It’s time for my annual roundup from the Starbucks shareholders’ meeting!
Before I go any further, I recommend that if you want a lot of solid detail about the many announcements today at the meeting, read the official Starbucks press release here. It’s dense with good information!
The event was today (March 20, 2013), at McCaw Hall, in Seattle. There are several levels of lobby area in McCaw Hall, and before the actual event starts, people mingle, sample Starbucks products, eat Starbucks food, and generally be social. It’s a wonderful time to walk around and run into a few familiar faces here and there. Starbucks always has different booths (or staging areas) set up to feature certain products.
Lots of people mingle in the lobby just before the event starts:
I walked around checking out all the staged areas. I ran into a familiar face, Alex, who was sampling Evolution Fresh juices:
Alex is a super friendly guy whom I know from Twitter. He has worked in a couple of different roles, and I have seen him in stores too.
EVOLUTION FRESH
I went upstairs to the level that had the Evolution Fresh area, and discovered that the founder of Evolution Fresh, Jimmy Rosenberg, was hanging out there! We got into an intense conversation about juices, and I think I may have walked away having promised Jimmy that I would drink more Evolution Fresh Sweet Greens. Ooooh dear! I least I didn’t promise to do a juice fast. Actually, my favorite Evolution Fresh juice is the carrot juice from the tap. I walk by the Evolution Fresh store on Pine Street on my way to work, and sometimes grab a carrot juice on my way to work. Jimmy was extremely friendly, and passionate about juice to a level that was a bit overwhelming. I’m not his ideal customer. I prefer to stock up on Girl Scout cookies over green juices. Yes, I know this is bad of me. I did promise Jimmy that I would get into some juice routine, so perhaps I’ll soon be stopping by the Pine Street store for help with that.
If I haven’t been clear, I want to say that meeting Jimmy, and talking with him, was one of the highlights of the meeting for me! He is a very cool guy, and super easy to talk to. I instantly really liked him.
LA BOULANGE:
There was indeed a La Boulange display also in the lobby of McCaw Hall. I noticed that much of the designs feature white on pink. It certainly made it difficult to read. This was the first time I have ever even seen the La Boulange-Starbucks pastry bags, so it was new to me! I suspect that many of my readers are familiar with this already (if you’re in the California areas that have already switched to La Boulange foods), but as I mentioned, this was all new to me.
Speaking of La Boulange, during the actual meeting, it was announced that currently the La Boulange pastries are available in about 400 Starbucks stores, and during 2013, the plan is to increase that to 2,500 Starbucks stores.
CLOVER:
Partners were sampling Isla Flores Reserve Coffee during the event. I immediately found the Clover area, and recognized Amanda at the Clover. She is one of the most coffee-knowledgeable people I know!
Of course, I enjoyed the coffee. I am genuinely a coffee drinker, and that is a good coffee. And it was fun seeing Amanda again.
ADAM BROTMAN:
During the actual Starbucks shareholder event, Adam Brotman, the top digital person at Starbucks (and a very nice guy!), presented a lot of information about all the things that are happening in the digital-sphere. It completely amazes me that now almost one-third of all transactions involve a Starbucks card. No other retailer can boast that about 30% of their customers walk into their business with a pre-paid card for that business. And Adam again talked about the enormous advantages to Starbucks having such a large number of customers using a Starbucks card.
This is news! Beginning next month, the Teavana stores will begin to accept the Starbucks card as a form of payment, and you’ll earn stars for your transactions there! (Readers of this blog already know that a person can use their Starbucks card at the Tazo store in Seattle, and the four Evolution Fresh locations, and receive a star for each transaction.)
Starting in May, it will be possible for you to earn a “star” for your coffee purchases while visiting grocery stores. To be honest, I was not clear how that would work. It sounded like you could get some sort of “code” on your coffee purchase that you enter on the website to get your star. This is one area that I need more clarification on how it would work. This is talked about in the official press release too.
He mentioned that MyStarbucksIdea is now in its fifth year, and that 275 ideas having been launched from it.
