Marketing Plan Final Paper
Executive Summary
Starbucks is a dominant company based in the United States founded in 1971. After the current chairman Howard Schultz take over the business, Starbucks started to introduce specialty coffee beverages, food and entertainment product. In order to stabilized their position in the industry, identification of strengths and weakness, ability to define new opportunities as well as being aware of possible threats become essential.
Starbucks adopted the Societal Marketing Concept with the goal of not only deliver great customer value but also produce benefits to the communities and environment. Starbucks offers mainly coffee beverages supplement by pastries, sandwiches and cakes. However,
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Recently, Starbucks also introduce new flavours like Toffee Nut Latte, Mocha Praline and Peppermint Mocha Frappucinos respectively available in iced and hot versions. Starbuck’s ability to roll out new products in a relatively fast rate is a considerable competitive advantage for the company.
Ability to create a great shopping experience
When visiting a retail store of Starbucks, the customers are not only ensured to get beverages and food with the finest quality, they are greeted by friendly workers, enjoying first rate music and indulging themselves into a comfortable environment with great ambience designed to be cozy and intimate just like home. My recent visit to their store justified the above strengths as I was greeted with a big smile and they are happy to modify my Mocha according to my preference. The wooden tables and armchairs gave a soothing and peaceful atmosphere with reading material that will not keep you bored.
Weakness of Starbucks
Reliance on US markets
Being headquartered in the United States, Seattle, apparently statistics has shown that approximately 85% of its revenue is generated from its domestic US market. However, being an international brand with wide global presence and ranging operations, they should look into earning higher
In 1971, Starbucks started as a small coffee shop which targeted a specialized market of coffee purists. Howard Schultz, who later owned the company and initiated the high growth period, joined Starbucks’ marketing team in 1982. Main concept of Schultz marketing strategy was too make Starbucks “America’s third place” considering home and work the two other places where Americans spend most of their time. In 1992, Schultz acquired Starbucks and made an initial public offering. Despite Wall Street’s doubts about the IPO, $25 million was raised by Starbucks.
Every American across the country would recognize the Mcdonalds Golden Arch or the Statue of Liberty Symbol embedded in the Logo for “Starbucks”. One thing every American can agree on is that they live within close range if not within a 5 mile radius to one of the most successful fast food chains in America, Dunkin Donuts, Burger King, Starbucks, Subways the list goes on. Unfortunately we cant say the same for healthy food markets or even food at all. It has been proven that healthy food consumption and obesity is in direct relation to the access we have to them in our communities. Food suppliers place they’re franchises or businesses based on the income and demographic of the community, and the likelihood that they will make a profit in the specific neighborhood. For millons of americans, specifically people living in low-income communities of color finding a fresh apple, full service grocery stores, farmers markets, and other vendors that sell other healthy foods are scarcely available or available at all. So as a result people turn to the ease, affordability and convenience of fast food. Every corner in Crown Heights Brooklyn for example you can find a corner store or as we call it “Bodega”, a liquor store, and a Chinese store. To enjoy healthy foods you have to hop on a train to a Trader Joes, or a Whole foods located in a predominantly white neighborhood. Being someone who has went on a weight loss journey in the past I always found this rather disheartening. I knew
Starbucks has developed a brand image that has revolutionized coffee drinking experience. It has created an ambiance that is designed to attract customers and keep them coming back to Starbucks stores. It offers wide varieties of services such as comfortable seating areas with unique music and free wireless Internet for their customers while sipping their favorite coffee. This distinctiveness sets Starbucks apart from most of its competitors and has allowed the company to successfully grow and profit while charging premium prices for their products.
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.
