Sign In
SHARE
Starbucks Closed? Dunkin' Donuts to the Rescue!
If you thought Blackberry outages were bad, get a load of this: All 7,100 Starbucks will be closed from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time today for a nationwide barista education event.
Yes, barista education event. Starbucks is referring to the training session as a "comprehensive educational curriculum" designed to "renew espresso standards," which sounds like it could be some kind of arcane Ph.D. program.
But I'm pretty sure is a fancy way of saying they will be instructing their 135,000 employees on how to chat you up with appropriate vigor and make sure they don't serve you a macchiato when you ordered a mocha.
Tonight's training session is all part of the grand plan that Howard Schulz has gradually been unrolling in the weeks since he retook the helm at Starbucks, aimed at earning back its erstwhile premium, "experience-based" brand positioning.
Starbucks better hope that tonight's event accomplishes employees "perfecting the art of espresso" in a big way. The Seattle-based chain hasn't said how much the 3.5-hour closure will cost in terms of revenue, but the opposition has no intention of missing its chance to grab the run-off.
"On Tuesday, February 26, Dunkin' Donuts wants to ensure that no coffee lover is denied a delicious espresso-based beverage," begins a not-so-subtle Dunkin' Donuts press release announcing a promotion scheduled to coincide with the Starbucks closures.
From 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. today, Dunkin' Donuts stores — there are more than 5,700 of them — will be serving small espresso-based drinks for 99 cents (prices vary by location, but that's about half price).
As they say, all's fair in love and coffee wars.
by Liz Gunnison
Loading...
Thank you for registering as a Portfolio.com Insider. Your comment has been added.
Create Your Public Profile
- ACBJ to relaunch Portfolio.com
- May 20 2009 1:44PM EDT
- 44, Day 97: On Golf, Swine Flu, and a "Hallmark Holiday"
- Apr 26 2009 5:39PM EDT
- 44, Day 96: Where's the Suggestion Box?
- Apr 25 2009 2:10PM EDT
- 44, Day 95: Let Them Have Student Loans
- Apr 24 2009 6:49PM EDT
- Stressing Out Over Stress Tests
- Apr 24 2009 2:14PM EDT
- King of the Private Equity Hill
- Apr 24 2009 8:23AM EDT
- 44, Day 94: What's in Obama's Wallet?
- Apr 23 2009 6:39PM EDT
- Madoff Clawback Campaign Targets Ex-Clients
- Apr 23 2009 3:00PM EDT
- Merrill, Muzzle, and the Mob
- Apr 23 2009 1:45PM EDT
- 44, Day 93: Earthly Concerns
- Apr 22 2009 7:14PM EDT
- Stanford Prosecutor Arrested for Assault
- Apr 22 2009 5:47PM EDT
- IMF Downgrades the Global Economy
- Apr 22 2009 2:00PM EDT
- Ackman Opens His Target Slate to Questions
- Apr 22 2009 11:51AM EDT
- Freddie Mac Acting CFO Found Dead
- Apr 22 2009 8:42AM EDT
- 44, Day 92: About Those Interrogations
- Apr 21 2009 5:53PM EDT
Archive