BLAIR TAYLOR:
Blair Taylor is the Chief Community Officer at Starbucks. He presented on the many things that Starbucks does to give back to local communities. One thing that I thought was interesting was his discussion of “community stores.” These are stores that are set up in more economically-challenged regions, and that donate a significant portion of their profits to local non-profits, with the goal of restoring and revitalizing their neighborhoods. Currently, Starbucks has three “community stores.” One is in Harlem, one in Houston, and one in Los Angeles. Starbucks intends operate 50 such “community stores” by 2018. From what I understood at the meeting, these stores donate up to 50% of their profits to restore their neighborhoods. That is a significant amount of money!
For the past three years, April has been the Starbucks month of community service. Blair Taylor announced that this year Alaska Airlines would be partnering with Starbucks, and encouraging their employees in a week of community service also. This was one area where I would have loved to stop Blair and ask him questions to get more clarity on this. It would seem that the model of having marquee community service events, and encouraging employees to donate their time, is one that Starbucks is working to get other businesses to participate in.
OTHER NEWS:
Other news from today’s annual Starbucks meeting included the following:
- Starbucks plans on opening 3,000 new stores in the Americas over the next 5 years. The United States will account for about 1,500 of the 3000 new stores.
- Starbucks currently serves 70 million customers a week.
- Starbucks operates in 62 countries, and has about 200,000 partners.
- Starbucks spent about 221 million on health-care for partners last year.
That is it for the annual roundup! As you can imagine, I had a lot of fun!! I know this is a ton to read, so thank you for your patience.
You might be wondering if there was anything at all disappointing about this event. I did pretty much walk out on cloud nine. I felt energized and excited about Starbucks, and the things they’re doing. The only minor (and really the very most minor – please do not read into this!) disappointments were as follows: I still haven’t had the chance to try any La Boulange pastries. While I enjoyed the La Boulange display, I walked away wishing there had been La Boulange food to try!! It was a display only. I assume that soon enough, I will get the chance to try their pastries. Cliff Burrows didn’t speak this year! Oh well. Though it would have been fun to listen to him. And I left so late (one of the last shareholders out the door it seems) that there were no more goodie bags left. Oh well again. Such is life. I would have rather had the opportunity to chat with familiar faces than the pound of Verona coffee and whatever else had been in the bag. Still, it’s a time-honored tradition to leave the meeting with a goodie bag – Starbucks ran out I guess. Of course, I should be absolutely clear, that all the above amazing fun of the day – especially meeting the Evolution Fresh founder – overshadowed those things!!! It was so cool to meet him!
I really look forward to your comments!
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thank you for the recap, melody!!!!! ok, this is going to sound kind of nerdy, but i am in LOVE with the La Boulange pasrty bags!!!!! they are so adorable 😡
before we move to kitsap county, i am trying to arrange a trip to SF to meet up with my parents, and if i do, i’ll investigate La Boulange for you!
one thing i am not a fan of is earning stars in grocery stores…. From the customer standpoint, it’s awesome, but from the store standpoint, not so much. We are in constant competition with Costco, safeway, etc, and this is just another thing to take business away from corporate stores. It really affects the store I work at, so I guess we’ll just have to work a little bit harder! 😉
Do you know, or was there any mention of parters being able to use employee discounts at evolution fresh, tevana, etc?
Jocelyn, I think the intention of customers being able to earn stars at the grocery store is to bring customers into Starbucks who might otherwise not come because they can buy their giant bag of Starbucks coffee at Costco. The great thing is now they’ll earn stars, which will lead to rewards, which will require them to come into our stores! It’s an amazing opportunity to capture new customers.
Melody, when I was at evolution fresh in November, there wasn’t a partner discount, same when I visited Tevana in January. What about the Tazo store though? I’ll find out soon 😉
Michelle, overall, yes, it is an amazing opportunity, but for my store, it’s difficult. First they took away our reserve coffees, because we don’t have a clover. The closest one is about 300 miles away, and then we got a brand new Safeway with a Starbucks inside, which has taken some of our business. I guess the point I’m trying to make is that in the area where I’m currently at, there isn’t anything that really sets us apart (aside from legendary service and smoothies!) But we are just one small piece of the puzzle, and if it helps strengthen the brand, then I’m all for it!
When Evolution Fresh was new, I know there was no partner discount there. Recently, I was talking to a partner who just did a juice fast, and I think he said that you do get a discount there now. I don’t believe there is a partner discount at Teavana. I had heard that they did a special Starbucks weekend recently where partners could get a discount. But it wouldn’t surprise me to see that change – I think partners should get their discount at Teavana!
