Reader response: Starbucks gear

by Melody on December 23, 2009

Starbucks seasonal cap circa 1998

Seasonal cap

In response to yesterday’s Via cap blog post, I got a fabulous email with a Starbucks cap picture. A reader saw the Via cap, and sent me two pictures of her prized blue Starbucks cap.  This cap was worn by employees as required headgear, and she tells me that the cap dates from about 1998.  The cap comes from a Starbucks in Illinois.  I love it.  Whoever designed this cap gets an A+.

Enjoy!

Starbucks Cap - back side

Starbucks Cap - back side

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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Venti_Bold December 23, 2009 at 11:06 am

That is a cool hat! :-D

Verl Todd December 23, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Nice hat.

elly December 23, 2009 at 1:20 pm

starbucks has offered some amazing (and very random) clothing items over the years. i wish i had kept the ones i got my hands on :P

Kenneth December 23, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Nice idea, but I don’t wear cap anymore.

DG December 24, 2009 at 6:46 am

great hat! I don’t wear them but that’s outstanding :)

Melody December 24, 2009 at 7:29 am

Hi DG! Welcome to the site! Are you a barista or a customer? I live in a place where hats are not required on baristas. It was a long time before I realized that there are these Starbucks caps!

CD December 24, 2009 at 7:39 am

I have always thought that cultivating the passion of employees was an important part of doing business and that “schwag” was an easy and meaningful way to achieve this goal.

Employees are often more likely to wear a brand as they are more readily engaged in the success of the brand.

I have seen some really interesting local shirts and aprons over the years at various Starbucks. It appears that these unique items (ex: “team of the year,” etc.) are real sources of pride, much like the pins that many baristas wear.

I think that Starbucks should fund more of these local schwag initiatives for their employees. They often are conversation starters between customers and baristas so they play a valuable role in the “connect, discover, respond” world of Starbucks.

DG December 24, 2009 at 10:27 am

lol hahah I used to be a barista for a summer but mostly a customer now and a proud one at that! :)

LatteRose December 24, 2009 at 11:13 am

I agree with CD – schwag can be a symbol of pride, (especially if it’s a Sumatran tiger on your shirt!). I’ve seen people wear some pretty interesting shirts from indie coffee shops, also found some cool indie mugs (yes, I collect them!). On occasion, I’ve sought out the shops with cool designs to pick up a mug, if available (and usually have a mocha to go with it). I don’t think Starbucks can go too wrong with the occasional t-shirt – unless they flood the market….

denise r. December 24, 2009 at 12:45 pm

It’s been yrs since baristas wore caps here in the Chicago area, but in the past was quite common. more usual than not. (as in the cap Melody has pictured) I thought they looked (generally) good. Same thing with the seasonal t-shirts, especially Christmas! now not the norm. and more the exception….. I do think any seasonal t-shirt I saw this yr was from another yr. ??? every yr was a new cool t-shirt, especially at Christmas.

andy December 25, 2009 at 9:21 am

there must surely be a ton of starbucks branded merchandise floating around?

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