Starbucks Coffee

The “Starbucks Experience” is in jeopardy of extinction. The noise level is making it increasingly difficult to enjoy the experience. I frequently have meetings at Starbucks locations and find it increasingly difficult to have a conversation.  What I have observed is that more people are selecting specialty drinks that require a blender.

Recommendation: Implement an acoustic sound absorption material in your stores. These are relatively inexpensive and can now be customized to look like the décor of the Starbucks store. Several products are on the market, but I am familiar with Auralex Acoustics (www.auralex.com )as the global brand leader and innovator. They have green products that will bring back the “Starbucks Experience” and enable me to enjoy having meetings at Starbucks.

I overall appreciate the design look that your team uses - warm woods, earthy colors - always felt very "Fall" to me (greens etc). My on recommendation is a practical one - I think you allow your merchandising folks to clutter the heck out of the immediate register area. I know this is valuable real estate for "ancillary" sales - but at the two stores I frequent and from the looks of this one - the merchandise actually impedes your ability to pass money to the staff and their ability to easily hand you coffee (think elbow room). No ancillary sale items should prevent either of those two CORE activities. It is almost like you leave a little tiny window in what is almost a retail store "shelf" for the transactions to take place. I can barely see -the staff at times behind some of the shelving/displays. Just my two cents!  

Hello rnis - Thanks for sharing this. That is an amazing licensed store design.  As you may know, I'm already a fan of the beautiful store designs using reclaimed wood and repurposed materials.  This store is gorgeous.  I love how the store design team can make a small space distinctive and experiential.  I think the Bellevue Square Starbucks has that feel too (I realize of course that is a company-operated store).

I love the big chalk board that shows "Bold pick" and then "Anniversary Blend".  It's nice to see a licensed store offering coffee choice too.

Thank you for the blog post!

Melody

Go 100% green!  This will draw in huge crowds of people!  Everyone and everything is going 'green' these days!  Make the cups, the sleeves, the napkins, the lighting, the floor tiles, the toilet paper, etc. all 'GREEN'!  The FIRST GREEN COFFEE SHOP!!!