This children’s writing activity lunch box sold in the 1990s at Starbucks, and it is a unique gem. Only the packaging ribbon around it gives away that it was once a Starbucks item. My understanding is that this item dates from some time between 1993 and 1998. As you may recall, I previously wrote about a trip to a former partner’s home and buying some small items from her: This children’s writing box and a previous blog post on Starbucks paperclips came from the former partner’s home.
This writing set comes in a silver metal lunchbox-style box with a red plastic handle. The contents inside include stickers, note paper, envelopes, colored pencils, a punch, and scissors. Unfortunately, there is no price tag on this item, so I don’t know how much it originally sold for.
I actually don’t have much to say about this item, but I enjoy showing off interesting merchandise items that one might have found in a Starbucks of yester-year. Today’s Starbucks looks really bare of merchandise, so a walk through merchandise memory lane is a kick in the pants. On this blog we’ve mentioned that at one time or another, a customer could buy merchandise items like the following:
- a blender at Starbucks
- coffee mugs very artfully inspired by the core coffee stamps,
- seasonal merchandise such as the Valentine’s Day Box,
- occasional very passionately written books about coffee exclusive to Starbucks (Passion For Coffee -1994)
- and Bearista Bears have been offered for years.
There have been tons of other merchandise items at Starbucks, but above are a few of the items this blog has talked about. Enjoy this unique retail item! This is an open thread. Feel free to talk about anything Starbucks related.
(Thank you Molly at Seattle Custom Framing for her assistance with the photographs.)
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I could swear that I saw some of these at one of my local Starbucks within the last couple of years.
They had the orange “Clearance” price stickers on them.
If someone has one of these that is unused I bet that it would have a lot of value to a Starbucks Collector.
Hi DadCooks! The former partner whom I got this from insists that this was 1993 to 1998. I remember that even in the early 2000s there was an incredible variety of merchandise. If you’ve told me this was 2003, I would have believed it too. I do have an unopened box – The person I bought it from had two of them. One opened, and one not, which is why I have the pictures of the box with the ribbon around it still. One more item for my future Starbucks museum. 😉
I knew coffee stamp lunch box of Starbucks, but watched this lunch box for the first time. The children’s writing activity lunch box is interesting. I will buy it if Starbucks releases it again.
When I visited Seattle again, I have to visit your condo before visiting SSC and Starbucks. There is Starbucks gold mine. Haha.
cute. I miss the variety of merchandise that Starbucks used to carry.
My granddaughters love boxes, pocketbooks, bags, totes… Add creative play things to that and you have a lot of happy!
I really believe there is a place for things like this in the merchandising of the stores.
Thanks for sharing the treasures you find Melody!
Love the walk down Starbucks Memmorabila Lane!! Im not sure I have seen any of these on the east coast in the last 10 years so pictures are appreciated!
Oh Melody this is great! I love stationary, greeting cards, etc. and this is really nice. It is so true about the lack of merchandise in the stores. My local store says they that valentine’s merchandise does not sell and they actually only have a few bears and no mugs or such. The store still has on display Xmas stuff and someone has to make the store more appealing. Very drab looking. I really am enjoying your collection. Thanks.
@coolwatyr – Yeah I think this kind of merch would do really well in the more residential Starbucks stores where there are families. Some Starbucks though, have zero moms and children passing through them. It seems like there needs to be differentiation even more between stores. A Starbucks at the bottom of a tall office tower in a downtown core bears almost no resemblence to a Starbucks in a suburbia. They have different merch needss. And thanks for the comment! Take your grandkids to Starbucks!
@purple1 – It’s shocking to me how bare the stores are now. I don’t get it. I’ve said that before, but there is just so little merchandise in the store anymore.
@Lori Sica – Welcome to the blog! It looks like you’re new. There will be more merchandise posts eventually.
As a father, I have always enjoyed having access to things like this writing box and the other drawing and activity sets that Starbucks has carried over the years. They are a great source of entertainment both at my local (“residential”) Starbucks and also while traveling with my kids. My son really liked the big Gomi Doodle All Year book from last year.
It is odd to see how bare the stores are – but for all the VIA merchandise (“cheesegrater” mug, hot water machine, etc.). I’d like to see more Compendium and Cranium merchandise – both were nice to have, both for Dad and the kids.
How great that you got your hands on this Melody! I am fairly sure I remember this….and I have no idea what year. could as easily have been early 2000’s as early ’90’s. It’s all mixed up in my head now! What I know for sure is, I took for granted ALL the stuff they used to have. and, while our store has NO Christmas-anything, (still out) it is very drab and lacking…altho maybe not as much as some. Way too much VIA and VIA-associated things. (and I do use it, I like it, but…way to much of it and way too little anything else!)
Someone at my regular store DID put together some little Valentine bags of: VIA (you don’t know which one) and some chocolate and I don’t know what else…..willl have to get a pic and inquire further. little red Valentine bags of a few things…… will get back on that.
I find it so interesting that it seems that my local SB is not the only store that lacks merchandise and other stores seem to need a design lift. I know it is off the subject a bit, but I always look at new merchandise in the store whereas now since the merchandise has been the same for so long I hardly take a second look. Where are the District Managers for these regions? Don’t they see what a customer sees when they walk in? I know merchandise is not the focal point for a customer when they come in, but creating an inviting store possibly opens up someone purchasing more not only merchandise but drinks and food. I admit I go to SB not only for the drinks but also for the great friends I have met there.
I agree w/ Purple1. If the store doesn’t look different than the last few times I visited, I don’t pay attention to anything but what I went in for…it’s nice to have things to look at while I’m waiting for my drink and I’m a terribly impulsive impulse buyer. Nice post, Melody! Back to work!
I would have so gotten this for
myselfmy hypothetical future offspring had I seen it back then. I’m a sucker for anything that reminds me of school. 🙂I should make it a point to go into Starbucks more even if I’m not getting anything – just check out the merchandise….which I have a weakness for lol. I miss too much by not going in more often 🙂 I have never seen this writing set. If I had I would be inclined to pick it up for my nephew and niece…I like that Starbucks tries out different items to market. The writing set is actually perfect for those that like to bring their kids in while they have their coffee. It’s a nice way to keep the little ones busy 😀