Following Twitter = $

Via FedEx arrived a Mini Starbucks Reward Card with $5.00 pre-loaded courtesy of My Starbucks Idea on Twitter.

It was easy . . . My Starbucks Idea tweeted a contest & I won (& a few others). Sweet.

Mini Card here

Holiday greetings from Starbucks

Dear Robert,

I'd like to take a moment to wish you happy holidays and share a virtual cup of cheer with you. . .

Indeed . . . 

Is Starbucks cheapening the brand?

Come January, the Subway sandwich chain will be testing Starbucks coffee at 1,900 locations.

Is this a sound long term strategy for Starbucks? Does Starbucks really want to be ubiquitous? What is next, partnering with Exxon or Shell?

What is Starbucks? Merely coffee? An experience? An attitude?

Is Starbucks diluting, cheapening, or simply redefining its brand?

I remember Krispy Kreme arriving in the Sacramento region. A media event. (Please, no snarky remarks about Sacramento.) Krispy Kreme donuts were The Thing to bring to work, meetings and parties. Fast forward and Krispy Kreme donuts could be found near the door at the grocery store and at the gas station. And then . . . Krispy Kreme disappeared from the Sacramento region.

Economic times slowing Starbucks growth

Starbucks plans to grow cautiously in Britain, very cautiously. The economic times are a real bummer it seems.

Howard Schultz, CEO and Coffee Godfather, stepped out of retirement to chart Starbucks' rebound and in the process closed 700 stores in the United State and Australia.

Mr. Schultz wants to emphasize the goodness of Starbucks - its ethically sourced coffee beans, its social conscious and treatment of its employees:

“Our philosophy as a company has been overlooked because of our growth,” Mr Schultz said. “The foundation has been to achieve the balance between profitability and social conscience. The business model for Starbucks has been this balance between profitability and benevolence.” Starbucks was, for example, among the first American companies to offer comprehensive health insurance to workers and to provide stock options to employees, he said.

Read more at TimesOnline

Please vote & grab a free coffee on Starbucks

I tip my hat to Starbucks and you when you vote . . .

Do you deserve a Starbucks Treat?

I have a Starbucks Gold Guest Pass to give away. It is good for 10% off one purchase, whether it be a cup of coffee or a coffeemaker. The Guess Pass is valid through 12/31/09 at participating Starbucks - my guess is that means only the stand alone houses and NOT the ones in airports and grocery or Target stores.

If you want my pass, email or tweet me why you should be the winner and be sure to include your mailing (snail) address. 

Great conversation at Starbucks?

Starbucks employs some bright people who sensed the great unwashed caffeine addicts would, if asked, suggest improvements to the Starbucks experience and My Starbucks Idea was born.

My Starbucks Idea has reportedly collected over 55,000 submissions since its launch in March. 

One poster, conniemx, suggested that Starbucks

" . . use the power of media and wireless new media in particular to foster a sense of conversation about the arts, current events, etc. In other words to stimulate Starbucks patrons that wish to interact as part of a 21st century "cafe society" such as they have in Europe traditionally - people gathering together to discuss the arts, world events and culture."

To that end, Starbucks created a community they named The Good Sheet "A weekly series breaking down an important issue to help make sense of the world around us."

This week It's the Economy, Stupid!

Starbucks Gold - I got mine

It arrived in the mail today: 

[Update 1: Here is a link to register your card starbucksgold.com]

[Update 2: Reminder: you can only have three gift cards registered at Starbucks.com - including your new Starbucks Gold. Before attempting to register your new Starbucks Gold, make sure you only have two registered at Starbucks.com  - the system hangs up when you attempt to unregister a card from the Starbucks Gold menu.]

[Update 3: Please be sure to ask for your receipt when you use your Gold Card. I have used my Gold Card 5 times. Not one cashier knew what to do with it. There is a Gold Card button they must use for you to get your discount. Check your receipt. It will show a club discount if your purchase is entered correctly.]















Welcome!

You're in for a treat. A few weeks ago, you became a member of Starbucks Gold. Today you're among the very first people to receive your new Card and all the benefits that come with Gold Status.

Starbucks Gold is the Card for people who really love their Starbucks. You're the heart and soul of our day, our week, our month. So we wanted to show you our appreciation in ways both big and small. A member-only discount. A distinctive Card. And exclusive benefits once you register, like friends and family days and a free drink on your birthday. Welcome to Starbucks Gold.

Whenever you visit Starbucks, present this Card for your 10% member discount. And don't forget to register your Card at starbucksgold.com, because that's where you unlock all the other exclusive member benefits and learn about the details.

As you look through your member booklet, you'll find a few extra treats. We call them Guest Passes that you can share with co-workers, friends, anyone you think deserves a little special treatment. We're grateful to have customers like you. I hope you enjoy Starbucks Gold and all that comes with it.

Sincerely,

Brad Stevens
vice president, Customer Relationship Management

Starbucks, going gold

It arrived, an email from Starbucks informing me that I was invited to join Starbucks Gold.

What's the catch? Apparently none, it is free.

What is the benefit? How about a 10% discount on most purchases, "plus lots of other exclusive benefits and top shelf treatment."

Why does Donkey get a Starbucks Gold before the general public? "Because you are the heart and soul of our business." Indeed.

Filing out all those surveys and sending emails to corporate did more than put Donkey on the "watch list". Curious to see if any of my suggestions find their way into the card.

Flickr photo of a Starbucks Gold (not Donkey's).

Starbucks releases list of closures

"Bob-O! Your usual?"

"Indeed."

"Hot or cold?"

"Cold, thank you."

And so my morning routine will pleasantly continue as "my" Starbucks isn't on the closure list.

Oh, happy days!