Starbucks: A Name Changer?

Approximately 4 weeks ago, Starbucks introduced what some saw as a ridiculous marketing idea. The purchaser’s name would now be asked and appear on their beverage of choice.

The rationale behind this is clear. It makes the Starbuck’s experience more personal and by approaching the more emotional side of people this should make the experience more enjoyable. Everyone wins…

However it allows Starbucks to have one of your most valuable possessions, your name.

Yes, they are not recording it on a huge database, merely on a cup of coffee but if you are willing to give your name up to a global powerhouse, to me, that seems like a pretty big deal.

This idea has been in place in America for a number of years where the staff are friendly and greeters are common-place in all high-street retailers, from coffee to clothes. There may be a few websites setup that show what happens when names have been misspelt on takeaway drinks but I imagine for the most part it has been rather successful.

Red Bull Spreads its Wings

Red Bull are one of the best brands in the world. I am aware that is a very bold statement in which to start a blog post but please allow me to continue. I would argue that they, for a long time now haven’t been a drinks brand. They are a lifestyle.

Red Bull have fingers in an extraordinary amount of high-energy pies. Any sport that has an element of extremeness tends to have an element of Red Bull.

They have their own football team, their own Ice Hockey Team, two Formula One teams, A Nascar team, they also sponsor a host of sportsmen and sportswomen from snowboarders to American Football players, from downhill mountain bikers to all-round all-sporting legend Travis Pastrana.

They are a company that children and adults alike want to be part of. Whether that is just sticking a Red-Bull sticker on their skiing helmet or painting their bmx in Red Bull’s livery of silver and blue.

This shows how tremendously aspirational they are and why they are so much more than just a high-caffeine drinks company.