Starbucks will shut down all 7,100 Stores

Starbucks is closing the doors at its 7,100 stores across America for a brief barista re-education.

CEO Howard Schultz announced the 3-hour closure starting at 5:30 p.m. local time Tuesday to energize 135,000 employees.
He wants baristas to share their passion for making espresso, or as he says, “to pull the perfect shot, steam milk to order and customize their favorite beverage.”

Schultz says it’s part of his refocusing on the coffee customer experience.

Since the chairman returned as CEO in January he has been making changes to revive Starbucks’ growth.

This is a bold move, but I think it’s a needed one. More retailers should look at providing refresher training. The only way to survive and prosper for the long haul is to stay Fresh.

Now you can swipe out your 401K

A new debit card from Reserve Solutions Inc. allows consumers to use ATMs to pull out funds from their 401(k) plans, the Washington Times reports. Financial planners are sharply critical of the ReservePlus card, which already has 10,000 cardholders.

ReservePlus cardholders can withdraw loans from their employer-sponsored 401(k) retirement funds, which normally advise people from taking out money before reaching 59½ years old because of early withdrawal taxes and fees. Pulling out those funds early and failing to replace the money quickly could result in account holders losing their retirement money.

I think this is just another sign of the devastating impact that the economic slow down and the sub prime mortgage mess has had on hard working Americans.

Does this new easy method make it more likely that people will have no retirement when it’s time to retire?

Yes or NO

www.themichaeldbrown.com

WOW, Starbucks woke up and smelled the Coffee

In an ever-increasing competitive retail world, you have to offer the customer a TOTAL experience (where most of the experience is FREE) if you want to remain competitive. Many retailers (Panera Bread and Caribou Coffee been two fierce Starbucks competitors) have offered free Wi-Fi for a while. Starbucks in the meantime was still clinging to the TMobile deal where you had to sign up for an account, pay $6 an hour. It had basically just become a hassle for folks who just wanted to grab a cup of coffee and check their email for a few minutes.

Starbucks on Monday announced it was dropping T-Mobile’s $6-an-hour Wi-Fi service for AT&T, which will provide coffee- house customers with two free hours of Internet access a day. With about 7,000 Starbucks locations in the United States, that’s a major boon for AT&T. Now the question is, how long will hotels, airports and other venues be able to continue charging sky-high fees for a service that many people see as essential as running water and electricity. I was at a hotel recently that charged $19.95 a day; I don’t think I will be going back.

Quick question for you? Is free Wi-Fi part of your decision process when determining where to spend your money?

www.FreshCustomerService.com