STARBUCKS NICK

Ok, so this is a little late as the new Starbucks reward scheme was launched on 5th Jan here in the UK, but I said I would post a little something, so here it is.

It’s fairly similar to the old system in that you will still receive you’re free espresso shots, whip, soy, syrups etc when you use you’re card.  But now, customers cards are split into two categories: Green & Gold. Here is a little explanation of both:-

GREEN LEVEL

Free Tall drink every 15 Stars

Starbucks want to give you more of what you love. Use your Card 15 times and the next one’s on them.

News and offers

They’ll make sure you’re among the first to hear about any new products or special offers.

GOLD LEVEL

Collect 50 Stars within a year, and you’re Gold. Once you go Gold, keep your Gold benefits for another year by earning 50 Stars within the following year.

At the Gold level, you get the Green level reward of a free tall beverage every 15 visits and special updates, plus:

Free extra shot(s)

Get an even bigger boost. Have an extra shot – or more than one – for free.

Free select syrups

Put a little extra flavour in your drink. Add select syrups for free.
 

Use soy milk instead

If dairy isn’t for you, then swap in soy milk at no extra charge.

Free whipped cream

Top any drink with a free fluffy cloud of sweetened whipped cream.

If your rewards aren’t available right away, they’ll be ready soon. It can take up to 24 hours to complete a Card registration.

To keep your Gold benefits, earn 50 stars within 12 months of entering the Gold level. Otherwise you’ll be re-set to the Green level. 

All UK and Ireland members that are currently part of the Starbucks Card Rewards program (pre 4^th January) will be migrated into the new My Starbucks Rewards program at Gold level with 0 stars.(So are Starbucks Partners who have a registered card or Partner Card) To keep your Gold benefits collect 50 Stars within 12 months of MSR launch day (5^th January 2012). Otherwise you’ll be re-set to the Green level on the launch anniversary.

I do love this new approach to the UK Starbucks card as it is following how the US and Canada store use theirs. I do think however that customers should be issued the relevant coloured Starbucks card (In the US, if you’re a gold card member, you get a personalised gold card with your name on it so the partner serving you can welcome you properly) 

I also like the fact that it doesn’t just reward customers who only drink drip. It no longer gives them 50p of each drip purchase, but now gives everyone a free tall drink of their choice at 15 stars.

As I have said, anyone who is reading this will obviously be a fan of Starbucks and know this information already. But, if you already knew, or just found out, please feel free to post a comment.

Thanks for now.

Nick 

This is my first blog post here, and I’m hoping it’s the first of many.

So, the reason for this whole blog is to talk about my new job as a Starbucks barista. This may not sound very interesting to you at the moment, but I hope it soon will. I have loved Starbucks (as a customer) for years now, and I basically live on coffee, so I think its kind of a perfect fit.

A little over a month ago, I decided to leave my job working for a mobile phone company, for various reasons. This was not a very wise choice so close to Christmas. All that was about were bad seasonal temp jobs. Plus, I did not want to go and sign on and receive government benefits (never have, never will).

Whilst trying to decide what course of action to take, I decided to stop by my local Starbucks (Shrewsbury Market Square, incase you were interested) and ponder over a Pike Place. I had been a regular at the store for a couple of years since it had opened, and knew pretty much all of the partners by their first names (all staff are called partners because as soon as they start working for the company, they own shares in it) and they usually had my coffee waiting for me by the time I got to the counter. I decided to ask the manager if there were any vacancies at the store, and she told me there were, but as she was going on holiday in a few days, she wanted to get interviews done over the next couple of days. So I decided to fill out an application then and there.  I was given an interview a couple of days later with the manager and, luckily for me, I got the job.

So I’ve been at Starbucks for just over a month now, and I’ve got to say, after a little apprehension about taking the job in the first place, it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I absolutely love my job and the people I work with. I feel like I’ve fitted into a close knit family. I really look forward to going into work each day, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever said about a job before.

As it stands right now, I only work 25-30 hours a week (only supervisors and managers work over 35 hours, and most baristas work 16-20hrs in my store so I’ve not got a bad deal really).

I think this is the first time in my life that I have found a job that I genuinely want to work my way up in. My next goal is to become a supervisor, which will hopefully happen next year, then assistant manager and then one day become a store manager. More than anything I would love to go work in our head office in London, or even better, the USA, but that’s a long way off yet.

Anyway, I’ve babbled on for long enough, with no real point, and its 1.40am so I shall leave it there for tonight.

I guess what I’m trying to say is if you are reading this blog, and you’re thinking about working for Starbucks. just DO IT!! It is an amazing company and if coffee is a passion of yours, you should love going to work every day.

That’s all for tonight.

Later!