45+ Best Starbucks Essay Topic Ideas + 2 Top Research Paper Examples

Starbucks Company Profile

Starbucks Corporation is a multinational coffee corporation and coffeehouse chain headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the world’s biggest coffeehouse chain, with 30,000 locations in 78 countries, including over 13,000 in the United States, 1,000 in Canada, 900 in Japan, and 700 in China. Jerry Baldwin, Zev Siegl, and Gordon Bowker created the firm in 1971, and it was named after the first mate in Herman Melville’s classic Moby-Dick.

Starbucks is well-known for producing high-quality coffee, tea, and other drinks, as well as baked products and snacks. The firm also offers coffee and tea items like as beans, grinds, and single-serve pods, as well as coffee machines and other equipment. Starbucks operates a variety of different brands in addition to regular coffeehouses, including Teavana, Tazo, and Seattle’s Best Coffee.

The firm is devoted to ethical and sustainable business methods, such as buying coffee beans from sustainable sources and investing in community-supporting activities. In addition to coffee, Starbucks sells a variety of food and non-alcoholic drinks, such as sandwiches, salads, and other small meals. In addition, the firm maintains a loyalty program that rewards consumers for their purchases and provides exclusive deals and discounts.

2 Top Starbucks Research Paper Examples

1. Unique Starbucks Marketing Strategies With 4 Marketing Ps

A company’s marketing mix is a series of actions, or techniques, that it employs to promote its brand or product in the marketplace. Price, Product, Promotion, and Place are the four Ps that make up a conventional marketing mix. This research paper explores Starbuck’s peculiar marketing strategies including its 4 marketing Ps.

2. Starbucks Organizational Structure Essay 2022

Leaders and managers both form an integral part of the organization in the 21st century with the rising need to manage and lead staff. Since the start of humanity, the organization and management of people have considered being important for the development and growth of the business. This research paper is focused on discussing Starbuck’s organizational structure and various concepts related to it.

45+ Best Starbucks Essay Topic Ideas

10 Starbucks Essay ideas

  1. Starbucks’ history and evolution: how the corporation grew from a small coffee shop in Seattle to a worldwide brand
  2. Starbucks’s place in popular culture and on social media: how the firm has utilized social media and other marketing methods to promote its brand and attract customers.
  3. Starbucks’ psychological appeal in branding and marketing: how the corporation has utilized color, design, and other approaches to create a sense of luxury and exclusivity.
  4. Starbucks’ international expansion and the problems it has experienced, including how the corporation has adapted to local customs and legislation in other nations.
  5. Starbucks’ tax evasion and labor practices: how the firm has handled these concerns and worked to enhance its corporate responsibility
  6. Starbucks’ tax evasion and labor practices: how the firm has handled these concerns and worked to enhance its corporate responsibility
  7. The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on Starbucks’ activities and recovery strategies: how the firm has reacted to the pandemic’s problems and what it has done to preserve the health and safety of its workers and customers
  8. Starbucks’ varied drink and food offerings, including versions for various dietary restrictions: a look at the company’s menu and how it has changed through time
  9. The role of baristas and other workers in the Starbucks experience: an examination of the training and career development options offered to Starbucks employees, as well as how they contribute to the customer experience.
  10. Starbucks’ environmental effect and sustainability initiatives: an investigation of the company’s attempts to minimize its carbon footprint and enhance its environmental performance.
  11. Starbucks’ position in technology, including mobile ordering and tailored recommendations: how the corporation has used technology to enhance the consumer experience and generate sales.

10 Starbucks Research Topics

  1. Starbucks’ business model’s history and progress, as well as its growth into international markets
  2. The environmental and financial consequences of Starbucks’ sustainability efforts
  3. The psychological attraction and efficacy of Starbucks’ marketing and branding methods
  4. A comparison of Starbucks’ pricing and menu offerings to those of its competitors
  5. An inquiry of Starbucks’ labor practices and initiatives to improve employee working conditions
  6. Starbucks’ response to the COVID-19 outbreak and its influence on the company’s financial and operational performance is examined in this case study.
  7. An examination of Starbucks’ usage of technology, such as mobile ordering and tailored suggestions, and how it affects consumer experience and loyalty.
  8. A look at the numerous beverages and food options offered at Starbucks, including modifications for various dietary requirements and nutritional information.
  9. A look at the role of baristas and other staff in the Starbucks experience, including education and prospects for advancement.
  10. An exploration of the issue surrounding Starbucks’ tax evasion and its efforts to resolve corporate responsibility concerns.

