Starbucks coming to Brixton

[editor]

If that happens, then it means starbucks is doing something right that the other places aren't doing. Maybe better service, who knows?

If that's the case, then starbucks deserves to succeed. If that doesn't happen, then people will continue to go to the places they like. Why would they switch from a place they like, to a place that sells shitty-tasting coffee?

Or better advertising, bigger budget, better premises, more convenient location, better placed to run the store as a loss leader to kill off the competition, more resources, more brand power etc etc.

Even with all that additional corporate muscle, Starbucks have been struggling in the UK:

Starbucks to close outlets as UK loses its taste for premium coffee
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/13999/Starbucks-to-close-outlets-as.4791251.jp

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

It's just local people expressing their concern for the future of local, independent businesses, Johnny.

I think it's rather healthy that people are bothered about this, to be honest.

It's more than that, though. It's something akin to hysteria. We have minnie's office coworkers giving dirty looks to someone drinking a starbucks. People talking about the end of Brixton individuality. I can't see how it will be identikit when there's only one of them, occupying maybe 2000 square feet.

I've said it before: we have more starbucks in vancouver than london has, with about a fifth of the population. The demand for small independent coffee places, along with maybe a half dozen or more chains, remains strong.

A good product and good service will always do well.

 

[editor]

The small independent is still open?

So the sky didn't fall when starbucks opened?

They may be still open, but it's likely profits fell, no? Why should anyone celebrate that happening to their local independent coffee shop?

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

Or better advertising, bigger budget, better premises, more convenient location, better placed to run the store as a loss leader to kill off the competition, more resources, more brand power etc etc.l]

But the coffee tastes like shit.

And to repeat, there are many starbucks in many NA cities, and they exist cheek by jowl with small mom and pop organizations; and NA starbucks has all the economic muscle of UK starbucks and more.

It's a boogeyman that isn't real.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

They may be still open, but it's likely profits fell, no? Why should anyone celebrate that happening to their local independent coffee shop?

You can conjecture that the profits fell but you don't know that.

What happened here is that starbucks was formed in the early Seventies in Pike's Market in Seattle. I recall seeing it on visits there. It grew, and spread to other places.

As it grew, 'coffee culture' grew along with it, because of it. Soon, Seattle's Best Coffee was formed, and Blenz, and various others. Here in Vancouver, the little italian places on Commmercial Drive, did better business than they ever did before, because the demand for their coffee spread beyond the Italian community, because of starbucks.

Starbucks creates demand for coffee that ultimately it can't completely satisfy itself. And that demand is good for other businesses offering the same product.

 

[ernestolynch]

Try telling that to the Portuguese workmen propping up the counter of my local coffee shop

Different culture, which you are locusting.

 

[peterkro]

Try telling that to the Portuguese workmen propping up the counter of my local coffee shop

I don't think you can get brandy in your coffee in Starbucks.

 

[Kanda]

Try telling that to the Portuguese workmen propping up the counter of my local coffee shop

That isn't exactly a coffee shop now is it...

 

[Kanda]

Coffee snobbery is such a rah-rah issue, ffs.

Have you seen the sort of people that frequent coffee shops.

 

[ajdown]

I presume the good people of Urban will be organising a leafletting campaign and a round-the-clock picket line outside when it opens, to encourage people to think about the choice they've made.

Perhaps we should get the SWP table outside as well. Bad haircuts always help.

I can see the incense table man being "moved on" more frequently as well, especially if the wind's blowing in their direction.

 

[Badgers]

Nah, Facebook campaign will do

 

[ernestolynch]

I presume the good people of Urban will be organising a leafletting campaign and a round-the-clock picket line outside when it opens, to encourage people to think about the choice they've made.

Perhaps we should get the SWP table outside as well. Bad haircuts always help.

I can see the incense table man being "moved on" more frequently as well, especially if the wind's blowing in their direction.

Except it's poncey right wing fucks like you that bemoan the muscling out of small businesses, and poncey right wing fucks like you who sit in coffee shops reading big papers and scratching your chins.

 

[ajdown]

Except it's poncey right wing fucks like you that bemoan the muscling out of small businesses, and poncey right wing fucks like you who sit in coffee shops reading big papers and scratching your chins.

I don't like coffee, so I won't be sitting in Starbucks reading a big paper and/or scratching my chin over a large skinny double mint choc chip caramel frappelattemochachinno.

 

[ajdown]

Nah, Facebook campaign will do

Sounds like a good plan. Who wants to head it up?

 

[miss minnie]

I was saying lighten up. It's one freaking coffee shop amongst hundreds of other businesses. It's not in fact one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, which is the impression one might form after reading this thread and others.

Its a chat about a coffee shop in my neighbourhood and I'll say what I want.

Do I tell you how to react to events and stuff in your neighbourhood? No I don't.

 

[Badgers]

Sounds like a good plan. Who wants to head it up?

Someone with an account I guess? I will just moan from the sidelines

 

[miss minnie]

It's more than that, though. It's something akin to hysteria. We have minnie's office coworkers giving dirty looks to someone drinking a starbucks. People talking about the end of Brixton individuality.

