Starbucks Marketing Mix

Price: Starbucks products are priced higher due to perceived upscale image attached to its brand. The company also began to offer $1 bottomless 8 oz. cup of coffee, with unlimited refills that cost approximately 50 cents less than any other Starbucks products. The company is also implementing "value strategies" that would emphasize more on inexpensive coffee products rather being perceived as unaffordable to price-skittish consumers. For example, the company introduced $3.95 "breakfast pairings," including popular breakfast items paired with a coffee, and highlights $2 brewed coffees instead of the more expensive specialty drinks (Jennings).

Place: As stated earlier, Starbucks can be found in any neighborhood where there is a perceived high traffic for its stores. Starbucks outlets can also be found in-store of various large chains including Barnes & Noble and Target. Their locations are extremely conducive for individuals that are on the go and for those who enjoy reading or listening to music. Starbucks has also been recently testing "stealth outlets", where the store is named after the street it is located on. The new stores attempt to "localize" Starbucks stores with no Starbucks logo on any of the products being offered there, and instead have the specific street address as the brand name (Allison).

Promotion: Starbucks has implemented numerous promotions to reach its target markets. Promotions are listed as follows:
• One of the promotions that Starbucks has used is the Starbucks Card. Starbucks Card is an initiative that offers customers the opportunity to promote company's products through a referral system. When a customer purchases a gift card, it not only shows brand loyalty, but it also provides the company with free advertising, and brings in new customers. Starbucks also provides a card for corporate sales, which are used for extrinsic rewards to show employee appreciation for a job well done, or a gift to client or a vendor.
• Coffee services delivered to offices without coffee size restrictions.
• Appealing to a diverse customer base by offering international teas and coffees to accommodate those customers that want a taste from home or for locals that enjoy tea.
• Using philanthropy as a means for promotion - Starbucks contributes to several non-profit organizations as a way to improve brand image and awareness in local communities.

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