Starbuck Article - Preditor or Friend of Walton County?

[donquijote]

Interesting article about Starbucks - looks familiar to what is happening on 30A! First Coffee and Cream in Grayton, Ceruleans in Watercolor, and I hear they are opening near Lucilles Gossip Parlor.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2006-12-20-starbucks-usat_x.htm

 

[Smiling JOe]

Should we close off free market competition?

FYI- It is my understanding that Ceruleans is owned by the same people who allowed Starbucks to come into WaterColor -- WaterColor.

 

[donquijote]

Nothing wrong with free market and competition and in most cases competitors can be good neighbors. The USA Today article presents to the public the case that $tarbuck$ has not been a good neighbor as much as a preditor. Furthermore it appears that a similar pattern has started on 30A.
Perhaps we shoud not care, act like cattle, and patronize them?

 

[John R]

Perhaps we shoud not care, act like cattle, and patronize them?

with all the other stuff going on up and down 30a, personally this is quite low on my list, although it is on the list. with their growth rate, it was inevitable. i don't patronize starbucks, short of the airport.

 

[Smiling JOe]

don, that is exactly what to do. Voice your protest with your money. I think it is interesting that back in the 80's and early 90's, all the small business owners kicked and shouted about Walmart, Lowe's and Home Depot putting the small shops out of business. The prices of the giants were just too low for the small business owners to compete. Starbucks is getting complaints about putting the small businesses out of business. BTW, add a little coffee shop in Ft Walton Beach to that list. Starbucks went in besided them, too. I think the ironic twist here is that Starbucks typically charges more than it's competitors. Now go explain that one. As for employees, Starbucks pays full time benefits to employees working 20 hrs per week. :shock: However, not everyone wants to work for corporate America so I think the small shops will always have employees if it treats it peep nicely.

 

[30A Skunkape]

If it makes anyone feel better, one of the Starbucks just went out of business in NOLA. It was located on a city block along with two independent shops. The indy shops sold tastier coffee and had more of a hometown feel. I think the Starbucks was kept afloat by Tulane students from coffee naive parts of the country.

 

[Parker Pruett]

Not focusing on Starbucks itself but the whole "Coffeehouse Culture" that seems to be such a part of everyone's lives these days, my wife made the observation that one could probably draw a serious correlation between the epidemic-like proliferation of caffeine bars and the dramatic increase lately in the popularity of ADHD treatments and sleep aids.

Me, I prefer a nice cold beer every now and then (more now than then).

 

[SGB]

As for employees, Starbucks pays full time benefits to employees working 20 hrs per week. :shock: However, not everyone wants to work for corporate America so I think the small shops will always have employees if it treats it peep nicely.

Interestingly the employees at the Starbucks at Grand Blvd, are Sandestin employees, as are the employess at the wine shop there.

 

[Jdarg]

Interestingly the employees at the Starbucks at Grand Blvd, are Sandestin employees, as are the employess at the wine shop there.

And you will pay more for your coffee there- the employees pointed that out to me. The Sandestin "premium".

 

[iwishiwasthere]

Not focusing on Starbucks itself but the whole "Coffeehouse Culture" that seems to be such a part of everyone's lives these days, my wife made the observation that one could probably draw a serious correlation between the epidemic-like proliferation of caffeine bars and the dramatic increase lately in the popularity of ADHD treatments and sleep aids.

[]

Wifey seems to be smart....it seems reasonable. Wonder what research is out about that link? Maybe very little as a booming business might not be as proftiable.