Tuesday’s Guest Post by Starbucks barista Sun Min Kimes jolted Postcards readers like a pot of extra bold Joe. We got over 50 comments–the most comments, as well as the most traffic, of any Guest Post we’ve run except for “The Great Depression, as I remember” by Walt Stoiber.
She struck a chord. As one reader, Oliver in Chicago, said, “Move this person to the Executive suite ASAP!”
Thank you for the comments. We welcome them, always.
And in this case, we’re hoping that Howard Schultz, the man who built Starbucks and is now the company’s chairman and CEO, read his passionate employee’s–or as says, partner’s–good advice.
For Schultz and all the other folks rooting for a Starbucks turnaround, here are a few highlight comments:
Tom in Denver wrote: “PLEASE, Howard, dedicate just one register in the morning for drip coffee. I have a simple order: ‘Grande House.'” Several Starbucks managers replied that this idea is good in theory but not in practice–and not a path to better profitability.
Jim in Florida suggested more promotions to compete with an ever-more aggressive McDonald’s: “SBUX could probably get more business if they offered some more promos. McD’s has been giving out coupons for free breakfast sandwiches with purchase of a latte ($3 in my area). It ends up being not a bad deal, considering the latte itself is kind of pricey IMO.”
John, a former Starbucks manager in Philadelphia, griped that corporate is more “focused on communicating profit than they are communicating the side of Starbucks that matters.” He noted that “Howard Schultz went on a training rampage about 2 years ago.” But training has slipped, and “a store manager faced with mandatory spending cuts will likely cut training for a Shift Supervisor or Barista and put them directly on the floor.”
Kevin, a Starbucks store manager in Pittsburgh, agreed thay more training is needed, adding, “I have parters ready to attend the Starbucks Experience class but can’t because no one is available to teach it. What happened to Situational Leadership class, or Supervisory Skills class?”
And Donna in Christiansburg, Va. Offers advice that I wholeheartedly agree with: “Please turn down the music. Sometimes it is so loud I can’t concentrate on what I’m reading or hear my partner’s conversation.”