10 Starbucks Essay Titles

  1. “From Local to Global: The Evolution of Starbucks”
  2. “Starbucks’ Branding and Marketing Strategies: Creating a Sense of Luxury and Exclusivity”
  3. “Starbucks’ Expansion into International Markets: Challenges and Opportunities”
  4. “Corporate Responsibility at Starbucks: Addressing Controversies Over Tax Avoidance and Labor Practices”
  5. “The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Starbucks’ Operations and Recovery Strategies”
  6. “A Menu Review of Starbucks’ Drinks and Food Options”
  7. “The Role of Baristas and Other Employees in the Starbucks Experience”
  8. “Sustainability Efforts at Starbucks: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Operations”
  9. “Technology at Starbucks: Improving the Customer Experience through Mobile Ordering and Personalized Recommendations”
  10. “The Appeal of Starbucks: A Psychological Analysis of the Company’s Branding and Marketing Strategies”

19 Starbucks Research Questions

  1. What factors have led to Starbucks’ success and how has its business strategy developed over time?
  2. What techniques did Starbucks employ to grow into international markets, and how did these strategies vary from those employed in its native market?
  3. What role has Starbucks’ marketing and branding strategy had in the company’s success, and how has it developed over time?
  4. How has Starbucks’ sustainability measures impacted the company’s environmental and financial performance?
  5. How has Starbucks’ pricing and menu offerings differed from those of its competitors, and how have these differences influenced the firm’s market share and consumer loyalty?
  6. What steps has Starbucks taken to enhance workplace conditions for its staff and address labor-related concerns?
  7. What influence has Starbucks’ reaction to the COVID-19 epidemic had on its business and financial performance?
  8. How has technology changed Starbucks’ business strategy and the consumer experience?
  9. How has Starbucks’ menu changed over time, and how has the company’s catering to various dietary constraints affected sales and consumer satisfaction?
  10. What impact have Starbucks’ education and career development initiatives for baristas and other staff had on consumer experience and staff retention?
  11. What effect has Starbucks’ tax evasion had on its reputation, and how has the firm sought to address these concerns?
  12. What influence have Starbucks’ corporate social responsibility activities had on the company’s image and financial success throughout time?
  13. What is the impact of Starbucks’ loyalty program for customers on retaining customers and sales?
  14. What effect have Starbucks’ joint ventures had on the corporation’s economic success and reputation?
  15. How have Starbucks’ initiatives to diversify its product offerings, such as the introduction of additional food and beverage products, influenced the company’s sales and consumer loyalty?
  16. How has the usage of social media and other online marketing methods by Starbucks affected consumer involvement and sales?
  17. How have consumer tastes for various kinds of coffee and other beverages changed over time, and how has Starbucks responded?
  18. What changes in consumer opinions of Starbucks’ image and reputation have occurred over time, and how has the firm worked to address any unfavorable perceptions?
  19. What influence have external variables like economic circumstances and changes in customer tastes had on Starbucks’ financial success and market position?
45+ Best Starbucks Essay Topic Ideas + 2 Top Research Paper Examples

Starbucks SWOT Analysis

External and Internal Environments

Business entities exist in environments defined by unique operational aspects. Each component of the business environment is considered to influence an organization’s performance. Therefore, it is ideal for business organizations to have ample awareness about their environment and its influence. The significance of understanding the environment’s influence on an organization is illustrated by an evaluation of the Starbucks Coffee Company.

