So, if afforded the opportunity, what would you say if you could talk to Uncle Howie?
My first question would be: "When was the last time you worked a shift on the floor?"
"Do you think this is really a 'living wage'?! Have you ever seen The Secret Millionaire?"
"Are you trying to cut fiscal corners by squeezing 'partners' out of benefits?"
"Would you like some feedback concerning our current business model?"
I heard that his direct line is posted on the Portal Directory. I will check when I go in tomorrow!
If You Could Talk to Howard Schultz, What Would You Say?
(53 posts) (32 voices)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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I wouldn't try to persuade him by appealing to his nicer side, to be honest. I think he can (and has) rationalize every decision he makes. I would instead ask about part of his original plan -- to save money on training by taking care of the employees. How did it go wrong? What's in the future?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Referring to my previous post: so it's TRUE! Uncle Howie's direct line is listed on the Portal as well as his mailstop box. Is it bad that I took down the number and am seriously considering calling?! ;)
Posted 4 years ago # -
DARKROAST... do you have the number? I have some things to say. None of them are nice either. I want him to know he made my store manager cry about trying to re write schedules with new store hours and that FOUR people know they are getting laid off after Christmas and that they are all freaking out, and they already laid off our handicapped cafe attendant that only worked around 6 hours a week. And that today alone, we had 10 people try to turn in applications and we had to tell them we are OVER staffed and will be laying off. And tell him that his ridiculous waste of money on Sun Dried Sidamo is sitting on the shelf wasting his "precious" money and I am SO ****.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Exactly, Anniversaryblend! I think he grossly underestimates/is oblivious to the blight he caused with his "executive decisions"! We believed in their system and they let us down!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Good luck using that number. I called his direct line several times when I found out my store was closing and that there were no options for me. I also emailed him and never heard one word back from my so called partner.
I wouldn't even know where to begin if I had a chance to sit him down and talk to him. I might ask him how he can justify taking 10,000 managers to New Orleans when he was taking jobs away from the partners of 618 stores.
I think he should have personally gone to each of the stores that were closing and spend the day with the partners and customers so he could see just what kind of collateral damage he would be leaving behind. Our store wasn't even open a year and never given the chance the tools to perform. Talk about not being set up for success.
I would love to have sat down with him and told him of our corrupt DM and the shotty SM we had to deal with on a daily basis. These are the people that are still with his company and represent him...from the looks of things they are partners, partners in crime!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I would say:
"You should have just stuck to coffee, man. None of this Vivanno ****. No bottled Frapps. No canned Doubleshots. If people want that garbage, they can come to one of the 10 billion stores and buy it. And speaking of 10 billion stores -- why? You're no better than the corporations you [perhaps initially] look down on because you and your board memebers and your shareholders got GREEDY. You all got greedy and stupid and now the HEART and SOUL of your blessed business, your "partners" as you so euphamistically refer to them as (when you know as **** well as we all do that we're nothing but hourly SLAVES), are PAYING THE PRICE FOR STARBUCKS' CORPORATE GREED.
All the little coffee-scented minions are losing their hours, their benefits, THEIR LIVLIHOODS. How does that make you feel? Oh, oh. And on TOP of all that, you and the management fuckheads all had the audacity to hire on BONO for your WEEK-LONG TRIP IN NEW ORLEANS, when upon return the "partners" start seeing their hours cut. By 5, 10, HALF THE AMOUNT AS THE WEEK BEFORE. And we're expected to somehow live. You're using the economy's peril as a crutch. But what if no recession? Would you all have ocntinued to open store after store after cannabilizing store 'til every half city block had a 'Bux on it?? Would you have hired slave after slave at a laughable barely-over-minimum-wage rate and swam in your pools of money? Profit from sub-par pastries (because really--they're not that good and they're full of chemicals and preservatives) and sugar-laden disgusting syrup cocktails?
In the end, no matter what happens to Starbucks -- sink or float -- YOU will be okay. Yeah, you may be losing a zillion dollars a day right now, but I can guarantee you've still got a nice cushy pad in those bank accountS of yours. You can probably pay off your credit card at month's end, and I bet you can't even remember the last time (if ever) you had to stand in the aisle at the grocery store and debate which food item was more critical/useful: bread or milk?
