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Starbucks is whipping up its 1st pickup-only store — that's a big deal

Tuesday, September 10, 2019 by Snacks

No talky until coffee... Starbucks is making it possible — CEO Kevin Johnson sat down with Bloomberg to reveal a pick-up only store is in the works for NYC this fall. Picture NASCAR pit stop meets barista nightmare — Starbucks is targeting "people on the go" (aka all humans in Manhattan) because even pre-orders face lines lately. Other key deets:

  • The where: If NYC goes well, Starbucks will export the concept to LA, BOS, CHI, SEA, and SF.
  • The what: PSL, coconut milk lattes, frapp-a-anything — you name it, pickup-only Starbucks serves it.
  • The $$$: Pickup-only could become Starbucks' #ProfitPuppy — Coffee sales will bring in the same revenues, but at lower costs (less real estate & employees).

If the Starbucks mobile app had feelings... this would be its dream. The pick-up concept blends deliciously with the Starbucks app's growth — usage has surged to hit 2 shocking numbers:

  • 17.2M = that's how many Americans use the app
  • 40% = that's how much of Starbucks' sales came from app orders (QR-code for the win)
THE TAKEAWAY

American companies are now inspired by Chinese ones... This wouldn't be Starbucks' 1st pickup location — it launched the same concept in China last summer as "Starbucks Now." It made that move because local Chinese rival Luckin Coffee pioneered the concept across the Great Wall, jumping to 3K locations in under 2 years (Starbucks is barely higher at 4K China stores). It's an early example of American retail copying Chinese competition.

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