Glad you had a good time! I can’t remember his name at the moment, but the man from La Boulange was in Houston and it was really great to meet him. (there weren’t food samples there either). What did you think of Nancy Koen (I think that’s her last name?) doesn’t she have an incredible amount of energy? I would like to hear what she has to say about Lincoln.
Michelle, Nancy was amazing. Just amazing. I had to be selective on what to write about, otherwise I’d end up with a book length blog article. Her discussion of Lincoln was so inspiring.
Maybe you could do another article about the other stuff…a part 2! 🙂
Thank you so much for the recap. I need to look at the Starbucks page to get clairification on stars earned at grocers. Thanks!!!
Melody, I got to meet Jimmy in Houston, he is definitely passionate about juice! I introduced myself because one of my customers (a farmer, I’m on the edge of town and lots of my regulars are farmers) is a major supplier to Evolution Fresh, and got invited to the San Francisco store opening.
We aren’t selling La Boulange pastries yet, but I’m hoping sometime this year Fresno will get added to that distribution as well.
Sorry you missed out on the goodie bag!
I’m very happy about La Boulange being offered in Starbucks, as I had visited – and really liked! – their store in San Francisco. It was one store that I came back to several times during my stay. Heavenly pastries!
I so wish I could’ve been there to share the Starbucks love! Melody, I’m happy you had a great time, it must’ve felt like Starbucks Heaven. I’m kind of wondering what were the contents of the goody bag. I was surprised to read it was your 1st time seeing the La Boulange pastry bags, I would’ve thought thought they’d be released in Seattle before here in California. I guess it’s because of L.B. being from here? I absolutely fell in love w/ the pink theme & adore the pink baggies more than the plain ol’ brownish ones. I agree that there should’ve been some L.B. treats available for sampling, maybe they’d planned to, but couldn’t at the last second? I’ve had ‘hit or miss’ experiences w/ the new items. Warmed up Cheese Danish & Chocolate Chip Cookie (which looks more like an oatmeal raisin cookie) are scrumptious. Warming them up really makes all the difference. The mini Coffee Cake Loaf was undesirable & Margherita Pizza Pastry thing needs more cheese & less spice in the tomato sauce. Hope they all come your way soon, so we can read your thoughts on the new items (a new thread?).
No La Boulange in Seattle yet. 🙁 I have heard partners gossip that it’s coming in May this year, and then recently heard other partners say that it’s been pushed back to later. Looks like everyone likes the pink bags. The bags themselves are cute, but the informational board in pink & white was hard to read. Trust me, as soon as I can, I’ll write about the La Boulange pastries.
I was at the event with a friend – she left out the door before me and got a swag-bag. She waited for me outside, and by the time I left, I guess there were no more. I had just stepped out the door, and realized that my friend had a bag and I didn’t. In any case, we got to talking about the meeting, and I forgot to ask her what was in her bag. I could see at a distance it was a pound of coffee, and a card of some sort, but I’m not totally sure.
I hope you can come up sometime for this event. It’s so easy to walk out feeling like you’re ready to take on the world. It’s inspiring! And by the way, the music was fabulous – John Legend performed!
So is La Boulange like an Artisan Pastry Party Pit™ that Starbucks has acquired to add value to the line of pastry offerings?
Would you like pictures of La Boulange? There are many stores around me with La Boulange and serval more are turning over this April. let me know and thanks for the post!
Melody wow what a day you had! I am so glad that Teavana is going to accept the SB card! In april I assume- no specific date? The Evolution Fresh founder sounds wonderful and it was neat you could chat with him. Are they introducing any new juices? What a great recap you gave us. Thanks.
Melody, thanks for your report on Starbucks Annual Meeting.
Too bad people who profess to be “loyal” Starbucks customers, but who then go to MSI to essentially complain do not, at a minimum, avail themselves of the wealth of information you present on your blog and the information available in the annual report.
Speaking of MSI, I could hardly believe that as of early yesterday evening none of the MSI regulars had bothered to comment on Cecile’s “Ideas In Action” post highlighting MSI’s 5th year. Personally, I think those of us that have been on there since it started should get a “Charter Member” icon 😉
(edit: emoticons no longer work 🙁 )
Good morning DadCooks! I was just reading Cecile’s 5 year blog, and left a comment. What a disappointment to read several comments on free soy. I saw that you and TheKwan and Suzee left comments. I kind of like the “charter member” icon. I think I joined MSI the following day after it was announced at the annual meeting in 2008, but don’t recall now. Anyways, I suspect the regulars probably don’t want to jump into the free soy & syrups comments. Weird how Cecile’s thread got hijacked by a bunch of people wanting the old rewards back.
