starbucks as a way of life in many parts of the world. The vision created by Howard Schultz, the President and CEO of Starbucks, has resulted in over 16,000 stores adding almost 1500 stores in the last one year (Starbucks Corporation, Annual Report, 2008). The company

Starbucks provide a large in store seating with free wi fi and a take-out service which only a few retail shops offer. The main target customers for Starbucks are office workers, with enough income, whom are able to afford the high prices of their products (Gaudio, 2003). The company has worked hard to establish itself as the brand leader with its branding as the most frequently drank coffee and noticeable brand logo. Introduction of promotions like the Starbucks Card, allows a more convenient way for a person to
pay for
your
drinks
and
earn
rewards
for
your purchase (Starbucks Coffee Company, 2011).
Furthermore, in‐store
promotions
accompanied
by
new
products and
amenities like free internet use are all strategies that Starbucks use to maintain their position in the market (Vasudha, 2011).

Starbucks is a multinational coffee and coffee house chain company founded in 1971 and based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 15,011 stores in 42 countries. Starbucks sells drip brewed coffee, espresso-based hot drinks, snacks and items such as mugs, and of course their well renowned coffee beans. This analysis will provide an overview of Starbucks and its industry; examine the current market and future market conditions and suggestions for maximizing the organization’s future profits and growth. Starbucks has expanded rapidly over the years, opening a new store every workday during the 1990’s. The first Starbucks location outside of North America opened in Tokyo in 1996. In 2003, Starbucks completed the purchase of Seattle’s Best Coffee. Currently there are over 172,000 employees of Starbucks, and the company’s 2007 revenue exceeded $9.4 billion. During this year Starbucks will purchase more than 300 million pounds of beans from Latin America, Asia, and Africa (Laidlaw, 2007). Starbucks has become a success by believing and following their corporate Mission Statement, which reads as follows: “To provide a great working environment and treat each other with respect and dignity. Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business. Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery of our coffee. Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time. Contribute

Starbucks first opened its doors in Seattle’s Pike Place Market with the name being coined from that of Moby Dick’s first mate (Schultz & Yang 1999). It has spread its shops across North America, all over Europe, the Middle East, Latin America as well as the Pacific Rim with an estimated 35 million customer weekly (Michelli, 2008). With tremendous growth from a small time coffee shop, the company has matured to an international icon that today it is one of the world’s leading retailer, roaster and brand specialty coffee (Story, 1971). The company offers whole bean coffees, espresso beverages, and confectionery and bakery items.

Relationship marketing was first defined as a form of marketing developed from direct response marketing campaigns which emphasizes customer retention and satisfaction, rather than a dominant focus on sales transactions. As a practice, relationship marketing differs from other forms of marketing in that it recognizes the long term value of customer relationships and extends communication beyond intrusive advertising and sales promotional messages. First of all, the marketing mix is very important in relationship marketing. The

Starbucks' success has lead to the market entry of many competitors and copycat brands that could pose potential threats. Therefore, many competitors felt resentment of the Starbucks’ success and they may imitate the Starbucks’ business system to enter the India market.

Starbucks’ retail entry model in the United States does not have the same strategy as their international model. In the states Starbucks holds great control as a corporation, but in international territory, country partnerships, cultural, government laws and politics play a very important role in Starbucks’ entry strategy. Starbucks has set it sights globally since the coffee market has come close to saturation in the U.S. which will give them the opportunity to continue to expand without fierce competition. Starbucks has looked to countries like India and other emerging markets with great growth potential to set down new roots. Starbucks recognizes India as a great choice to expand business internationally but also recognizes the complexity in the same market after several attempts to enter without success.