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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.
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. |
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. |
#1: misterwhite To: Tooconservative (#0)
misterwhite posted on 2017-02-24 13:41:38 Reply Private Reply
#2: Tooconservative To: misterwhite (#1)
Anyway, it is a theory.
Tooconservative posted on 2017-02-24 14:20:51 Reply Private Reply
#3: sneakypete To: Tooconservative (#0)
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.
sneakypete posted on 2017-02-24 19:35:53 Reply Private Reply
#4: Fred Mertz To: sneakypete (#3)
I know NYC is another planet to you.
Fred Mertz posted on 2017-02-24 19:51:10 Reply Private Reply
#5: Willie Green To: Tooconservative (#0)
Sounds like a good way to get spit or some other unpleasant substance added to your coffee.
Willie Green posted on 2017-02-24 20:49:50 Reply Private Reply
#6: A K A Stone To: Willie Green (#5)
#typicalliberalresponse
A K A Stone posted on 2017-02-24 21:14:26 Reply Private Reply
#7: Willie Green 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.
Willie Green posted on 2017-02-24 21:52:02 Reply Private Reply
#8: Tooconservative To: sneakypete (#3)
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.
Tooconservative posted on 2017-02-24 21:52:35 Reply Private Reply
#9: Tooconservative To: Willie Green (#5)
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.
Tooconservative posted on 2017-02-24 21:54:13 Reply Private Reply
#10: sneakypete To: Fred Mertz (#4)
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.
sneakypete posted on 2017-02-24 23:00:31 Reply Private Reply
#11: sneakypete To: Tooconservative (#8)
Given what passes for college graduates these days,maybe it is?
sneakypete posted on 2017-02-24 23:03:17 Reply Private Reply
#12: GrandIsland To: Tooconservative (#9)
Most filthy libtards do.
GrandIsland posted on 2017-02-25 00:26:09 Reply Private Reply
#13: A K A Stone To: Willie Green (#7)
A K A Stone posted on 2017-02-25 01:14:22 Reply Private Reply
#14: Willie Green To: Tooconservative (#9)
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!
Willie Green posted on 2017-02-25 05:25:06 Reply Private Reply
#15: misterwhite To: A K A Stone (#13)
misterwhite posted on 2017-02-25 10:15:25 Reply Private Reply
#16: Stoner To: sneakypete (#3)
They do. It is themselves.
Stoner posted on 2017-02-27 15:28:56 Reply Private Reply
#17: no gnu taxes To: Tooconservative (#0)
no gnu taxes posted on 2017-02-27 15:36:41 Reply Private Reply
#18: sneakypete To: Fred Mertz (#4)
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.
sneakypete posted on 2017-02-27 20:19:30 Reply Private Reply
#19: sneakypete To: Fred Mertz, All (#11)
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.
sneakypete posted on 2017-02-27 20:21:30 Reply Private Reply
#20: sneakypete To: Tooconservative (#19)
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.
sneakypete posted on 2017-02-27 20:22:32 Reply Private Reply
#21: Tooconservative To: no gnu taxes (#17)
Tooconservative posted on 2017-02-27 20:49:04 Reply Private Reply