Comments on: Just A Little Better… http://www.gyro.com/blog/just-a-little-better/ The world's largest independent business to business marketing agency Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:03:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Rob http://www.gyro.com/blog/just-a-little-better/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Rob Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:07:48 +0000 http://www.gyrohsr.com/blog/?p=210#comment-32 Great post. I was nodding until you said the coffee was a little better. Granted, you're in the UK, where coffee is not as much a part of the culture as here in the States. But my opinion--and from what I can tell the consensus among coffee drinkers--is that Starbucks coffee is bitter and overpriced. Even compared to other chains, it's considered rather lousy. However, this only strengthens the point you're making above. They've managed to make everything else "a little better," and the sum of the parts is something strong enough to overpower the negative effect of their mediocre core product. Not that I'd ever recommend ignoring product quality, but if the experience you create for customers (dare we call it a "brand"?) is well liked, you've given your products some critical air support. For one taste test, see here: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/beverages/coffee-tea/coffee-taste-test-3-07/overview/0307_coffee_ov_1.htm Great post. I was nodding until you said the coffee was a little better. Granted, you’re in the UK, where coffee is not as much a part of the culture as here in the States. But my opinion–and from what I can tell the consensus among coffee drinkers–is that Starbucks coffee is bitter and overpriced. Even compared to other chains, it’s considered rather lousy.

However, this only strengthens the point you’re making above. They’ve managed to make everything else “a little better,” and the sum of the parts is something strong enough to overpower the negative effect of their mediocre core product. Not that I’d ever recommend ignoring product quality, but if the experience you create for customers (dare we call it a “brand”?) is well liked, you’ve given your products some critical air support.

For one taste test, see here: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/food/beverages/coffee-tea/coffee-taste-test-3-07/overview/0307_coffee_ov_1.htm

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