General Environment

The general environment in which business organizations operate is subdivided into distinct segments. It is the kind of performance realized in each segment that contributes to an organization’s overall performance. Two critical segments are illustrated to have huge impacts on Starbucks’ performance.  The two segments are the socio-cultural and political factors.

Sociocultural Segments

The socio-cultural environment refers to the community’s way of life. Organizations are encouraged to have better insights regarding the social environments to determine whether its influence on its operations is positive or negative. An environment whose social-cultural practices align with a firm’s products and operations positively influences its performance. 

The socio-cultural segment in the Starbucks environment is depicted by growth in coffee consumptions habit in society. Coffee consumption is fast becoming part of human beings’ culture. For instance, it is common for friendship and business discussions to be held in coffee joints. Starbucks aims to further develop better connections by creating better interactive sessions that are supported by the availability of unique coffee products (Starbuck, 2020).

The Political Segments

Business organizations tend to consider the political environments of the nations they expand their operations. The political climate of the foreign regions greatly determines the efficiency of the organization and revenue levels. Countries’ relationships, business and market integration, and infrastructure developments are considered key in determining an organization’s success in foreign territories.

Starbucks, as a company, has opened up branches in different nations. The company has more than 31,000 stores across the globe. Setting up branches in diverse countries indicates that the organization’s activities can be affected by the global political environment. Besides, Each of Starbucks’ stores in other countries is influenced by the region’s political climate.

Five Forces of Competition

Starbucks relies on Porter’s five forces analysis to attain a competitive advantage over its coffee industry peers. The application of Porter’s five forces analysis is seen in the past actions the organization has taken to enhance its competitive edge. In particular, supplier power and product substitution forces have been significant in enhancing the firm’s competitiveness.

Power of Suppliers

Starbuck recognizes suppliers’ contributions to steering the competitive nature of the organization. Suppliers are perceived to be the first avenue to attaining the quality needs of customers. The situation is highlighted by Starbuck’s ability to access quality coffee beans from its suppliers.  The organization has, therefore, implemented various strategies to enhance better relationships with suppliers.  For instance, the organization introduced ethical coffee sourcing policies.

The guidelines promote transparency in the coffee bean purchasing process, thereby improving suppliers’ confidence. Starbucks also opened its first farmers’ support center in 2004 in San Jose, California. The move would be adopted in several other branches. Creating the farmer support centers aims to answer their queries and train them of the diverse standards required to meet Starbuck’s quality demands. The strategy is a means to improve its relationship with suppliers.

The threat of Similar Products

Starbuck has continued to manufacture better and unique products to fight off the competition that might arise from competitors. The organization’s product uniqueness is seen in its launch years when it offered customers espresso beverage and brewed coffee at a time non-existed in America. Another essential and unique nature of Starbucks’ products is seen in the organization being the first to develop beverage cups made of recyclable plastics. Likewise, Starbucks’ product uniqueness is seen in eliminating artificial transfers in its espresso beverages, thus offering customers unique healthy products.

Future Improvements

Starbucks should enhance several aspects of its supply and product uniqueness for its future benefit. The organization prioritizes the quality of coffee beans as a competitive strategy. The situation is illustrated by Starbuck’s focus on building better relationships with the farmers. However, the challenge comes from the suppliers getting bargaining power, thereby dictating the cost of materials.

Starbucks’ reliance on specific farmers for the supply of coffee beans provides suppliers with more bargaining power. Starbucks should, therefore, expand the scope of its suppliers. The strategy will allow the organization to gains access to many sources of raw materials. In return, Starbucks will save much money due to a decline in supplies’ cost.

Likewise, Starbucks should also enhance the uniqueness of the complimentary product it offers alongside coffee. The organization has increased the range of products it offers, for instance, ethos water and different fresh foods such as sandwiches and pastries. However, the complementary products do not reflect the same level of uniqueness seen in the coffee brands. Starbucks should, therefore, ensure that it enhances the uniqueness of its complementary products to attain the same kind of success it has achieved with the coffee.

