Starbuck's new store format - less human interaction

[ceevee369]

Found an interesting article on how Starbuck's is changing their agenda (at least in the US for now)

Extract:

Physical changes, at least in some Starbucks stores, are palpable, and may reflect bigger changes. In my local Starbucks, for example, a recent renovation brought an army of teeny-weeny tables lined up in formation against the longest wall. Behind them is a lengthy bench, too high to sit comfortably and too wide to rest your back. They’ve amped up the music by adding another speaker. And the new lighting feels fluorescent and cold. The effect of the store renovation is clear: It’s not a comfortable place to sit for very long. “Foot traffic” has clearly increased, but the regulars have scattered. Starbucks Corporate obviously has a lot on its hands, but is this the right direction to go in?

Now, while we know that all coffee-stores in TW adapted to the same concept, would they be brave / stupid enough pushing this format through?
This would be in clear contradiction of what the CVS chains did in the last 2 years - "keeping spending power inside"

Article :http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2012/05/29/starbucks-hold-on-us-is-bigger-than-coffee-its-psychology/

[Deuce Dropper]

probably good for the Taiwan stores, those of us who don't plan on spending all day there may actually get a seat.

[Jaboney]

But where will the kids do homework?
How much time will families waste scouring the city for free air conditioning?
Think of the private tutors!

It seems a very odd move considering the CEO's admonishment that the chain had grown too impersonal.

[bababa]

It's a mistake, at least in Western countries. The whole justification for their overpriced coffee was that you were really paying for a place to sit and chat/read/study/relax for a while. If you no longer get that, then really, why buy coffee there at all? There are lots of much cheaper places with equally good (or bad) coffee.

[headhonchoII]

I often find Starbucks quite uncomfortable with their poky wooden tables and chairs squashed together. They do have a few nice stores dotted around of course but many local independent places and chains would be better kitted out.

They are introducing more food on the menu in Taiwan, see how that goes.

Bababa is right, there are now more places to get coffee that are cheaper or better. Look at the rise of the Cama fresh roasted coffee chain (wow Taiwan has come a long way in terms of coffee eh). If Starbucks doesn't maintain a good environment their business and rep will diminish quickly.

[PigBloodCake]

But where will the kids do homework?

Mickey D's and KFC already handled that issue for ya

[trubadour]

Starbucks is not alone in being a terrible place to spend any time.

rant: Basically all coffee shops in tw are the ******* same or in fact ******* worse. At least Starbucks is ******* impersonal. I want to get a ******* coffee and just mind my own/pose. Hate the crappy themes and uptight ******* couple atmospheres of the homegrown branches. ******* libraries are ******* full, cafés are inhospitable, the ******* parks are noisy or full of pollution or those little black ******* flies or have nowhere decent to sit (e.g. no grass, no shade, too many mozzies). Only solution is to buy an ******* comfy chair and chill the **** out at home (unplugging the ******* internet first, of course!)

[tommy525]

I agree, the attraction should be a nice place to chill for awhile (course some taiwanese students carry this concept a bit too far). Starbucks just paid 100 million dollars for a SAn Francisco bakery !! This bakery has 19 stores around here. Its like a higher end Starbucks. I guess they bought them to keep them from turning into a real competitor.

But maybe some of the bakery goods will get sold in Starbucks. But word is that they (Starbucks) are going to bring the concept nationwide (USA) and possibly worldwide.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... -M55CX.DTL

[riceisnice2011]

the company is called La Bolounge and they started in SF in the filmore district, they make classic french pastries and breads. Yes, its a match made in heaven as starbucks now have and will start serving much higher quality pastries. www.http://laboulangebakery.com/

[headhonchoII]

You mean they will become a teashop or cofeeahop and bakery like we have had in Europe for hundreds of years, how innovative lol.