Starbucks employees enjoy the fruits of their labor in the form of a steaming hot beverage.
Starbucks Coffee: Best coffee house
The Pointer
bhaig870@uwsp.edu
Traditionally, you would think students would be partial to their own on-campus coffee shop. However, that doesn’t exactly hold true as Starbucks has won The Best of Point award in the coffee category.
Many students may recall that on July 1, 2008, the company announced it was closing 600 under-performing company-owned stores and cutting U.S. expansion plans amid growing economic uncertainty. On July 29, 2008, Starbucks also cut almost 1,000 non-retail jobs as part of its bid to re-energze the brand and boost its profit. These closings and layoffs have effectively ended the company’s period of prolific growth and expansion that began in the mid 1990s.
However, one of the things that made Starbucks so successful was its unique company culture and store atmosphere. The Stevens Point Starbucks still holds true to its core qualities, which makes it an optimal choice for students.
Upon entering the Division St. Starbucks location, one may find an array of different types of people. In one corner you may find the lone businessman with a venti (that’s Starbucks for large) full of steaming coffee, black as the night itself. In another corner, it’s no surprise to see several middle-aged women sharing one of Starbucks delicious flavored cappuccinos, lattes and macchiatos. You can also expect to find any number of students lounging in the cafe, sipping on practically anything, working on their laptops or taking time to read a good book, or the alternative, a textbook.
“We’ve put a lot of effort into our work here,” said barista Edward Lupella. Starbucks customer service is second to none when it comes to order taking, efficiency and presentation of the warm beverages.
“They’re always so friendly and give really great suggestions if you’re unsure of what you want,” said UW-SP junior Brittany Winek. Kaitlin Dumm, night manager at Starbucks, attributes their award to their great atmosphere and location.
“We try to make it a genuine experience,” said Dumm.
Indeed they do. Although a corporate chain, Starbucks always strives to make the customer feel at home, no matter the time or location.
Although the company has experienced a bad string of events this summer in a suffering economy, it’s easy to see why the Stevens Point location is still thriving. The same great customer service and gourmet coffee is offered as when they first opened in 2006. Howard Schultz, a past CEO of Starbucks, tried to make each store a “unique Starbucks experience” in which people could feel at home in a “third place” away from work and home.
The Division St. Starbucks emulates the vision of Schultz by giving students a comfortable area to divulge in delicious beverages away from the residence halls and library, with the added customer service that doesn’t abandon the consumer.
