Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Starbucks Pricing and Promotion Strategies

Starbucks Pricing and Promotion Strategies Starbucks has always been the venue one would receive the best coffees. However, in the 1970s, one had to travel all the way to their one and only store in Seattle Historic Pike Place Market. The name Starbucks rose from the classic American novel, Herman Melvilles Moby Dick. Thanks to Howard Schultz, Starbucks eventually expanded out of Seattle in the 1990s. First to the United States and eventually out to the rest of the world. Now, Starbucks has more than 9000 locations in over 30 countries. Not only that, Starbucks now serves espresso, lattes, Frappucino and many other interesting beverages. MARKET TARGETING Starbucks initially targeted young college students, social classes, and neighborhoods that would be ready to the idea of buying a $6 coffee and spending time with friends at their stores. With rapid growth and expansion, Starbucks target market expanded rapidly to include every individual of every age. In the foreign countries, they began targeting small towns, rural communities, ethnic neighborhoods, highway rest stops, etc. In Singapore, Starbucks started their target from the office workers who would need a good coffee while in a rushing to work. Following that, practically every individual of every age became their target. However, in Singapore, we still can see that only those very sociable, well-aware of good coffee and young tend to hang-out at Starbucks. We rarely see the elderly or a family sitting in Starbucks for coffee. Starbucks marketing strategy involved positioning its outlets as a place where consumers can spend time other than their home or work. Each of its stores was made as comfortable and relaxing as possible. Not only that, they tried to make it accessible and readily available where most people go to relax. For example, shopping malls, where most friends choose to hang-out especially the ladies. And, ladies as we all know, are very sophisticated people who would like everything good and of top-class qualityThe coffee giant achieved the comforts through comfortable furniture and relaxing music. Over the past several years, Starbucks also included offerings such as wireless internet, handicapped access, complimentary books, and common areas for collaboration. While Starbucks stores are positioned as locations where customers can spend time in a comfortable setting, their product lines are positioned at the higher end in regards to prices and quality. PRICING STRATEGIES Starbucks products are priced higher than most other brand coffees due to the image its brand carries. However, they knew just how to put a higher price and yet get their targeted market to buy their coffees without thinking twice. Starbucks began to offer $1 bottomless 8 oz. cup of coffee, with unlimited refills that cost approximately 50 cents less than any other Starbucks products. They also implemented value strategies that emphasized more on inexpensive products rather than being perceived as unaffordable to price-skittish consumers. For example, the introduction of the $3.95 breakfast pairings, including popular breakfast items paired with a coffee, and highlights $2 brewed coffees instead of the more expensive specialty drinks. When quality becomes the desire of the target market, then pricing is no longer much of an issue. That is somewhat the case for Starbucks. They have created such an experience the Starbucks experience that most of their customers go back to them for their coffees because of the ambience, comfort and their great coffee, even if they could get an almost similar coffee for half the price at some other coffee outlet. PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES Starbucks has implemented numerous promotions to reach its targeted market. One of the promotions that Starbucks has used is the Starbucks Card. Starbucks Card is a technique that gives customers the opportunity to promote Starbuckss products through a referral system. When a customer purchases a gift card, it not only shows brand loyalty, but it also provides the company with free advertising, and brings in new customers. Starbucks also provides a card for corporate sales, which are used for extrinsic rewards to show employee appreciation for a job well done, or a gift to a client. Another promotional implementation is that they deliver coffees to offices or work places without any coffee size restrictions. There are very few or rare coffee outlets that are willing to deliver without placing any conditions or restrictions. Thirdly, they appeal to a diverse customer base by offering international teas and coffees to accommodate those customers that want a taste from home or for locals that enjoy tea. Lastly, using the aid of performing a good deed as a means for promotion Starbucks contributes to several non-profit organizations as a way to improve brand image and awareness in local communities. DISTRIBUTIONAL CHANNELS Starbucks formed some business alliances with certain organizations to further promote its brand. One of these alliances formed was Barnes Noble Bookstores in the year 1993. Both companies were able to promote their brand and at the same time improve their image. Starbucks also formed alliances with United Airlines in 1996 and now, their coffees are served on the United Airlines. Not only that, Starbucks has made alliances with many other organizations through which, it has improved its branding, sales and image. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS Starbucks should continue to carry their rare and unique variety of food and drink products. New and different combinations should be introduced frequently and the products that deliver the best results should be retained and added to the permanent menu. The line of personal equipment products by Starbucks can be extended and offered at the retail level or on the companys web site. Starbucks could introduce a line of premium fruit drinks. Starbucks could re-design its outlets at the more popular places to be larger and cozy at the same time. They could change the size of the outlet thats most popular to hold at least double the number of customers their normal outlets do. These new designs should incorporate a comfortable feel for the customer and encourage large gatherings. In the targeted areas, the new store should be able to accommodate a small conference of up to 15 people. Ultimately, what they should achieve is the ability to host business meetings, book signings and much more. Thirdly, customers can be rewarded with free cups of coffee for accumulating a certain amount of points on their Starbucks card and coupons could be issued. Another recommendation is that television commercials be shown creating a distinct difference between Starbucks and their closest competitors. The point must be driven that premium coffee shipped from around the world cannot be substituted by others. Starbucks could also sponsor events that are in line with the interests of customers who purchase premium products. This would include sponsoring professional golfing events, college games, the arts and business conventions. College students, young professional adults and those with more disposable income should be targeted. CONCLUSION In conclusion, Starbucks has made quite a benchmark in its coffee business through thoughtful marketing strategies. Despite not being very upfront in terms of its service, they still are a brand that is not comparable with any other coffee brand. This is because, the ambience and atmosphere that one finds in a Starbucks outlet is rarely found in any other coffee outlet. Not only that, their extensive and unique coffee is another very attractive marketing strategy.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Much of Christina Rossetti’s poetry has a very depressing and rather :: English Literature

