http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entre...ber/203704.html

I think its a good idea (for starbucks), re-branding the company image. Small independent coffee shops are obviously on the right track if Starbucks is using them as a business model. If this catches on as a 2nd franchise model it will be interesting to see how the independent shops and small chains fight back.

 

one of the main advantages of a franchise / chain is that everyone knows it's going to be the same from one location to the next... this eliminates that

another advantage is that mass producing menus, decor, etc saves tons of money. since they're re branding the individual stores, they lose that too.

i see why they're doing it, i just don't see how it's going to be good for the bottom line.

 

i don't like going to mom and pop coffee shops because its different from one place to the next. thats why i go starbucks, the same everywhere

 

I will say this, starbucks is fairly involved when it comes to the local community.