Dad Cooks agree your comments re MSI. I have pretty much stopped making comments there but agree with you. BTW like your new pic!
purple1, thanks, same old picture from Gravatar but it cropped more on Disqus.
interesting about those stores opening in the neighborhoods that could use 50% of their (sales or profits, I assume): my question is: who is going to have the $$$ to be buying almost anything Sbux in such neighborhoods? Or, wait: maybe the answer is, WE will be doing the giving by the increase in Sbux prices, I would assume in only other stores? doesn’t make sense to me. or, will there be “vouchers”? like ‘food stamps for Sbux’? Not to mention, as I saw on the ‘free coffee for election(Obama) day in 2008’, all these people from ??? not the area, poured into the stores, clearly never had any Sbux before, I assume likely were not too crazy about it since 99% of them were asking for cream and sugar (also not knowing there was a condiment bar >>> never been there before). But, of course, now Sbux has ‘changed’ its promise about NEVER roasting ‘light’ so maybe the Blonde will pull them in. ? still, there is the cost. who is paying it?
As I remember the Election Day coffee it was rolled out as a Free Coffee if you voted….but people pointed out that was illegal in places (an inducement to vote), so it was changed to “Free for Everyone” at the last minute. Pump that on all the news stations and everyone who shows up for freebies come out of the woodwork.
@karldot…..yes, it was an Election Day coffee but having gone to Sbux for 20+ yrs, and obviously quite a few ‘elections’, odd that it happened when Obama ran. actually, not really surprising. But, it did turn out to be a mess around here..the stores were not nearly prepared for the onslaught of coffee requests.
to answer your question Melody, not, not just the first comment.
I am sorry you do not like Disqus comments.
Hi Melody, I am sorry you did not get a swag bag. From what I saw, contents varied a little from bag to bag. Here is what was in mine: a coupon for a free cup of tea at Teavana, a coupon for $1.00 off any Evolution Fresh juice, a tube of Berry Medley Chocolate Bites, a tube of Creamy Peanut Pretzel Bites, a white ceramic Pike Place mug made by the American Mug and Stein Company of East Liverpool, Ohio, USA, and a 12oz. bag of Colombia coffee beans. That bag of coffee has a sticker on it that when peeled off revealed a 9 character code and instructions on how to enter the code to earn a rewards star after the loyalty program goes live in grocery stores on May 12.
Hi Rachel! That sounds like an awesome swag bag. I’m familiar with the beautiful special 1912 Pike Place mugs from my visits there. Have no worry – I am getting not one but two swag bags!!! I am stunned. Two DMs in Seattle both independently emailed me and let me know that I can pick up a swag bag at their stores. I’m super stoked. And I owe a big thank you for the thoughtfulness of downtown Seattle DMs.
Very soon, I want to do a follow up article on the bags of coffee with the 9 character code. What a great move to be able to get a star for your whole bean coffee in the grocery.
Thanks!
There are two things that I’m looking forward to this year, although, all things considered, I will probably have to wait much longer. I can’t wait to see Evolution Fresh and La Boulange in my store. Also, I flipping ADORE those pink bags. Pink is my favorite color, so I’m a little biased. I’ve already heard so many wonderful things about both of those brands, and I can’t wait to have the opportunity to try them for myself.
Melody – Have you seen this? I ran across it yesterday, and remembered that you’d mentioned Blair Taylor in this recap. Being the Community Lead in my district I liked it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMdFTWklAZw&feature=player_detailpage
Michelle, they played that video at the shareholders’ meeting. I thought Blair’s presentation was great, and it was definitely inspiring to see how Starbucks can give back to their neighborhoods. Thanks for sharing the video! It would have been fun if I’d included that video in the article. And Blair Taylor is on my list of individuals I’d like to meet someday. 🙂 (Along with a few others!)
He was introduced to us all in Houston and while I can’t remember anything he said (it was a blur of Starbucks awesomeness) I remember thinking it was really cool that we now had a Chief Community Officer. I bet there aren’t a lot of companies out there that do.