ROUND-UP: 5 Reasons Starbucks isn't just about the coffee: iTunes, My Rewards and free Wi-Fi

starbucks-cup.jpgWhether you prefer independent coffee shops and find mocha-frappa-wotsits too commercialised, or you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you can’t deny that the popular chain makes pretty amazing drinks around Christmas time, with syrups, too much cream and how could we forget the red cups.

Well you may notice when you venture in for your festive coffee in the next month or so that the chain has been working on even more ways to entice people to buy its coffee and promote its popular brand.

We’re not saying the coffee is the best in town, but the things Starbucks is doing online and the initiatives it’s been adding are pretty cool. So, we’ve decided to write a quick round-up of new things going on in your local green coffee haven.

1. Free iTunes book and music download

As part of a new partnership with Apple, Starbucks will be offering its customers a “Pick of the Week” iTunes music or book download to every person who buys a drink on a Monday.

More than 700 Starbucks stores across the UK will offer download code cards which are then redeemable through iTunes. To try the “Pick of the Week” out for yourself, go to your local Starbucks, log-in via the free Wi-Fi and then go to the Starbucks Digital Network and find the Entertainment section.

2. Free WiFi for all customers

It always used to be pretty easy to get online when you visited your local Starbucks, but now it’s more simple than ever.

Just turn on your laptop or mobile device, go to the www.btopenzone.com website and then click “connect”. See, we told you it was easy peasy.

3. My Starbucks Rewards to launch in the UK

My Starbucks Rewards currently only operates in the US and Canada and it’s like a loyalty scheme which rewards customers the more they visit.

The scheme allows customers to work from a welcome level member up to a gold level member, giving them free drinks and special offers along the way.

The scheme hasn’t come to the UK quite yet, but according to reports it’s on its way soon…

4. My Starbucks Idea

Many brands ask for feedback from customers but then fail to deliver on promises to actually change anything. However, Starbucks runs the My Starbucks Idea part of its website which allows people to make suggestions about improving services, products and the overall brand.

You can browse recent ideas, see which ones are being put into action (which suggests the brand does listen to what we’re saying) and even submit your own.

This is also a clever strategy from Starbucks as a way of building a community and making customers feel like they really matter.

5. Starbucks application

If you’re in need of a caffeine hit and have no idea where to turn, then the Starbucks app will point you in the right direction.

You can also build a drink based on what kind of thing you fancy too, which is good if you’re a little indecisive.

The app can be a little buggy, so you may need to persevere with it for a little…

Available from iTunes for Free.

Becca Caddy

One thought on “ROUND-UP: 5 Reasons Starbucks isn't just about the coffee: iTunes, My Rewards and free Wi-Fi”

  • You forgot a couple other points…

    6. Hustle green beans for well below fair value

    This leaves the farmer with that feeling you get after a five year visit to prison.

    7. Burning beans is their business…

    Kingsford Charcoal company is currently in a legal battle with Starbucks. They claim Starbucks stole their recipe.

    8. Creating new words
    Because they sound sexier than the real words. Macchiato means to mark espresso with milk, not a vanilla latte with caramel. Blonde roast is BS, it’s called light roast. I bet it is under roasted and sour.

    9. Call their button pushers baristas
    It takes talent, time, and practice to become a barista. It takes a monkey to push a button. They are drink pourers or servers, not baristas.

    Thanks!

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