Starbucks Differentiation Strategy

Global brand recognition and equity: Starbucks is the most recognized brand in the coffeehouse segment and ranks 64th of the Interbrand / Business Week list of the top 100 global brands. It effectively leverages its rich brand equity by merchandising its products and licensing its brand. Its immense brand value also allowed for successful tie-ups with leading retail chains for its branded foods and beverages. The brand is so widely-recognizable that the company dropped the words "Starbucks Coffee" from the logo without fear of losing

Starbucks sells high quality food and brands for affordable prices. Recently, the company launched a wine collection in addition to the coffee. Now, customers can enjoy a coffee in the morning and a wine after work. This strategy will bring more revenue to the company and will put the Starbucks on the map with other great small shops. The brand has also positioned itself best coffee brand in the market by providing attractive store design, unique environment, elegant taste and high quality coffee beans (Kotler & Keller, 2009).

It is the long-term self-interest of Starbucks. Conclusion In conclusion, Starbucks only concern and goal is to generate profit. Thus, to achieve their goal, Starbucks is selfishly putting the small coffee retailers out of business to gain more profit and disregarding the effect that it could cause to the various stakeholders.

IMPACTS OF ECONOMIC FACTORS ON STARBUCKS The ongoing global economic recession is the prime external economic driver for Starbucks. As I already mentioned, this factor dented the profitability of Starbucks. This has convinced buyers to shift to cheaper alternatives. As they did not quit buying coffee, Starbucks should seek an opportunity here.The company has to deal with rising labor and operational costs. The inflationary environment and falling profitability is causing a lot of stress. Some other economic factors which can affect Starbucks are:  Local currency exchange rates  Local economic environment in different markets  Taxation level IMPACTS OF SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS ON STARBUCKS As already stated, Starbucks can offer cheaper products

All of these different drivers allow Chipotle to earn high profits because they increase the customer’s willingness to pay. The differentiation approach has held strong for the brand since 1993. The strength of their stock, high yielding profits and imitating competitors are all examples of the differentiation strategy being a success within the firm. Chipotle implements this differentiation strategy by promoting green farm to table.

For the business-level, Trader Joe’s adopted a differentiation focus strategy. According to our textbook with this strategy, Trader Joe’s seeks to differentiate in its target market. They rely on providing better service than broad-based competitors. Specifically, they focus on the special needs of the buyer in other segments (Dess, Page 159). Joe’s differentiates its self from other grocers by providing a unique shopping experience fortified with their private label goods and great service from their crew members.

Pivot Assignment My assignment will be based around the company Starbucks. The main objective of this assignment is to become familiar with a specific business model innovation (pivot) that is well known in the public domain and to show clear analysis and presentation of the key factors of success (or failure) but in this case was a success. What does pivot mean in Business?

The organization I work for, Starbucks is highly diversified. In my opinion, Starbucks successfully employs each of the seven diversity components: “authentic leadership commitment, clear organizational communication, inclusive recruitment practices, long-term retention strategies, incorporating diversity into main work of the organization, diversity management metrics, and expansive external relationships” (Cañas, Sondak 2014). With that being said, Starbucks could improve by incorporating diversity into main work of the organization.

Differentiation Strategy: - It includes developing new products & services which satisfies customer needs, they offer much more values than their competitors. They differentiated the segment according to the customers. They provide multiple customer segments which includes moderately priced to premium priced customers for example: 1. Bulgaria resorts & hotels (The Ritz Carlton) - Target segment:-Luxury guest. 2.

Specifically, Ralph’s (similar stores are Vons and Albertson’s) and Whole Foods (similar stores are Gelson’s and Trader Joes) are two firms that utilize cost leadership and differentiation. On one hand, we have Ralph’s using cost differentiation by providing a broad range of merchandise at a decent price. On the other hand, we have Whole Foods that has implemented a differentiation strategy by marketing their merchandise as healthier (organic). The trade of for both companies is that they are attracting less consumers by just marketing to a specific crowed. For instance, if Whole Foods had lowered their price and still sold premium merchandise, soon Ralph’s would be in trouble.

Businesses have been playing a crucial role in people’s lives. No matter what they go or what the occupations they are; people are drawn to get involved in businesses. However, behind the scenes of the business thriving, the environment is deteriorated each day. Many development schemes are come up with the plan related with the depletion of the environment (Shah, 2002). Because of people and environmental damages, attentions were drawn to corporations for ensuring their sustainabilities. John Elkington designed a framework called Triple Bottom Line(TBL) (cite), which allows employees or entrepreneurs to adopt it for evaluating their performances regarding three dimensions people, planet, and profit. Starbucks is one of successful corporations which uses the Triple Bottom Line. The underlying Starbucks’s policy is to "inspire and nurture the human spirit-- one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time" ( Herbeck, 2012). The statement which was previously mentioned shows that Starbucks does not solely concentrate upon their profits, but their stakeholders’ well beings and the environment as well. This firm tries to launch many campaigns based on the three factors of the Triple Bottom Line. As a result, when it comes to Triple Bottom Line framework, Starbucks was given the opportunity to appraise and monitor its operations.

We will provide on-going development towards our product and customer services in order to become the best in terms of customer value, employee talent and predictable growth so that it may achieve competitive advantage in this

Starbucks specifically staffs star skills to enable employees to maintain and enhance their self-esteem, learn to listen to other people’s ideas and seek assistance when appropriate, so that staff can work together and have the confidence to communicate with customers. Relationship between strategy, policy and procedure Strategy, policy and procedure are integral to Starbucks, and the strategy is to help Starbucks make long-term plans. The policy is to plan to accomplish the goal. The procedure is the process of action. Starbucks is about to achieve its goals in performance management, but also to meet the company’s long-term performance.

1.2. Product Differentiation This refers to differentiation that aspires to make a product more attractive by contrasting its unique qualities with other competing products (Investopedia, 2015:1), as in the case of Coca-Cola, other soft drink brands. Successfully adopting this strategy would have a company gaining a competitive advantage, as the customer would then view the product as unique or superior. This is what coca cola has managed to do, and has managed to do it on a scale that is globally unique, and globally recognized.

It would aim at establishing a strong customer lifetime value. It would also search for new markets in other