An ex-Starbucks employee talks about the Fourbucks Foto Follies on his blog. I found this bit interesting: the current Starbucks game-plan is to make its stores into the place where people congregate with friends for social activities, which is at strong odds with not allowing photos on the premises.
In 1996 Starbucks started opening concept stores with reduced merchandise walls and bean counters replacing them with overstuffed couches and tables with chess boards. This was a move to increase their afternoon sales when business tended to be nonexistent. They called this strategy, "The Third Place", that everyone has three places that the choose to spend their time, at home, at work and somewhere personal and relaxing. Starbucks continues today to vie for this third place and are pretty successful at it when you look around at your local Starbucks. What was a concept a few years ago is now their default modus operandi.
This is where the flaw of the photography policy lies. Starbucks is not the Gap, nor are they a McDonalds. Starbucks is now a place to spend your lunch hour or congregate with friends. Starbucks no longer has any competitors which can threaten them at the national level. They are the largest buyer of whole bean coffee and virtually control the coffee industry. Starbucks has nothing to fear.
(Thanks, Brian!)