I'm *pouring my heart* into what I'm saying to you, Howie. My heart is broken. I may have spent a total of five minutes 'behind' this company, but that was in the beginning. And it was already spiraling downward when I came on. I appreciate your attempts to try and save the company, but who are you really trying to save it for? Yourself and the **** shareholders? Or the worried, desperate, heartbroken partners who are wishing, more than anything, they could see the light of day beyond all the coffee that gets dumped down the drains, day after day, hour after hour..."
Posted 4 years ago # -
I would recommend him to pull his head out of his a$$ The severity of his chronic rectocranial impaction has had an extremely negative impact on the company, its partners, and its customers.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Just out of curiosity, what would you consider a living wage?
I am pretty happy with what I make, for basically a fast food restaurant, but it would be nice to get a raise. I wish they did it periodically, if only in small amounts, for that little confidence boost. 4 months at my starting pay sounds like "marginal employee" to me. I don't like that :(
Sure, McD's was minimum wage (or less) but at least I got a 15 cent raise for surviving my first month! Not many make it to a month there.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Ahem, so back on topic I would tell Schultz that he needs to shift money from those complex new drinks back to the basics, but for real this time. Re-formulate House blend to taste actually good (but still offer original because some like it), and also ditch drive-thrus completely. America could use that 100 foot walk across the parking lot, it could be the most exercise some people get.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'm with you, Blacksheepbarista! I stayed with this stinkin' company because I reallt believed in it's ideals, having been in retail for 10 years. But I really got to thinking yesterday; it dawned on me that Uncle Howie NEVER approached us, his PARTNERS, regarding this whirlwind of change in our infrastructure. No, sent word through his minions and conference calls and brought the scythe down on us all. I find that so sketchy and disdainful that it makes me sick. I mean, at least for the oh-so-lame Sorbetto launch we got a video!
Posted 4 years ago # -
if he really believes in nurturing the human spirit, why not the employee's spirits? are we not people too??
Posted 4 years ago # -
No, Chaos, we're not. We're here to make the lattes and keep a smile plastered on our face no matter the cost. We're not people. We're caffeine robots :)
Posted 4 years ago # -
I would ask good ol' Uncle Howie if he would do me the honor of explaining to my small child that there is no Christmas this year and when she asks him for something to eat I would love to hear him explain why starbucks doesn't pay mommy enough money to pay for rent and food even at the close to 40 hours a week and now mommy has to work less hours cause Uncle Howie's team in corporate got greedy and now things are screwed for the company....
Yeah if I could ask him anything it would be if he has the balls to spend a day walking in my shoes.Posted 4 years ago # -
I believe neither Howie or Cos could survive a day in SbuxHater's life, nor any of us on the plantation.
Posted 4 years ago # -
"What the **** are you doing to this company? Your mission statement and core values are now ****. Gratz."
Posted 4 years ago # -
Anybody remember that song..."I see your true colors, shining through..."?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Hey DARKROAST: Sorry you bought into the koombayah, almost cult-like dribble from Howie and the BUX folks. They are NOT koombayah, they are NOT an all-seeing wonderkind cult, they are NOT nanny company, they are NOT one of the best that "someone" at Forbes came up with based on some kind of dribble (as long as they made apparent money they were great--if they are so great where are they now?),they ARE a big company in trouble--period, end of story. The run is over, Howie gets to keep a couple of billion and you get to go to hell.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Aint that the truth, Fivestarservice!
I worked in retail/fashion industry for 10 years before coming to Sbux; I truly believed, until now, that that was the worst of it. My Starbucks Experience has proven otherwise. At first I thought this company was different, and I believed in its values like so many others. Now I see it for what Sbux really is: a profit-driven, two-faced, savagely-capitalist, fast-food nation corporation--much like the fashion industry!Posted 4 years ago # -
I just have to say....I love you, Darkroast - you speak your mind and I agree with what you're saying. Hang in there! At the risk of sounding cliche, I truly believe that you will find what's best for you. You have an amazing attitude. Please don't ever lost that!
Posted 4 years ago # -
Thank you sanderson, for your uplifting words! They may break my body (like this carpal issue in my right hand), but they will NEVER break my spirit!
Posted 4 years ago # -
I have carpal tunnel in my left hand, DARKROAST and it freaking sucks. I hate how bad it hurts and I still end up barring for 8 hours. Maybe I'll fill out an accident report and go to the doctor so they can pay a bunch of money. LOL.
