Starbucks to close all U.S. stores for training
In order to curb slumping business, Starbucks closed its doors (all 7,100 of them) nationwide for three hours Tuesday night in order to “educate and energize” its workers. According to an article from MSNBC, this move comes directly from Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz to try and slow the gains competitors like McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts have made over the last few years.
I find this a bit curious. Not that Starbucks would want to switch things up to boost sales, since they are no longer the only game in town featuring double-mocha-choca-lattes with extra foam. But rather why it would think that a three-hour shutdown is the answer. Other than restocking all the Norah Jones CDs, what exactly can be done in that amount of time?
Schultz’s apprehension recently has been that his company has become too “watered down” and generic. Too, well, everywhere. He has a legitimate concern. We were all riding on sugar high from Krispy Kremes for a while, too, until they were placed between the Tic Tacs and gossip magazines in every grocery store line across the country. Sooner or later the novelty wears off. Don’t get me wrong, I like Starbucks and think Schultz is a pretty stand-up guy. It’s just hard to make your organization unique when the number of units per square mile rivals the number of people.
You have to hand it to Schultz, though, for caring enough to try and do something different and special with his business. It’s nice to know that everyone isn’t content with a one-size-fits-all outfit.