Howard Schultz - I'll Buy The First Cup

A little over two years ago I approached Starbucks with an idea. It was an idea that if executed correctly could enhance the customer experience, build even stronger community and yes even help build their bottom line. It was a little idea I admit but with a real spark of potential. So I did what you are supposed to do when you have a spark...I tried to coax a fire to start.

I tried and tried to get the attention of Howard Schultz but with no luck. I received a not so nice response from their Director of Marketing who somehow failed to realize that I was a Starbucks fan and more importantly a customer first and an entrepreneur second. I was not deterred and just kept trying. Finally in the fall of of 2006 progress - a response from Jim Donald the CEO of Starbucks himself (or his assistant - hard to tell). It was a response requesting that I send some information to him and he promised to review it.

I excitedly kitted up my presentation and sent it on to Mr. Donald and waited. And waited. And waited some more. I followed up. No response. I followed up again. No response. Getting desperate, I cut a creative Podcast to both Howard Schultz and Jim Donald and sent little cds up to their offices. Finally a response - from the woman I had been in contact before. She was even less enthusiastic and more direct this time around. Buzz off (no caffeine implied humor here) little Ripple Man - buzz off!

Discouraged and smarting from the frustrating circus of trying to persuade my hero Howard Schultz to allow me to buy him a cup of coffee and discuss an idea, I did what I tell my clients never to do (shhh don't tell them okay), I gave up. I put the ginormous file I had created away and haven't looked at it since.

Sure my Ripple friends that knew about the idea still peppered me with articles about Starbucks this and Starbucks that. I still got lots and lots of people telling me how badly Starbucks needed my Ripple idea. I myself go to countless Starbucks locations along my journey and grow even more discouraged at the level of disconnectiveness (my word - my spelling) their store employees are from the mission Howard Schultz onces so proudly proclaimed.

Yesterday a number of stories broke about Starbucks actually trimming back their expansion plans and even laying off 12,000 workers and closing up to 600 stores. Jim Donald left the company this past January and Howard Schultz assumed the reins of CEO yet again. The emails started flying yesterday - "Steve they need you." "Steve, maybe now's the time to hit them again." "Steve they need the idea now more than ever!" You gotta love people who support you. I know I sure do!

I admit I thought about pulling out the file last night and taking a stroll down memory lane. All the hours of research and the brainstorming sessions that went into a simple little idea that I believe still could make a huge impact on so many levels. But am I glutten for another round of punishment? That's the real question. This morning as I sip my dark roast I contemplate whether it would be worth another go at the behemouth task of getting Mr. Schultz's attention.

So Mr. Schultz in the off chance you are listening, the offer still stands.....I'll buy the first cup.