If you're in a business-related academic program, work in the business field, or just have a love or respect of the businessworld, then you, like I, probably enjoy watching the ups and downs of corporations. You get a thrill as you see a business rise from nothing to be a real player... feel a sense of vindication as a company's head honcho gets busted for illegal dealings... tingle with excitement as a company ventures forth into a new business arena.
This last point is something that has been an item of interest for me for some time. Especially since I'm very firmly rooted in the mass media world, both personally and professionally.
I find it interesting to see how a business likes to spread its wings and dip its toes in another pool. Sometimes they thrive, sometimes they fail miserably.
Companies like Wal-Mart and Target have thrived by incorporating grocery stores in their mega-merchandise outlets.
Cable companies like Comcast have found a new source of income by offering internet service.
Starbucks Coffee is wading into the Hollywood foray by producing and distributing movies.
WOAH! Stop the bus! Come again?
Yeah, I read this one and thought the same thing. Starbucks Coffee, the Seattle-based caffeine giant has decided to try their hand at promoting movies. They seem to think it's the next logical step after starting to sell CDs in their stores.
How is movie promotion the next logical step?
Starbucks selling CDs makes sense. After all, they play music in their cafes to entertain you as you sit and sip. You can sit there and listen and think, "Hey! I like that. How do I get my hands on it?" and then just buy it right there on the spot.
Ideally, you have enough brains to do some comparison shopping first as Starbucks' prices are not always the best.
Do they play movies in their cafes? No.
When you're wondering what movie to see, does your local barista strike you as the ideal film critic? No (although I am an amateur film critic and I was once a Starbucks barista; but I never really associated the two).
Just because music and movies are both forms of personal entertainment does not mean that having ties to one begets the other.
I'm really going to enjoy watching this one unfold. Of course, the level of investment by Starbucks is minimal enough that, if it does fail, it won't really hurt them too terribly.
Why can't you invest the money in making your coffee cost less?
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Episodes Elapsed: 46 (now in season 2) |
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