Business
See other Business Articles
Title: The popularity of Starbucks has plunged since they decided to take on politics
Source:
HotAir
URL Source: http://hotair.com/archives/2017/02/ ... y-decided-to-take-on-politics/
Published: Feb 24, 2017
Author: Jazz Shaw
Post Date: 2017-02-24 12:07:49 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 4108
Comments: 21
As we’ve noted here in the past, supersized coffee chain Starbucks has decided to take a very public stance in the world of American politics over the past couple of years. Given the youthful, next-generation persona which they try to project in all of their marketing it will come as no surprise that this has taken the form of a decidedly liberal initiative. So how’s that working out for them these days? According to Yahoo Finance, the company’s popularity as measured by the YouGov Brand Index rankings has completely tanked. The coffee giant’s consumer perception levels have fallen by two-thirds since late January, according to YouGov BrandIndex. The perception tracker measures if respondents have “heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, was it positive or negative.” In Starbucks’ case, perception is still overall positive, but significantly lower than it was prior to CEO Howard Schultz published a public letter outlining the company’s plans to give refugees jobs. When you look at the timing this seems a bit much to write off as simple coincidence or some fluctuation in consumer tastes. If there had been a major shakeup in their product line or some new offering which simply wasn’t selling, that could explain the shift, but nothing like that is being reported. Here’s the graph of consumer responses with a particular date highlighted by the red arrow. If you’ve been following the news at all you probably won’t be shocked to learn that the precipice of the plunge lines up nicely with the moment that Starbucks announced they were opposing Donald Trump’s new immigration initiatives and would be hiring 10,000 refugees globally in response. Their approval still remain generally above the 50% mark but the ranking has taken a bigger hit than any savvy businessman would care to see. This isn’t the first time that Howard Schultz has ventured into this territory, so one might have thought he’d learned a lesson from his previous efforts. You may recall that back in 2015 Starbucks announced their disastrous “Race Together” initiative, in which baristas would be attempting to engage customers in discussions of racial tension while serving them their morning cup of joe. That program was canceled almost immediately after it landed with a thud among the coffee purchasing public. Additional efforts at politicking are the likely cause of the lack of sales growth which the company reported last month. We’ve pondered this same question in the past but it’s obviously worth asking again. When you run a business which relies on maximizing market share across a large and diverse nation, of what possible benefit is it to your shareholders to do things which would immediately tend to drive as much as half of your potential audience away? There are plenty of organizations out there who are willing to take on these battles and don’t rely on the amount of product they sell for their fortunes. Of course, I don’t really have a dog in this fight. Personally, I drink Folgers because Starbucks coffee taste like it’s completely burnt to me. Your mileage may vary. Starbucks’ brand has taken a beating since the company announced plans to hire 10,000 refugees worldwide in the next five years in response to Donald Trump’s executive order intended to prevent refugees from entering the US. 
Poster Comment:
| I recall another Starbucks kerfuffle last year where Starbucks customers would give their last name as "Trump" when placing their order. This would force the barista to write "Trump" on the cup and then call out "Trump" to all the customers to get them to pick up their drink order. Really pissed off the libs and baristas with that one. This was the so-called #TrumpCup hashtag. I agree with the author that Starbucks does produce a lot of coffee that tastes burnt. And is hugely overpriced to boot. |
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
5-year stock price: Starbucks
#2. To: misterwhite (#1)
They have closed a bunch of their retail outlets. And they did so a few years ago too. I think they may be making up the difference with more aggressive pricing in the commercial retail sector, like selling their coffees bagged and in K-cups at Walmart. In which case the stock price may be relatively steady, even as the Starbucks retail stores are declining.
Anyway, it is a theory.
#3. To: Tooconservative (#0)
I have honestly never understood the attraction or why people would be willing to pay stoopid money for what is basically just a cup of coffee. And it's not even good coffee judging by their house brand I was forced to drink a couple of times at airports.
I even got pissed off trying to order a cup of "regular coffee" and being treated like an ignorant rube by the sophisticated superior individual with the minimum wage job at the counter. Mention "regular coffee" and they start sniffing like they smell something bad.
BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO!
ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION!
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
#4. To: sneakypete (#3)
Regular coffee in NYC is coffee and milk, no sugar.
I know NYC is another planet to you.
#5. To: Tooconservative (#0)
This would force the barista to write "Trump" on the cup and then call out "Trump" to all the customers to get them to pick up their drink order. Really pissed off the libs and baristas with that one.
Sounds like a good way to get spit or some other unpleasant substance added to your coffee.
#6. To: Willie Green (#5)
Sounds like a good way to get spit or some other unpleasant substance added to your coffee.
#typicalliberalresponse
#7. To: A K A Stone (#6)
No... I'm just not stupid...
Never piss-off the people who prepare what you eat or drink or else you risk ingesting something foul & putrid.
#8. To: sneakypete (#3)
I even got pissed off trying to order a cup of "regular coffee" and being treated like an ignorant rube by the sophisticated superior individual with the minimum wage job at the counter. Mention "regular coffee" and they start sniffing like they smell something bad.
Hey, they have a title like "master barista" or some such. It's like a title of nobility or something. Much better than some puny college degree.
#9. To: Willie Green (#5)
Sounds like a good way to get spit or some other unpleasant substance added to your coffee.
Like the rest of the filthy hippies, you endorse deliberately spoiling the food of paying customers, all because of your agenda of hate for those who don't agree with you.
I'm not surprised. You have a long track record of scumbaggery.
#10. To: Fred Mertz (#4)
I know NYC is another planet to you.
It's not to everyone?
I have a cousin that managed to escape from NYC when he sent south to visit relatives after graduation from high school. He never went back. Called his mother and told her to send him his clothes. Been here about 30 years now and wouldn't even go back to visit his mother. Said she knew where he lived if she wanted to see him.
BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO!
ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION!
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
#11. To: Tooconservative (#8)
Much better than some puny college degree.
Given what passes for college graduates these days,maybe it is?
BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO!
ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION!
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
#12. To: Tooconservative (#9)
You have a long track record of scumbaggery.
Most filthy libtards do.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
#13. To: Willie Green (#7)
Try it and see if you don't end up in the hospital.
#14. To: Tooconservative (#9)
Like the rest of the filthy hippies, you endorse
Don't go putting words into my mouth, nitwit...
Merely advising you to be cautious...
If you don't want to heed my advice, that's fine with me...
Afterall, it'll be YOUR food or beverage that they'll be f*cking with... not mine... LOL!
#15. To: A K A Stone (#13)
#16. To: sneakypete (#3)
" Mention "regular coffee" and they start sniffing like they smell something bad. "
They do. It is themselves.
Si vis pacem, para bellum
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.
There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."Theodore Roosevelt-1907.
I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within." -- General Douglas MacArthur
#17. To: Tooconservative (#0)
#18. To: Fred Mertz (#4)
I know NYC is another planet to you.
It's not to everyone?
I do have some relatives that escaped from there a couple of decades ago. One even refused to go back to visit his mother. Said she knew where he lived,and was welcome to come any time she want and stay as long as she wanted,but he was never going back there.
He came here to visit his rube cousins as a graduation from high school gift trip,and never went back. Called his mother on the phone and told her to mail all his stuff to him.
BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO!
ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION!
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
#19. To: Fred Mertz, All (#11)
Much better than some puny college degree.Given what passes for college graduates these days,maybe it is?
At least it is a job skill they can use to feed themselves.
Which is more than you can say for a high school diploma.
BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO!
ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION!
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
#20. To: Tooconservative (#19)
Much better than some puny college degree.
Given what passes for college graduates these days,maybe it is?
At least it is a job skill they can use to feed themselves.
Which is more than you can say for a high school diploma.
BOYCOTT PAYPAL AND CLOSE YOUR PP ACCOUNTS NOW! ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO SO,TOO!
ISLAM MEANS SUBMISSION!
Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)
American Indians had open borders. Look at how well that worked out for them.
#21. To: no gnu taxes (#17)
Funny stuff.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]