It may be Summer in Seattle, but no better time than now to ask my readers what Christmas merchandise would they want to see sold at their local Starbucks? The pictures in this blog post include just a few older cups and tumblers from a different Starbucks era. In particular, the 12-ounce tumbler (dated 1996) was a favorite of mine for so long. I remember buying it at the Starbucks on Northgate Way in 1996. At that time, I remember picking the tumbler up, then putting it back down again, then picking it up, in that very typical Melody-indecision that grapples me at times. I remember thinking that I could not decide if the artwork on it was just plain ugly, or incredibly creative.
Other than the obvious answer that every Christmas Starbucks should re-introduce Christmas Blend coffee, what would you like to see in the stores this Winter? You don’t have to think about just cups or tumblers, but rather whatever your favorite holiday item might be, even if it is a CD of holiday music that you have purchased in the past. And this is an open thread, so please feel free to talk about ANYTHING! If my readers want to keep talking about Iced Via, the new Starbucks in a hospital, decaf Casi Cielo, the new Frappuccino, or dark cherry, flavored coffee in the grocery stores, or anything related Starbucks, please feel free! Should they bring back the gingerbread latte again? Or do you want to see Bearista Bears again? Or is just more labor on your Christmas wish-list? 
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
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I’d love it if Starbuks released a holiday apron for retail purchase
I have a black one but a red or green one with the siren on it would be fabulous 
Great idea, Melody! Oh! I would love to have the Creme Brulee Latte back this Christmas! That was hugely popular in my area; I think the warehouse suspected us of selling the syrup on the black market. =) I also really missed the Advent Calendar this year; would love to see it make a comeback as well.
My biggest request would be for labour though. I’ve only worked the Christmas season running -1 to -3% labour. =( Not a good recipe for Christmas cheer. So there you have it, my simple Christmas list!
Melody,
The collections are very sweet for me. That very very sweet than “Half & half Caramel Macchiato extra extra caramel”.
In last year and year before last, Starbucks had RED-related promotion for a holiday season. I want Starbucks to release an RED bear on the holiday of this year. As commemoration which Starbucks and a partner of RED complete.
Melody, I would like to see holiday mugs or such that are more generic focused encompassing the holiday without any specific religious theme.
I do hope they are bringing back the REAL bearista bears, (as they said they were), dressed up and in prs.
I’ll be back to this post later, really like the ‘idea’.
love the 1990 Christmas mug. I wish I had saved all the mugs, tumblers and cards I’d gotten at Sbux thru-out the yrs.
I don’t think I’ve ever gotten any christmas related mugs or tumblers (more of a valentine girl!), but I love holiday related items! The red starbucks bags always give me a warm feeling when buying to go
Oh and although I don’t think it’s holiday related, I would really really love it if we also had the apple cider here in Japan. Do they have it all year round in the US? Or is it a fall/winter drink?
Oh man, don’t be surprised to see me post 4 or 5 comments on this one through out the day. The Merch is a major part of my buxs addiction.
I would love to see plastic or ceramic cups that look like the holiday cups. I have the one that looks like the normal hot drink cups and love it but I always make sure I’m there the first day the holiday cups are used. I love those cups.
Some of my favorite Starbucks Christmas Merchandise is their ornaments. I’d love to see more designs. Maybe Christmas mug shaped ornaments or even an ornament that looks like a bag a Christmas Blend.
coffee coated almonds!
@ALN – I remember last year’s lightly sugared Almonds – Last December! I think there is a picture of them somewhere in the December archives of this blog. Wow they were delicious!! Such a great snack. Great idea!
I did not like the theme/decor this past year, but did like the prior two (the yarn and the mirrors). Perhaps since they have partnered with Conservation International this year (with the preservation card) (and because their Red campaign is closing), they could do a “green” themed Christmas.
Some of the recent chocolate and small coffee bags seem very wasteful and end up on the clearance racks as they seem more box than appeal. Perhaps if they created green “bundles” that had mix and match choices of coffee/cookies, a pound of coffee, and a reusable mug/cup they would sell better.
It would also be interesting to see a “special” (extra) cup discount offered if a customer brought back one of those special green Christmas reusable mugs/cups during 2011.
As denise r points out, Bears are popular, especially with collectors. Maybe they could be “green” by using recycled materials or renewable fabrics (bamboo, etc.)
Reusable bags could be sold as gift bags. Small ones that look like actual Starbucks bags might be appealing for year-round use.
I like this concept, especially with all of the LEED and store redesign stuff that SBUX has been doing…
Curse you Melody – your blog introduced me to those almonds and they WERE awesome!
;-p
The almonds mention was in the Vanilla Bean Cupcake post: http://www.starbucksmelody.com/2009/12/27/vanilla-cupcakes-return-to-starbucks/
The good news was I got them after they went on sale. The bad news was I couldn’t eat just one…
@CD – I think it was 2008 Starbucks did the theme of knit yarn and shiny things. It was supposed to like “repurposed”, like as if knit tops made by hand (remember the red balls of yarn?) or from small shops? I liked the general idea, especially since I knit. It was unique!