You are just trolling here aren't you?

Do you honestly think that we treated our American chum like scum over a cup of coffee?

Dear god if you cannot imagine the humour in the situation I despair for you.

 

[editor]

Here, Johnny. This is how they operate:

Market strategy

Some of the methods Starbucks have used to expand and maintain their dominant market position, including buying out competitors' leases, intentionally operating at a loss, and clustering several locations in a small geographical area (i.e., saturating the market), have been labeled anti-competitive by critics.

For example, Starbucks fueled its initial expansion into the UK market with a buyout of Seattle Coffee Company, but then used its capital and influence to obtain prime locations, some of which operated at a financial loss. Critics claimed this was an unfair attempt to drive out small, independent competitors, who could not afford to pay inflated prices for premium real estate.

And then there's their horrendous record on workers' rights, and their policy of opening without planning permission for a change of use....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbucks

 

[Andrew Hertford]

The small independent is still open?

So the sky didn't fall when starbucks opened?

Yes, the independent just about hung on and is still open two years later. They got a lot of positive publicity when s.bucks singled them out and people rallied round.

However other busineses did suffer and planning rules that they adhered to and s.bucks ignored were supposed to help protect them. S.bucks know they can afford to take on local authorities like ours wherever and whenever they like by continually appealing against decisions until they win.

 

[Kanda]

The company's rich benefit blend keeps turnover low and employee satisfaction high. And that's why it's the Optimas Award winner for Quality of Life.

http://www.workforce.com/section/02/feature/23/52/96/



I know that's old but am pretty sure they won something similar last year in the UK when their branches had demo's outside them. Found that a bit odd.

 

[ajdown]

I wonder why there wasn't uproar about other big chains like Iceland, H&M and the phone shops being in Brixton... yet a coffee shop (albeit an overpriced one) seems to?

 

[Choc]

starbucks spreads mc donald style speed. it is a pitty one is coming to brixton as well.

can't stand that place and am angry that so many people love to go there. its very expensive too.

 

[Gromit]

Starbucks is hideous and their coffee is undrinkable as well as being overpriced. Let's boycott it.

Poor Starbucks. They'll be bankcrupt in no time if you meanies boycott them. Think of all all those people out of work etc.

Its a bit like the Clerks 'Deathstar civilian contractors' chat.

 

[Gramsci]

If that happens, then it means starbucks is doing something right that the other places aren't doing. Maybe better service, who knows?

If that's the case, then starbucks deserves to succeed. If that doesn't happen, then people will continue to go to the places they like. Why would they switch from a place they like, to a place that sells shitty-tasting coffee?

Starbucks is a multinational brand that has the resources to pay through the nose to get a foothold in an area. Its got nothing to do with them running a better business.

Its an unequal playing field between big brands and the little guy. Federation Coffee- could they afford the rental on the high street?

 

[Gramsci]

It's more than that, though. It's something akin to hysteria. We have minnie's office coworkers giving dirty looks to someone drinking a starbucks. People talking about the end of Brixton individuality. I can't see how it will be identikit when there's only one of them, occupying maybe 2000 square feet.

I've said it before: we have more starbucks in vancouver than london has, with about a fifth of the population. The demand for small independent coffee places, along with maybe a half dozen or more chains, remains strong.

A good product and good service will always do well.

Sorry ur are Canadian? Cant u make Coffee in Canada?

Starbucks is seen by a lot of Brits as a place they avoid as it represents the US. It might be cool in other countries ( see Eds link to academic survey) but not here.

I will use other chains but not Starbucks unless im desparate.

Im sure Tony Blair likes it. Hes a really cool guy.

 

[Gramsci]

Ive found this picture of Vancouver

 

[passivejoe]

I really don't see what the problem is.
It's right next to the tube to take advantage of the commuters that pile into Brixton every morning.
These commuters don't use Federation... it's too far into the market.
It will smarten up that depressing shuttered bit of TFL neglect and if you don't like the coffee, just don't buy any.
I love federation... never had coffee quite as smooth... but also quite like a starbucks caramel latte at times.
As far as CSR, Starbucks does a lot more than most high street chains.
I reckon the only people who will suffer will be Nero in Morleys.

 

[Gromit]

When I was in Toronto I was told that Starbucks were for tourists and that Canadians went to REAL coffee shops.

I'm saddened ismf Johnny is saying that's not the same case in Vancouver

 

[flickerx]

I started work in Brixton recently and its a bit sad the amount of my workmates that eat the shit from McDonalds and KFC at lunchtime, depsite there being other places around with decent eat-in and take-away, and also our employer explicitly trying to encourage people to give business to local shops.

If Starbucks opens, I fear they'll do well, as other people mentioned they'll be in a prime location and get a lot of passing / academy / commuter trade which might not be people from the area (who might care a bit more about the impact of the cafe opening up and potentially boycott the place).

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

However other busineses did suffer.

Coffee businesses, or other businesses?