Starbucks Swot Analysis

Greatest External Threat

The most significant external threat to Starbucks is competition. The organization’s external nature is seen because the organization cannot manipulate them to bring the desired goals. On the contrary, Starbucks has to adjust its operations to respond to the growing competition. The organization’s competition includes both small and big organizations offering coffee to customers.  

Small coffee organizations offer their customers with low priced coffee. It is not only the small organizations that pose as threats to Starbucks. On the contrary, it is the big coffees organizations that act as the biggest competition for Starbucks. Organizations such as McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donats are considered significant and possess the resources needed to challenge Starbucks’ market share.

Greatest Opportunity

Starbucks’ most significant opportunity lies in its ability to expand to other territories. Access to more regions means that Starbucks would improve its market share, thereby realizing more profit. The expansion drive has been part and parcel of the organization ever since its inception. The strategy’s effectiveness is seen in the firm’s rise from a single store in Seattle to more than 22,000 as of 2015 (Starbucks, 2016).

Despite the high number of stores across the world, Starbucks continues to tap into emerging markets. The organization is continuously looking for regions perceived to show excellent market potential.  Places such as China and other developing nations are considered as the next avenues for Starbucks’ expansion.

Strengths and Weaknesses

As an organization, Starbucks is portrayed as having both strengths and weaknesses from its internal environment. One of the critical strengths for Starbucks is the strong brand the organization has built. The organization is considered the leading brand in the food and beverage industry. Another strength of the organization is seen in the strong financial position Starbucks enjoys.

The robust nature of Starbucks’ finances is seen in its 2019 financial records that showed it earned profits worth $ 3.6 billion from a revenue collection of $256.5 billion (Starbucks, 2020). The ability to increase the number of stores is another keys strength of the organization and is illustrated by growth from 1886 stores in 1998 to 31256 in 2019.

Likewise, Starbucks has several weaknesses. One of the significant weaknesses of the organization is its high pricing. Starbucks’s prices are depicted to be relatively high for most of the working population compared to that of competitors. The situation thus acts as a deterrent to customers from visiting Starbucks. Also, some of Starbuck’s products’ standardized nature makes it challenging to attract customers in specific markets.  The standardized nature of the products makes it challenging to meet the needs of different market preferences. Likewise, Starbucks’ products look similar to those of its competitors.

Strategy

Starbucks can deploy several strategies to enhance its strengths and improve its weaknesses. Starbucks should continue with its strategy to identify potential markets to set up new stores. The strategy has proven to work, as depicted by the high rate of financial success the organization has attained. Starbucks can also improve its various products by coming up with an innovative menu. The move will lead to the organization coming up with unique products. Also, the organization should put considerations of customer needs in different markets. The strategy will allow the organizations to meet the market needs of different consumers.

Resources, Capabilities, and Core Competencies

Starbucks’ operations are influenced by the possession of diverse resources, capabilities, and critical competencies. The availability of capital depicts the primary resource. It is access to a vast pool of funds that have allowed Starbucks to increase its stores. On the other hand, the capabilities are seen in the organization’s ability to carry out intense acquisition strategies that have allowed it to acquire other firms.  The staff knowledge and skills depict Starbucks’ core competencies. It is the knowledge and skills that have allowed Starbucks to develop unique products and attain operational efficiencies.

References

  1. Starbucks. Starbucks Company Timeline. 2016. https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/starbucks-company-timeline Accessed November 11th, 2020
  2. Starbucks. Fiscal 2019 Annual Report. 2020. https://s22.q4cdn.com/869488222/files/doc_financials/2019/2019-Annual-Report.pdf Accessed November 11th, 2020
  3. Starbucks. Annual Reports. https://www.annualreports.com/Company/starbucks-corp Accessed November 11th, 2020

1. What is Starbucks main message?

Related FAQs

In everything we do, we are always dedicated to Our Mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.

2. What is Starbucks main line of business?

Starbucks Corporation is a specialty coffee roaster, marketer, and retailer.

3. What made Starbucks unique?

Starbucks distinguished itself by de-commoditizing the old coffee market.

4. Why do customers love Starbucks?

Convenience, consumer experience, and brand familiarity 

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