'My Starbucks Idea'

Starbucks created a blog website/online community that allows its customers to interact with Starbucks employees and fellow coffee lovers, by sharing their various ideas on how to enrich their experiences. This year they are celebrating their six-year anniversary since starting in March 2008. The premise behind the site was to create an open dialogue and collaborative environment with various consumers that allow them to share their ideas, thoughts, and engage in their collaboration with Starbucks.

As Kerpen mentions in Likeable Social Media the companies and organizations that are truly remarkable are those that take advantage of Web 2.0 technology to engage with their customers in a meaningful way that promotes two-way dialogue. Thanks to Starbucks forward thinking and innovative ways, today customers are able to receive digital rewards for using their prized Starbucks cards, sip coffee while enjoying free Wi-Fi, and hundreds of other perks. These ideas are just a miniscule sampling of innovations that have been added to Starbucks repertoire of new offerings to its loyal customer base.

A few more examples of concepts spurned by customer ideas that have not only enhanced the Starbucks experience through My Starbucks Idea include mobile payment options that has grown to 3 million transactions per week in US stores; new flavors have been introduced to Starbucks already robust menu such as Mocha Coconut Frappuccino Blended Beverages, Maple Macchiato, Digital Tipping, new breakfast sandwich lineups, and hundreds of other ideas.  

Starbucks has not only ingeniously tapped into a goldmine with allowing their passionate and loyal customers the opportunity of being involved with new and innovative ideas to heighten their experiences, but it’s a win-win situation for both. They are encouraging, listening, and continuously making improvements to the Starbucks experience therefore enriching their brand and expanding their clientele base.