Posted 4 years ago # -
They WILL pay for your workers comp and physical therapy!
BTW, Sbux, regarding WC & CRS----there has got to be better way! Talk about a classic repetitive-motion injury!Posted 4 years ago # -
I would like to tell Howie to pull his head out of his **** and take a look at where his company is heading! And then I would ask him why he is cutting labor while introducing more labor intensive drinks?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Dear Howard, Starbucks made you a billionaire. You bought a multi-million dollar condo in NYC with money made off the backs of minimum wage workers who felt like they were doing "good work" at Starbucks. The least you could do is live the life of one of your barista's for 1 week and see how good that multi-million dollar condo feels then.
Posted 4 years ago # -
After what I heard today, I would thank him. I don't know many people that would do what he did!!
What he did today in taking a One million one hundred ninety thousand dollar a year paycut, was a show of good faith, and a small reminder of why we call each other partners. Even in my disapointment surrounding so many other actions taken by this company, I am proud to say that I work for Howie!
Did you all hear, since he was unable to cancel the order for the Jet, he is selling the other two that the company owns to make up for it... :-)
P.S. I would also ask him " where the **** is my W-2!!" LOL!!
Posted 4 years ago # -
What I'd tell him and what he would hear are likely two different things. What I would recommend is;
Focus on the coffee (core product), it's what we do best. Junk the tea infusions and the Vivanno's, etc... (fire the people who thought of them) and keep the tea product line focused on tea, explore the possibilities, examine Asian tea customs (and those around the world) then apply the understanding to grow market share. Don't bastardize the tea hoping to find a some magical combination. SBUX Green tea and Passion teas are good examples of how to focus. Then add both consumable and non-consumable accompaniments to both coffee and teas (again, use what you learned NOT A TRY THIS OT THAT OR WHAT YOU THINK MIGHT WORK). Tea and coffee are different (I know) in terms of consumption style. Tea is a thinking product whereas coffee is more of an enjoyable caffeine delivery vehicle. We enjoy the ride from each but they are different and each has a diff cost structure (price). Stop trying to make the ride the same, it just isn't. Crumpets and biscuits are for tea, donuts and pastries are for coffee - understand the differences (place) and apply the learning.
Focus our marketing efforts on 1) business value (i.e. meetings, workplace breaks and consumption) of our basic coffee and tea products (and delivery via local stores). Package the deal, make it price competitive with options, the SMB segment offers an untapped silo as do the mom and pops and 2) Individual consumers (Position).
Then, expand your knowledge of the what goes on at the point of sale from both a Barrista and a customer perspective, get intimate here. Junk the different cards, use only one and use it intelligently. Give the repeat customer TRUE rewards for their business and stop charging them more for the card (stupid). Buy ten get one free, free syrups-only if registered and half-price on same visit specialty refills, 25/50/75 cent refills on T/G/V coffee/tea only refills (must have been purchased on the card, same visit) use the card intelligently to reward repeat business.
Stop dicking with the labor in the stores to try and balance the books. You want the customer to have a good experience and want to return to the store? Stop treating SMs and employees like **** ("partner" has lost its value as you cut hours, pay and benefits because you just don't treat "partners" that way. A one-way **** doesn't make the two people involved into a partnership). SBUX employees will take care of their customers in the same fashion SBUX takes care of the them. Got it figured out yet?
Finally, call a tall a small (I know you can't charge as much for a small as a tall but most would prefer the Grande anyway and would pay the higher price). When a customer asks for a small, call it a small - we all know what it is and correcting them to call it a tall is an attempted partnership in deception that leaves a bad taste in the customers mouth.
That's what I would say. But what would Howie hear?
There really is nothing new under the sun, all is chasing after the wind. Let's chase the wind effectively while we can and harness it.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Pink-e: are you a business major?
I commend you for your previous post--I hope Uncle Howie is listening....and promotes YOU! ;)Posted 4 years ago # -
@DARKROAST: Thanks for your kind words! No I am not a buisness major. I am an engaged mother of three! I took this job over a year ago for the benefits, and the free coffee. Are you in cali??
Posted 4 years ago # -
Yeah, I'm in Orange County, CA. Are you in Cali, too? You really hit the nail on the head! But no one listens to us down here!
Posted 4 years ago #
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