Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Wednesday Waffler: Starbucks ads




I don’t drink coffee, so the Starbucks brand is of little interest to me. Which means I’m also indifferent to most of their design work. I do, however, like the way this campaign looks.

But I also have issues with the copy writing here. I get it. They made some missteps, and they're trying to own up to it. But I don’t see how acknowledging you might get a bad cup of coffee, and might not get a comfortable seat helps their cause. Why not simply say, “You’ll get to enjoy a good cup of coffee while sitting in a comfy seat,” and then deliver on that claim?

Pr*tty or Sh*tty?

5 comments:

  1. I vote Pretty Annoying. I do drink coffee, and I drink Starbucks coffee, but these ads feel condescending and elitist to me.

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  2. I agree with Adrienne. I get it, but it just pisses me off. Yes, I go to Starbucks and yes, it is annoying when all the good, comfy arm chairs and sofas are occupied and I am forced to sit at the little table on the hard wooden chair that is right next to the front door so that I get a blast of arctic winter chill every time someone walks in the door. Thanks Starbucks... thanks for reminding me.

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  3. I fancy the irreverent tone of this. Good coffee is a matter of personal preference, in my opinion. I love great coffee, someone else might like their's diffently. The opposite of "perfect coffee" isn't "bad coffee", bad coffee is what you get at the convienence store. I'd prefer to buy from a local coffee house, but I like how SB presents themselves here. While it does say "it's not just a cup of coffee", it actually is. I think if it pisses you off, you are taking life too seriously.

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  4. Seriously? I was kidding...

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  5. I thought the comfy chair ad was cute. I think it's good that the execs, ad people and other usually "out-of-touch" corporate mucky-mucks know (or got a focus group to tell them) that sometimes you can't get a comfy chair at Starbucks because it's so busy, or you have to figure out what time is best to go so you CAN get a comfy chair. Like Abby says, it's not to be taken seriously, but I liked the ad.

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