BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Coffee Stock: Five-cent coffees at Krispy Kreme franchises a sign of old-fashioned smarts]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/20/the-coffee-stock-five-cent-coffees-at-krispy-kreme-franchises-a/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/20/the-coffee-stock-five-cent-coffees-at-krispy-kreme-franchises-a/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/10/20/the-coffee-stock-five-cent-coffees-at-krispy-kreme-franchises-a/#commentsFiled under: ,

Brother, can you spare a nickel?

In a sign of the oh-so-like- the-Great-Depression times, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD) franchises in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon, along with other related franchisees in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii, are selling coffee for five cents. The one-per-customer-per-visit bargain is being named the Krispy Kreme New Deal.

I love the concept. Dunkin Donuts has been offering lattes and breakfast sandwiches for 99 cents in the afternoons to boost traffic in the slow time; and Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) is about to roll out a "gold card" good for 10% discounts on all products. The card, which carries a $25 annual membership fee, is not a credit card but is a parallel program with the regular Starbucks gift card, which allow you to receive bonuses (a free flavoring or other upgrade for your latte beverage, for instance).

Unfortunately, the two simultaneous and mutually exclusive card programs are confusing and a scant benefit. Customers used to buy 10, get one free punch cards at independent coffee houses will see quickly that paying for a 10% discount is hardly a great deal.

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The Coffee Stock: Five-cent coffees at Krispy Kreme franchises a sign of old-fashioned smarts originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cardcoffeecoffee stockCoffeeStockkkdkrispy kremeKrispyKremesbuxMon, 20 Oct 2008 17:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Starbucks gift cards use: hedge against brokeness?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/12/05/starbucks-gift-cards-use-high-hedge-against-brokeness/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/12/05/starbucks-gift-cards-use-high-hedge-against-brokeness/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2006/12/05/starbucks-gift-cards-use-high-hedge-against-brokeness/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

starbucks in the window on 44th st, manhattanAs I'm a Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) shareholder (a very very minor one), I get an annual "bonus" -- a special-edition Starbucks gift card with a little less than $4.00 in value, good for one grande almond latte (or thereabouts). The gift cards are pretty, and seem special, so when I have a little cash in my bank account and get the urge I'll refill it -- then, when I'm totally out of cash and dying for a sticky-sweet cup of milky caffeine, presto! Starbucks.

My friend takes it to a whole new level. She and her husband are both self-employed, and they've set a strict budget that ensures they'll live within their monthly invoices. So she buys a Starbucks card every week or so, on Monday when her spending budget for the week begins anew. That way, if she spends all her cash by Thursday? She can still hang out with me and our boys at Starbucks on Friday afternoon.

It's a hedge against brokeness.

A report in the AP indicates that 12% of all sales at Starbucks are through these refillable gift cards -- that's one in eight lattes. There are many theories about why the cards are so popular, but I'd just like to stake my claim on the concept that buying gift cards ensures that you'll still be able to buy coffee and 'Top Pot' chocolate doughnuts when you've spent all your money!

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Starbucks gift cards use: hedge against brokeness? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apbrokebrokenesscardcoffeegift cardgift cardsGiftCardGiftCardsmcdonald's gift cardMcdonald'sGiftCardstarbucksstarbucks cardstarbucks gift cardStarbucksCardStarbucksGiftCardwendy's gift cardWendy'sGiftCardTue, 05 Dec 2006 11:55:00 EST