What Does Starbucks Really Sell?

What does Starbucks sell?

Most people would immediately say that Starbucks sells coffee, but I believe it is more than that. 7-11 sells coffee, but you don’t get the same feeling sipping coffee from a styrofoam 7-11 cup as you do from a Starbucks cup. There is a feeling you get when you enter a Starbucks. The stores are warm and inviting and the help is energetic and courteous. Starbucks business is not really based on coffee. It is based on the feeling that you get at Starbucks. Yes the product is good, but that is a must in any business today. Starbucks is a solution provider. When a person drives up to a Starbucks, goes in, purchases a coffee, and leaves Starbucks to go back into the world, they feel better for having done so.

Businesses today flourish by solving problems for people. "Solution provider" has a high tech connotation but it applies to every single business. I would challenge you to adjust your thinking and become a solution provider.

Being a solution provider takes the sales and recruiting pressure off of your shoulders. If you aren’t worried about prospecting or sales and just go about your daily life with a sincere interest in helping as many people as you can, you will run into folks that have problems. Not only that, but you will run into folks that have problems that your business has a solution for.

How easy is it to present a solution to someone when they tell you they have a problem and they are looking for a solution to solve it?

Comments

[susie]

I happened upon this online, but anyways, as a former starbucks employee, they train you to know that they don't sell coffee, they sell the environment.

Just to confirm that for you.

[Sam S. @ home business]

Whoah, Attitude makes the business going on. Like you said inviting crew makes the customers keep coming. So they are a model to any business establishment that should followed.

Good work!

[Moncler Jacka]

Good stuff as per usual, thanks. I do hope this kind of thing gets more exposure.