Starbucks advertises two essential mission statements. First and foremost, it strives to “establish [ourselves] as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while [we] grow(s).” (Starbucks) Reflective of its mission, Starbucks bases its strategic campaign and communications on six indispensable philosophies; structuring a pleasant work environment in which employees are treated with “respect and dignity,” incorporating diversity in all business aspects, purchasing, roasting and delivering fresh coffee, retaining satisfied customers, giving back to the community and environment, and developing
The décor of the stores included earth tones and overstuffed chairs, wood floors and cozy fireplaces that created a home-like feel so that its patrons could linger and relax. La Marzocco machines were put up which added to the distinct taste of the coffee and the Barista that operated the machines stood as a unique attraction. The quasi-Italian lingo included in menu (drinks names and sizes) were very catchy. Starbucks positioned itself as a brand/company offering a “lifestyle product”. The locations were carefully selected where areas with large numbers of wealthy and highly professional workers (“Bobos”) were targeted.
Starbucks is undoubtedly an international brand. The history of coffee traces back to Ethiopia, Africa, India, Arabia, and Europe, and has been traded abroad since the 11th century. Understanding the demand and widespread market for coffee, Starbucks has triumphantly capitalized both the domestic market, and the varied international markets as well. Possessing about 6,500 retail sites worldwide, Starbucks’ net is spread across thirty countries and has been found as one of the most recognized brands all over the globe in equality to McDonalds and Toyota. This organization’s ability to build an international brand has been unprecedented- particularly since it represents a specialty
Starbucks dates back from 1971 and is based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded by Gordon Bowker, Jerry Baldwin and Zev Siegl and it
Strategic planning is the process of gathering information from stakeholders, market players, professional entity, and government agency. The purpose of gathering information is formulating a realistic and a workable framework that any organization can implement and work with. Evaluation of information is a key aspect in determine the kind of plans that the organization wish to a chive over certain a period. Strategic planning ensures the implementation is, crafted well, and parties involved be acquitted with it. Developing a good Strategic plan helps a company to implement its missions and visions effectively, and helps the company to evaluate
The ambiances at each bar were different and the energy was electrifying. It was in this setting that he realized that creating an atmosphere and bonding with customers around a cup of coffee was monumental in improving his business. Coffee would be only the automobile for a place where people want to stay for a while, a place-like-home, and office. These variables will become the differentiating factor for Starbucks.
Starbucks extends their coffee experience to everyone: kids, teenagers and adults. Part of their success comes from their ability to create new products that fit the culture of the country. In Japan, for instance, Starbucks launched green tea lattes, which later became popular in other countries (Allison). Starbucks is well established in countries like Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. In the US alone, Starbucks sells 4 million cups of coffee per day (Horovitz). Their products and services have transformed the way customers view coffee. Changing the way customers order, Starbucks makes it very chic to purchase custom drinks. Starbucks is like no other coffee shop: the dimmed lights
The company location is based at Penang, Butterworth Sunway Carnival Mall. The facilities such as free Wi-Fi, comfortable sofas and chairs, dimmed light and quiet relaxing music will help the customers to relax from the daily stresses and will differentiate Starbucks Coffee shop from incumbent competitors. To speed up the customer service, at least two employees will be servicing clients. Meanwhile one employee will be preparing the customer’s order, the other one will be taking care of the sales transaction.
I typically don’t hang out in Starbucks but, I decided to sit down for a while and observe the patrons. The interior is setup so that those on the run can quickly order and be on their way. Those that want to partake in the free Wi-Fi and overstuffed couches can do so as well. This is where I chose to act like a social stalker.
“We are not in the coffee business, serving people. We are in the people business, serving coffee”, Howard Schultz’s philosophy has shaped and continues shape Starbucks, the world’s number one specialty coffee retailer with over 21,000 outlets in more than 65 countries nowadays (Starbucks, 2011). Starbucks was founded in 1971 and Howard Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982. In 1987, Howard acquired Starbucks and changed the name to Starbucks Corporation.
If the service is excellent and the customer has a memorable experience, there will be an emotional aspect that connects the customer to Starbucks. Excelling in service also benefits existing customers and deepens customer loyalty.