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Starbucks Cup Campaign Sends ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Message (VIDEO)

Howard Schultz — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 11:30:12 +0000

The so-called “fiscal cliff” is nearing, and President Obama is due back in Washington early Thursday from his Christmas break for a last-ditch effort to negotiate a deal with Congress to avert or at least postpone the “fiscal cliff.” The “fiscal cliff” refers to a slew of tax increases and government spending cuts set to begin next week if lawmakers don’t reach a legislative solution to avoid falling off the “cliff.”

Meanwhile, Starbucks, a company that takes advocacy seriously on issues it cares most about, is using cups in the Washington, D.C., area to send “fiscal cliff” messages to lawmakers. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is urging workers in D.C.-area Starbucks to write “come together” on customers’ cups on Thursday and Friday to send a message to sharply divided politicians and serve as a rallying cry for the public leading up to the Jan. 1 deadline.

“We’re paying attention, we’re greatly disappointed in what’s going on and we deserve better,” Schultz told Reuters in an interview.

When it comes to being involved in the community and issues that matter, Starbucks has always made both a priority. Watch Schultz talk to genConnect about social responsibility, plus what he orders at Starbucks:

WATCH: American Ideas Are Being ‘Bled Out of the Country’

“From Day One, we’ve always believed our business model was a little bit different,” explained Schultz. “That was to create a balance between making a profit and shareholder value but, most specifically, a social conscience and a level of benevolence.”

Schultz has joined a growing list of high-powered business leaders, politicians and financial experts in endorsing the Campaign to Fix the Debt, a group putting pressure on lawmakers to get the country’s financial affairs in order.

Along with Obama, lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate are also due to return to work Thursday to deal with the fiscal cliff. There’s no specific bills on the table that are more promising than another to deal with the fiscal cliff, which some worry could send the economy back into a recession if not dealt with effectively.

And Americans aren’t too optimistic Congress can reach a deal to avoid going over the fiscal cliff, either. According to a Gallup Poll released Wednesday, only 50 percent of Americans think it’s likely a deal will be struck, while 48 percent think it’s unlikely.

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Big Starbucks Expansion Plans, Focus Still on Community (VIDEO)

Howard Schultz — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 09:45:10 +0000

Starbucks plans to open more than 3,000 new shops in the Americas in the next five years as it expands the reach of not only its delicious coffees, but broadens its offerings of tea and juice. Starbucks recently acquired juice seller Evolution Fresh and Bay Bread LLC’s La Boulange Bakery for $30 million and $100 million, respectively, and is purchasing tea store chain Teavana Holdings for $620 million. The coffee chain plans to roll out La Boulange pastries and other food to 2,500 of its company-operated U.S. shops by the end of next year, while Evolution fresh juices should be available in more than 5,000 U.S. stores by the end of 2013.

genConnect recently spoke to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz about his company’s mission and how giving back is a vital part of his business plan. Watch our interview with Schultz below:

“The only way you can create value through your shareholders is if you create value through your people,” Schtulz says.

Schultz stressed that if companies focus on the community, they can help their bottom line, as well.

“It’s even more important today because so many communities across America are in need,” he said, noting that 42 out of 50 states are currently experiencing budget deficits and cuts to social services. “Companies and business leaders must recognize, we can’t wait for Washington. We’ve got to do more. We’ve got to do our part.”

In other Starbucks news, if you’re looking for a great gift for the Starbucks coffee lover in your life and money is no object, you can now purchase the $450 Starbucks gift card. The super premium Starbucks Metal Card is actually made of steel. Starbucks will make only 5,000 of them, and they will only be sold via the luxury goods website, Gilt.com. The card comes with gold-level Starbucks card membership benefits. Stocking stuffer, anyone?

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Starbucks’ Conscience Brews Better Business (VIDEO)

Howard Schultz — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 09:00:56 +0000

When it comes to giving back to the community and the environment, Starbucks has always made it a priority.

“From Day One, we’ve always believed our business model was a little bit different,” explained Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. “That was to create a balance between making a profit and shareholder value but ,most specifically, a social conscience and a level of benevolence.” Watch Howard Schultz talk about social responsibility, plus what he orders at Starbucks:

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz (left) with genConnect’s Baruch Shemtov (right) at the Aspen Ideas Festival

WATCH: Big Businesses Can Make a Difference

From Starbucks’ inception, social responsibility manifested itself in everything from their global Ethos Water campaign to offering health care and stock options for all employees.

So was it challenging to keep that promise as the company grew? Yes, he said, but “the only way you can create value through your shareholders is if you create value through your people.”

Schultz stressed that if companies focus on the community, they can help their bottom line as well.

WATCH: Use ‘Social Media for Social Good’

genConnect is credentialed press at the 2012 Aspen Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colo., where we are interviewing the premier speakers and attendees at the conference. For more of our video interviews and articles from the Ideas Festival, click here.

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