Opinion is split on whether the “stealth Starbucks” (aka 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea) is a good thing or not. But we came across some interesting thinking about the store by Snarkmarket, and began to wonder about extending the idea.
In effect, Starbucks has stripped its new store of external Starbucks brand cues, and injected a degree of uniqueness to create a different, seemingly homegrown feel. But inside the beast still beats the Starbucks heart–the same business thinking and economies of scale power this store as any other Starbucks. Snarkmarket, posting on the topic, noted that in effect Starbucks was taking the idea of a local coffee shop and inserting its own API. In other words, it’s an echo of the coding hooks and commands that enable programers to write an iPhone app for Facebook, or a desktop app for Twitter: Each app is its own thing, but uses keys to the bigger service to make it work. Read more.