Much of Christina Rossetti’s poetry has a very depressing and rather sombre tone, which can be sometimes used to infer the way in which she viewed life and times, which she was living in. However, despite this sombre theme throughout her poetry it can ... Much of Christina Rossetti’s poetry has a very depressing and rather sombre tone, which can be sometimes used to infer the way in which she viewed life and times, which she was living in. However, despite this sombre theme throughout her poetry it can be argued that it was not only her life that influenced her poetry but also the time in which shewas living. Many historians have suggested that the era in which Rossetti lived was a rather ‘bad’ time, the second half of the nineteenth century was a rather strange period and the Pre-Raphaelite Movement made quite an artistic group. The Pre-Raphaelites, being young, talented, and having many ideas of their own, felt stifled by the rigidity of the Royal Academy's idea of what tasteful, beautiful art should be. The PRB held the haughty belief that the only true great art came from before the 16th century Italian painter, Raphael (hence the society's name). Raphael represented high renaissance, a time when painters, instead of letting their subjects dictate their qualities to the artist, would manipulate the subject into their own ideal of beauty. Thus, all realism was lost. The PRB, with full spirit, denounced this art of idealization, and led the way to produce works based on real landscapes and real models, and paid intense attention to accuracy of detail and color William Holman Hunt, D.G. Rossetti, John Everett Millais, William Michael Rossetti, James Collinson, Thomas Woolner and F.G. Stephens founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (PRB) in 1849. In some ways it was an impulsive venture, the PRB aimed to produce works that were innovative in style and substance, and expressive of direct, sincere feeling. And behind this lay the persistent ambition to be noticed and ‘make a name’. As well as painting, they were also committed to the literary arts, and nearly all the PRBs wrote poetry. These painters had a specific agenda. Instead of painting the typical still-lifes, landscapes and seascapes, they drew their subject matters from medieval tales, bible stories, classical mythology, and nature. Using bright colors on a white background, the artists were able to achieve great depth and brilliance.Although some of Christina Rossetti’s earliest versese were published in The Germ, a magazine produced for a short time by the Pre-Raphaelites, and she sat as a model for several of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s paintings, she was not

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Why Do People Fail to Mature

The teenagers of our generation, with all the latest Innovations and novelties today, are being fed with lots of information and lore. To our dismay, taking in too much information will end up being strapped on a chair, paralyzed, and unable to move. Managing to contain all these backup ideas Is difficult. Our mind Just keeps on storing files. But what about our Are you sure you can handle it? A great paradox In a teenager's life, too much knowledge makes one unable to function.The problem with teens these days, they get ahead of themselves, making them curious about legion things. Exploring the unknown is fun and exciting for it enriches our minds with new Ideas and thoughts. However, using liberty to do Is quite over the line. The question is, are the teenagers of this generation ready? Unequivocally, no, they are not ready. Well, at least, not now, not yet. Whilst on the other hand, I assays again, if your emotional growth is stunted, do you think that you have developed enough to say that you have really matured? If you ask me. I do not think so!If your emotions control your actions and decisions and If you make these fast and careless, you might want to have second thoughts. This factor, your emotions, hinders your maturity growth. Our feelings are our weakness. Ergo, we must take Into considerations compromising in making our decisions. It Is for us to make our cognitive and emotional maturity to grow forth. We must develop this gradually. We gain too much knowledge than we could take in. However, we are not capable of handling this much for we are not yet ready. Our intellect may have been pacing up UT our psychological aspect isn't catching up that fast.You are a teenager, undergoing puberty, who is in the middle of being an adult and being a child. If you rush ahead in knowing things, you must not know, and hastening the chances of being an adult immediately will get you stacked in an adolescent body with a child's mind. It is comparable to the metamor phosis of butterflies. If you crack open the cocoon, rushing it to become a butterfly, yes, you came out as a butterfly, but onto fully developed one. Because of the vast world around us, we tend to get befuddled and curious by arioso things.We rush in knowing too much than we could carry which holds back our emotional maturity. If you want to be mature, act like it. You must be responsible enough to make better decisions. Do not do doltish and idiotic stuff. Start acting your age. Do not get ahead of yourself. Use your brain. It's not above there for nothing. You are not yet ready. You may gain knowledge, but your emotional health is suffering. That's why we fail to mature. Other factors may have been excelling, but you cannot be a butterfly it you haven't gone into a cocoon.