Starbucks has done it again. They have taken an idea proposed to them via their community website, My Starbucks Idea, and brought it to life.
Now, anyone wanting to purchase a Starbucks card can do so from their home or office; or even from a Starbucks, but they don’t have to wait in line to do it. Starbucks’ Facebook page now has a “Starbucks Card” tab. This is an application that allows the companies Facebook friends to pick a friend, pick a card, pick an amount and pay for a gift card all while on Facebook. Buyers can either create a new card for someone, or reload their old cards, then brag about what they have done in a status update.
This was an extremely clever idea and it’s a great thing that Starbucks implemented this suggestion. The fact that Starbucks actually takes the time to read the hundreds of thousands of postings the website receives speaks volumes about the company. Putting someone’s idea into action should make people realize that Starbucks is a company that truly does care about the people that come in, whether it be daily or just once a year. The idea was proposed in March of 2008 and had racked up 42,000 votes. The idea to “give a gift” through Facebook is the eighth most popular idea of all time.
Another reason this is a good idea is because someone could give their friend a Starbucks card. This friend may not be a regular at Starbucks, but will go more frequently now that they have been given free money to use on something they probably drink at home daily anyway. This could bring in more non-Starbuck’s drinkers and convert them to become a regular.
More information can be found at Starbucks’ Facebook page, the companies website or:
I agree that this idea of purchasing and reloading Starbucks card via social media was innovative and creative. When I think of a company that really listens to feedback from consumers and implements their ideas, Starbucks is the first thing that comes to mind. Using social media in this original way puts Starbucks at the forefront of the competition.
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