Comments on: Original Starbucks barista art is hard to find: Disappointment and criticism

By: HeidiHo

HeidiHo — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:33:08 +0000

I am super inspired by the artwork featured in the gallery mentioned above. Thanks to Campsi for posting this link! Makes me wish that Sbux would hold another contest!

I have to say that I love being able to do the chalk signs for my store. It is perhaps my favorite part of my job. I definitely feel a high sense of ownership for my store, and getting to create artwork for the store both reflects and increases that feeling. I would also hope that original art (as opposed to stencilled and/or cardboard cutouts) gives my customers and my fellow partners a feeling that their store is special… that someone took the time to create something for them and the management feels that it’s important enough to pay someone for it… it shows a commitment to customers on a different level.

By: ALN

ALN — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:33:10 +0000

I enjoy 15th Ave precisely because it doesn’t feel like a cookie-cutter Starbucks store. Perhaps allowing more barista art would make me more apt to visit other Starbucks stores so I felt a little more like it was a unique experience. But, the almighty clock and dollar prevail again!

By: ree

ree — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:26:54 +0000

i used to be work as a barista. And my favorite job is to draw at daily brew board or some kind of that..hahahaa..i really love to find what picture that fit to the coffee highlight and sometimes it would take a longer time but my manager and partner supported it..but sometimes my partner help me with the idea and tell me if the drawing isnt good enough or something. and why i love doing this so much, cause i had a customer once, they were a couple with two kids, they told me “you have to be a kindergarten teacher, your drawing is so lovely” or just some customer smile and sometimes wait for you to finish the drawing. i support the contest, but the drawing should fit the atmosphere too then.

By: ChickenFreak

ChickenFreak — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:19:01 +0000

Saving labor makes more profits, yes, but the more Starbucks loses what makes it special, the more it’s vulnerable to competitors from above (the fancy bakery or cafe or chocolatier with waited tables and china cups?), below (McDonald’s?), and on its own level. (Peet’s? Independent coffee shops?)

Without the comfy chairs, the sensation of relaxed luxury, and the touches like the chalkboard art that remind one that Yes, Real People Work Here… are people still going to pay a premium price for a drink? Or if they are going to pay that premium price, are they going to go pay it somewhere else?

I realize that if I don’t actually drink coffee, instead of chocolate, I may not Get It. But already, many Starbucks give me a “meh” feeling instead of an “ahhh…” settling-in one.

There’s a sad, badly-maintained Starbucks near a place where I sometimes need to wait around, and I can either go into Starbucks and settle down with a hot chocolate, or go to the featureless, boring pharmacy almost next door and get a carton of chocolate milk to take a walk with. Last time, the pharmacy won.

By: Kieley

Kieley — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:12:35 +0000

@kaleoki

Yeah I think it is a bummer that most stores just feature generic signs, rather than original barista art. There is something homey about the handdrawn signs and so stores are missing out!!!

By: xxzxcuzxme

xxzxcuzxme — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:26:52 +0000

collaboration throughout a closing shift of five baristas .
no off floor. customers invited.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y140/Nekromance/DSCF0231.jpg

By: coffeelovesart

coffeelovesart — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 07:29:27 +0000

Melody, I completely agree that chalkboard art is one of the things that sets each Starbucks apart and makes the customer experience unique! I am a partner and artist and entered your contest last week! As an artist, when I do a chalkboard, it’s very important to me to maintain my artistic integrity and do my own work! When the stencils came in, I told my manager flat out (respectfully of course!) that if he would like me to continue doing the chalkboards then I REFUSE to use them or else someone else could take it over. Luckily, I have a very supportive manager so I now spend about 3-4 hours working on a board during my shift so as not to use up non-coverage. It’s hard bouncing back and forth from the floor to chalkboard but it’s worth it knowing that the end-result is a reflection of my artistic abilities and something I can be proud of! Sorry this is so long but I’m just really passionate about this!

By: camspi

camspi — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:35:25 +0000

@CD That site is pretty cool, too. Barista artwork aside.

@CAbarista Its cool, huh? I remember drawing on the board and wanting to enter them… I just didn’t have a camera with me and eventually the contest was over. Love all the entries, though.

@Melody Have you heard about the new customer passports??? As soon as I heard we were passing out new customer passports (coming March) I thought of your old V2V About Me section. I hope these new passports (along with coffee stamps) inspire customers to see coffee in different ways.

By: Melody

Melody — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:58:51 +0000

Hi Cam! I couldn’t get the barista gallery to open up. I’ll try from a different computer tomorrow. One thing I miss about the old barista art was that it was so real, complete with poor grammar and misspelled words at times. I miss that. Edit: WOW. I got the barista gallery to open up!! Those are amazing!! I miss those days. I remember being told that the first coffee stamps that came out (pre-1997 coffee stamp revisions) were all barista art or barista designs! I liked the first, original coffee stamps better than the 1997 ‘revised’ stamps which continued to the demise of the coffee stamp just recently with the new packaging that basically completely eliminates that ‘stamp’ image on them. For me, Italian Roast will always be the leaning tower of Piza, and not a motorcycle, and Sumatra is a completely different tiger than the one now.

By: LatteRose

LatteRose — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:45:59 +0000

Thanks for that barista gallery link!

re: the posts that mentioned their drawing would be bad – I notice & enjoy “bad” art as much as the stunning work – it’s the heart behind it (or the frustration!).
Would rather see “bad/interesting” original art than poor stencil drawings…