identitySPECIALIST

That’s a line that I heard on a show that I watched last night (that’s where the Starbuckian post came from) – it was a show on Howard Schultz and how he created a multi-billion dollar industry.  He capitalized on multiple movements going on in our culture (growing green, gourmet food, etc) and he created a movement in the process.

He  created the Halo effect in the Starbucks experience, but with 16,000 stores in 50 countries, how do you maintain the soul and the Starbucks experience when the Starbucks brand is taking over.  How do you maintain the personal connection without the corporate feel (which by the way the Starbucks corporation doesn’t want to happen).

I don’t know the answer – that’s probably why I’m not working at Starbuck’s corporate office.  I would venture to say though that the key to maintaining the soul of the Starbucks experience – is the people.  The frontline people that work the bars everyday.  You ain’t nothing without it.  It’s possible to grow without losing your soul, but don’t forget to invest in your people.