Re: Cold Coffee, NY Times, August 2, 2008
Bravo, The New York Times.
But Starbucks, What have you been drinking. lately?
When you're a 5000 store chain, boasting outlets all over the world, and a national newspaper begs you to keep open one, 1000 square foot location, one would think this might get the attention of the cost cutters.
Has everyone in charge of the Starbucks brand been fired, already?
"Maybe cutting these particular costs might be more expensive than we calculated" they might ask.
"Are there some "off-financial-statement costs here that we haven't accounted for?"
"Maybe our customers thought we stood for something more than just the opportunity to buy an expensive latte?"
"We used to talk about building our reputation, did that ever matter?"
"Has anyone checked what we told the community planning board when we were lobbying to open the store and the neighborhood was concerned that the shop, previously there for 25 years, might be forced to close?"
"Do you they will remember this closing when times turn and we are again wanting to expand into their neighborhood?"
"I know it's a longshot, but do you think any of the locals travel out of the neighborhood and might actually tell people what we're doing?"
Just some non-financial-analyst metrics that Starbucks might add to sharpen its grinder.
