Across the Weblogs, Inc. network a brand-new blog has opened (welcome to the excellent StyleDash!), and I was searching its pages for nuggets that might affect stocks we cover. I think we can all agree (for instance) that Wal-Mart: not stylish (no matter what the very à la mode Anne Metz says, I won't believe it). GE? Nice commercials, but not stylish. Apple? Hella stylish. eBay? Jury's out.
And as we're ticking off the companies that are oft-featured here on BloggingStocks, the biggest question that sprung to mind: how does Starbucks Corporation (NYSE:SBUX) rate on style factor? As someone who mercurially flits from independent, locally-owned, ultra-hip coffee shop to Starbucks and back again, sometimes in a single day, I'm brilliantly positioned to say: not high. Styledash's Nic Lloyd couldn't agree more.
He says, "I was tired of Starbucks and other chain coffees -- tired of the taste and the price." He finds something better, an Ethiopian coffee called Dancing Goats. It's not that much different from the Ethiopian pours I've raved for myself. Let's face it, Starbucks, fashionistas have long since left your faux Euro tables and turned to more fabulous barstools, where the coffee tastes of orchids, wild blueberries and vanilla ... not burnt beans.
After all, the most famous customer of Starbucks today? Britney Spears. I needn't (I think you'll agree) say more.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-14-2006 @ 6:40AM
Mr. noitall said...
Oh No! Could the Starbucks "fad" be ending? Are you saying the "ultra hip" can no longer been seen flitting about with a Starbucks cup in their hand? This is bad news for SBUX, the un-hip can't waste their money on gourmet coffee, and now the "ultra hip" customers are buying Dancing Goat, lol. And Sarah, it sounds to me like you're underworked & overpaid, quit flitting around all day! I see you only wrote 14 articles for Blogging Stocks in the last 30 days, while Brian White has written 170.
9-14-2006 @ 7:19AM
Sheldon said...
Alas poor noitall, we knew him well...
Sarah works 19 hours a day and needs the coffee to keep going. I know, I work 20. She also writes for other sites and edits 250 articles each month and manages this site, and, and, and...if anything I'm sure her family would like her to slow down, but she is so enthusiastic she can't.
So keep reading and writing noitall...we love you...and coffee is on me when you get to the left coast.
9-14-2006 @ 4:04PM
Gary said...
Recently vacationing in London, when visiting a Starbucks, I could often see one or two more Starbucks.....lines of people in each. The were in front of Windsor Castle, Yorkminster, and many other points of interest throughout Great Britain...fad or no fad, they draw in large numbers of customers. Great product, great company.
9-14-2006 @ 5:34PM
Mr. noitall said...
Ok, Sarah, I'm sorry for that comment I made about your working habits. Thanks for setting the record straight Sheldon. I was wrong and I'll admit it.
9-14-2006 @ 6:50PM
sarah gilbert said...
hehe, Mr. noitall, my pedigree is baby blogging... no hard feelings! I've been called much worse than "underworked and overpaid." ahh, how I wish that were true...
9-15-2006 @ 4:14PM
James said...
Honestly, although Starbucks does burn about 50% of the coffees I purchase, they are still a decent roast. Most of the independents are charging similar prices for similar, simple coffees. Without any real facts, I must say that this blog seems to be striving to drive the cost of SBUX stock down for some reason. It is prominently displayed, for no apparent reason, in Google's stock tracker - but has no true statistical reasoning behind the attacks on this brand. I appreciate and respect the right of the blogger to post his opinions - but I find the listing of this in Google's stock "news" column peculiar at best. Good luck. Again, I appreciate your opinion. Blog-on.