Skip to main content

Venti(ng) Anger

America known for classical marketing techniques, has produced many global brands that people recognize by merely seeing their logos, or familiar colors or other brand attributes without actually having the company name being spelled.


Nike, Apple, Starbucks are exemplars of this phenomenon.  Speaking of the latte(r) the brand called Starbucks is now well known across the planet for purveying caffiene in variety of forms often using Itailan sounding names that people consume without thinking.  At least without pausing to consider what a Macchiato or a Cappuccino or a Grande or a Venti means.


Starbucks has long known that people psychology can be manipulated using all tools in its box that convey a sense of the exotic and distract the buyer from the price of an item.  Add to it a rewards program that was straightforward until recently and they got them hooked, and craving for a cup. 


Now there is a backlash from the loyals.  Apparently they are Venti(ng).  The program so easy to follow now based on earning a star for a purchase regardless of price provided a simple way to earn a freebie after 12 stars.  Now the earn will switch from a ticket to the value of the ticket.  As in more you spend closer you get to the reward.


Social media is agog with backlash and language to let the company know how it is unfair (for the cheap purchase qualifiers) and want the company to respond, calling tbeir strategy a fail.  To me the whole notion of using social seems pointless.


Basic laws of economics will let Starbucks know (who closely monitors all its take across every register in the world) if anything is a success or fail.  Why the hoopla?  I suspect the over - caffieneted crowds need something to blow a little steam?  If anything the noise will provide free publicity.  Like this blog.


Extra hot Venti latte anyone?



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Of chocolates

I like chocolates. Godiva Dark with Almonds - not sure of the naked woman on the horse to be the icon of some choice cocoa based products but tastes good. Started in Belgium but now owned by some Turks. Cadburys - Fruit and Nut Milk Bars - awesome combination of dried fruit pieces along with a medley of nuts makes your toungue dance - started by a Brit now owen by Kraft USA. Lindt Hazelnut spheres - made by a Swiss confectioner are divine balls that melt in your mouth with a lingering nutty taste Ghirardelli Milk Crisp Squares - crunchy and light these milk squares are easy on the palate but pack some serious calories - all good I say! Originally founded by an Italian who moved around till he landed in SF Bay today also owned by the Swiss Lindt empire.

Columbia SC

 The Palmetto state.  One of the confederate kinds. History dating couple centuries back.  We visited the capital yet again this time to take in the SC State Museum. Occupying the former digs (literally remodeled) of an erstwhile cotton mill this structure is an amazing piece of reimagination.  Four floors of excitement for kids and young at heart alike. Located on the shores of the Congaree River formed when the Broad meets up with the Saluda River, this edifice is approx. 60 years old.  The front of the building has a more modern planetarium that was added about a decade ago.  The museum itself has different areas of interest segregated on each of its four floors. The first floor has gift shop and a diorama of some of the local geography including the swamps and the state beaches with audio guides to help understand what fauna thrives locally. The second floor is all about natural history and showcases animal kingdom that may have survived on this latitud...

But What If We're Wrong?

I attempted to read this book by author Chuck Klosterman backward to forward but it started hurting my brain so I decided to stop and do it like any other publication in the English language.  Start from page 1 and move to the right. Witty, caustic and thought provoking this is a book you want to read if you believe that the status quo might, just might be wrong. At times bordering on being contrarian about most things around us it tries to zero in on the notion of what makes anything believable and certain in our minds.  The fact that there is a fact itself is ironic.  Something analogous to the idea that you can never predict the future because there is no future. Many books and movies have tried to play on this concept - best that I recollect (I think I am) was 'The Truman Show'.  This book by Klosterman attempts to provoke the reader to at least contemplate that what they think they know may be wrong. He uses examples like concept of gravity, and how it ...