Christopher: am not sure if I understand you but…I have (from quite a few yrs ago….maybe 2000′s early?? a cup (red with something….. changed every yr) that was exactly like the paper cups being used for the ‘holiday’. It’s really my favorite all time drinkng cup..it’s a tall, just right for keeping coffee hot and so pretty. I have the same thing, but with a little lid on it, Christmas decoration……. totally 2 things of my favorite at Christmas time. I recall only the grande versons offered in recent yrs. (and maybe Venti but NOT tall)
I also have an ornament from 1999 (and it says that on the bottom) that is exactly the same as the regular Sbux white w/ green logo mug. sending a pic to Melody, for what it’s worth…..
Also, one year (late 90′s or early 2000′s?) they had some beautiful bags that they GAVE away with a # of coffee…… paper, red mostly with a clear front and some little berries on the ribboned handle.??? I will have to look in my Christmas stuff for that, I know I saved one. really so pretty! (like their little shopping bag sz)
@Melody – it was Christmas 2008 with the balls of yarn and birds. The Card holders were little hand sewn envelopes that had the old coffee stamps on them. I remember the Yukon stamp being used heavily even though the coffee had been discontinued (glad to see it’s back and now organic)
I would like to see the return of the original real Gold Card (you know, the one with the simple 10% discount) and the Costco Starbucks Cards at the 20% discount.
Last year (and maybe even before, but I didn’t notice) at Christmas Starbucks had a mug made by Toki Japan. Their mugs are made from a ceramic available nowhere else. The ceramic holds heat, but the handles stay cool. Their designs are simple and elegant. Became a favorite of my Wife and all those I “gifted”.
Yep every year they do come out with ceramic mugs that look just like the paper version of the holiday red cup. I love those! I do like the ornaments also because I definitely feel my tree should mirror my love for Starbucks! I would LOVE to see a return of 10% or some holiday ‘gift’ to gold card holders. I have to say just seeing the red paper holiday cups brightens my day though and puts me in the holiday spirit immediately!
@denise r.
I believe that was 2004 Holiday. They were such pretty bags! They looked expensive, but I’m sure they weren’t that expensive.
@Emma Woodhouse oh yes i love the crispies that were on the Creme Brulee Latte!
@CoffeeVanilla i second that! i have little starbucks ornaments (reindeer, holiday cup, regular cup) and enjoy them year round (yes i am a jew with a christmas tree all year….)
@CD oh yes i went around and bought up as many almonds as i could on clearance!
@AmazonV @EmmaWoodhouse @Michael P @DadCooks -
@AmazonV and @Emma Woodhouse- Me too! I loved the topping on the Brulee Latte. I’m not even much of a latte drinker, but I ordered a ton of those over winter because of the topping! And it was such a nice treat of a drink! I remember at first thinking that the topping looked like brown glass fragments, but once I had them, I was in love.
@Michael P – Welcome to the blog! Yes sometimes the bags are collectible too!
@DadCooks – I would love to have a ten percent discount. A half-pound of Jamaica Blue is $40. One star! And it’s not worth a free drink because it’s only a half-pound size. You and I want the same things. And it’s nice seeing you here too. It’s been too long.
I loved what they did last Christmas! There were so many good deals! (12 Days of Christmas). I wish there were Christmas lights or something! Thinking about Christmas makes me so happy right now! We put up stockings at our store, and customers and fellow partners would put Christmas cards in them. They were so sweet. I hope they bring back the red Bodum french press. Those made great gifts last year.
Oh, and I should put having a Clover brewer in my store on my wish list.
Did anyone see the post about the Christmas mugs on MSI tonight? I would love to see that brought back. With the little fish or snowflakes.
Does anyone have a pic of that by chance?
I want the Xmas demitasse cups. I was so indecisive last holiday promo and didn’t get one, and now I reallyyyyyy want one or two. One year in my store in Montréal we had a gingerbread pound cake that was amazing – I really hope something like it comes back! And I’m begging for Australia to get peppermint mocha back~
I don’t have Christmas ideas, sorry, but I have a question about bringing in a tumbler: will they rinse it by default, and if I order iced coffee, can they make it with little to no ice?
My favorite holiday merch was a pair of mugs I received as a gift from friends that visited Hawaii (I never saw the mugs in Seattle-area stores). They are white, with one reading “naughty” in red and one reading “nice” in green. When I’m feeling like Miss Grumpy Pants in the morning, I always reach for the ‘naughty’ mug.
@Anthony – I hope a partner comes along and answers your questions!! — Here in Seattle about 70% to 80% of baristas know to rinse a cup or tumbler before putting anything hot in it: Rinsed means that you’ve helped assure that the last beverage won’t affect the taste of the new drink, and many baristas will let the cup sit a moment and pre-warm. I’ve never had a problem ordering anything light ice – I see that people do that all the time. Anthony, I know I’ve seen you post a couple of times on my blog, but I’m not sure how you found me? How did you find this site? Thanks for being here.
Melody, I think I found you through Starbucks Gossip. I’ve been checking the blog for some months now, but I’ve only recently started commenting.
Here’s an open thread question that I hope no one minds me asking. Have there been any new gold coupons sent out since the ‘However-you-want-it’ Frappuccino one?
Oh and a side note that makes me happy
My usual Starbucks here is having a special event Fri and Sat night…some orchestra performance. They even made cute little special invites for it too! I’m hoping they will start doing more customer involved things like this and the coffee tasting they had in March.
@Anthony, Rinsing/pre-warming personal cups isn’t something that is taught as being mandatory, but it is something that baristas should be doing anyway to ensure quality. If they don’t, you can always ask them to. Ordering something light ice or even no ice is never a problem, although your drink will likely not be cold enough, unless you prefer your drinks closer to room temp.
For future readers, here are the etched mugs I was saying someone posted on MSI.
woops, forgot the link
http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaView?id=08750000000GwxwAAC
Hello! I have finally joined your blogging world! I just wanted to add a drink I came up with yesterday. The next time you are in Starbucks, ask for a grande mocha with 2 pumps dark cherry and 1 pump peppermint. It’s Christmas time in a cup!
And, who wouldn’t enjoy a Christmas tree shaped french press?!
How about a 5 lb bag of Christmas Blend for $39.99
And different holiday ornaments, numbered for 2010 so they are more collectible.
And yes, I agree with the above……since they took wi-fi off as a reward from the Gold Starbucks card and gave it to everyone (while lowering speeds), Starbucks should reverse themselves yet again, listen to their CUSTOMERS and not paid consultants, and bring back the 10% off Black Card….
Of course, knowing my luck, they will come up with Peppermint VIA and try to force it on me….or sell the company to Pepsi.
I am also a fan of ornaments! And the 10% off. I ended up buying more during that program.
to Hayley: re the rewards coupons….my answer is no, not that I received or can recall.
to Michael P: thanx about the bags, 2004 sounds about right. I have to get into my Christmas stuff and take some pics.
as for what else (besides the real bears, dressed, in prs. and world peace of course.;) yikes, couldn’t resist that one…….besides the bears, more Christmas cups, ornaments, etc. If they sold a real barista-like apron in red, I feel pretty sure that would fly of the shelves around the holidays. and also, to get allllll the stuff out right after Thanksgiving. I do love it when the red(paper) cups come out.
total aside: my regular store manager said the new for ICED VIA is selling really well…better than the regular when we got it. I’m glad for all of them (except could care less about the Colombian) now I just would really really like the new ICED one in decaf, for a hot summer nite.
I was at a starbucks the other day for a tasting and they paired it with some of the granola. The granola was set out in “preview cups” for this upcoming holiday cups.
It says on the bottom Holiday preview 2010.
I kept the cup, thought it was a cool thing to have
Does anyone remember the great recessionary sale of December 2008 when even all of the whole bean coffee was on sale? Now THAT was a big change in tune for the company.
@CD and @Christopher -
@Christopher – That is so cool about the “preview” cup! That’s a collectible!
@CD – I remember the whole bean sale. I remember being stunned!
@Christopher You should totally twitpic that!!! What coffee did they pair with granola???
@CD Yes! I remember my manager freaking out. She said it was the first time that had ever happened since she’d worked here since 1999.
I think they should bring back signature hot chocolate. I do like the starbucks decals of snow they do on the doors and I like it when the starbucks is decorated festively.
What ever happened to the mugs with the cities and city information on them? They were white with the city illustration and info in blue. I was collecting them, and they are no longer available! Would love to have those brought back.
@Adrienne – I remember those mugs well! A very classy design for the city mugs and informative! I actually liked those better than the current city mug style.
I agree that the gingerbread latte should come back, also the salted hot chocolates (I forget the name) and especially the red cardboard 3D Christmas tree advent calendar with cubby holes for twenty four little boxes, each with a date printed on front and a wrapped piece of chocolate. I gave away this thing in a weak moment and now want it back, so I can put treasures in it for the kids in my life. The chocolates weren’t half bad either!
I would love to see the traditional Bearista Bear come back it would be cute with a holiday apron and a santa hat also i would love to see sweatshirts/t shirts with the Starbucks logo on them sold in the stores.Mocha/malt frappuchino was awesome too wish it could come back.
@Jackie – Welcome to the blog! All I can say is that I totally agree with you. I would love to see a traditional Bearista Bear for Christmas too – It has to have a holiday apron! And I confess I liked the malted Frappuccinos too. Please come back soon to the blog.
Caramel Brulee will be back in hot/iced/Frappuccino and also in edible form. Gingerbread will be back. Christmas Blend will be back in 25oz, 16oz, and 8oz bags. Joy Tea will make a reappearance in full leaf form this year as well. Also, Christmas Blend VIA and a special Christmas Blend Espresso Roast. Iced to-go tumblers are also coming yet again with the candy cane straws. Stores also should have the ability to order extras of any particular retail item this season, so don’t be afraid to ask if there is not enough on display.
Hi Smithfield! Welcome to the blog! I knew a little of what you posted but not all! Thanks for confirming the Creme Brulee drink will be back! That was a good one!
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