Starbucks overkill in Blanchardstown S.C ??

ongarite

I notice another Starbucks has opened in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre beside Mamma & Pappa, DID.
Are Starbucks trying to set a world record for the most stores in the least sq?
I think there are now 5 stores in the shopping centre complex:
Leisureplex, beside Credit Union, UCI, Borders, beside Mammas & Pappas.

Is the coffee that good or a people just sheep to the hype?



*this poster doesn't like coffee and doesn't plan on starting**

projectmayhem

While I am a huge fan of starbucks coffee and the general vibe of their cafe's... it is an unreal amount of stores, but they must each be making enough revenue to justify their existence.

I've never seen one of them jammers though, which is strange.

Nevyn

Seems they want one in each section of the shopping centre.

ChewChew

the one in the centre is manky dirty. I dont know what it is with them all but their 'hot' drinks are NEVER hot :mad:. . . I now go to insomnia!!!

Nevyn

Which one ?

Gaspode

I'm not a fan of starbucks (or any coffee shop really), but its easy to see why they're doing this. The profit margins in coffee shops in Ireland are astronomical, so much so that there are probably more coffe shops around than pubs now!! Everyone is trying to cash in on the willingness of Irish people to part with their hard earned cash for coffee and confectionery that look fantastic but taste bleh.
If the recession were allegedly in really is a recession, most of these coffee shops will be gone in a years time.

Rant over.

Nevyn

I don't mind there being more coffee shops then pubs but why to they all close so early.
Why can't I go and sit for an hour and have coffee at 10:30pm ?
Why don't they encourage people to have meetings and use the place for socail gatherings like they do in other countries.

tibor

projectmayhem wrote: »

While I am a huge fan of starbucks coffee and the general vibe of their cafe's... it is an unreal amount of stores, but they must each be making enough revenue to justify their existence.

I've never seen one of them jammers though, which is strange.

Not strange in the slightest. It's a common Starbucks business practice they call clustering.

No Logo by Naomi Klein wrote:

Starbucks' policy is to drop "clusters" of outlets in urban areas already dotted with cafes and espresso bars. This strategy relies just as heavily on an economy of scale as Wal-Mart's does and the effect on competition is much the same. Since Starbucks is explicit about its desire to enter markets only where it can "become the leading retailer and brand of coffee," the company has concentrated its store-a-day growth in relatively few areas. Instead of opening a few stores in every city in the world, or even in North America, Starbucks waits until it can blitz an entire area and spread, to quote Globe and Mail columnist John Barber, "like head lice through a kindergarten." It's a highly aggressive strategy, and it involves something the company calls "cannibalization."

The idea is to saturate an area with stores until the coffee competition is so fierce that sales drop even in individual Starbucks outlets.

In 1993, for instance, when Starbucks had just 275 outlets concentrated in a few U.S. states, per-store sales increased by 19 percent from the previous year. By 1994, store sales growth was only 9 percent, in 1996 it dipped to 7 percent, and in 1997 Starbucks saw only a 5 percent sales growth; in new stores, it was as low as 3 percent. (See Table 6.3, Appendix, page 473).

Understandably, the closer the outlets get to each other, the more they begin to poach or "cannibalize" each other's clientele—even in hyper-caffeinated cities like Seattle and Vancouver people can only suck back so many lattes before they float into the Pacific.

Starbucks' 1995 annual report explains: "As part of its expansion strategy of clustering store in existing markets, Starbucks has experienced a certain level of cannibalization of existing stores by new stores as the store concentration has increased, but management believes such cannibalization has been justified by the incremental sales and return on new store investment." What that means is that while sale were slowing at individual stores, the total sales of all the chain's stores combined continued to rise—doubling, in fact, between 1995 and 1997. Put another way, Starbucks the company was expanding its market while its individual outlets were losing market share, largely to other Starbucks outlets (see Table 6.4, Appendix, page 473).

It also helped Starbucks, no doubt, that its cannibalization strategy preys not only on other Starbucks outlets but equally on its real competitors, independently run coffee shops and restaurants. And, unlike Starbucks, these lone businesses can only profit from one store at a time. The bottom line is that clustering, like big-boxing, is a competitive retail strategy that is only an option for a large chain that can afford to take a beating on individual store in order to reap a larger, long-term branding goal. It also explains why critics usually claim that companies like Starbucks' are preying on small businesses, while the chains themselves deny it, admitting only that they are expanding and creating new markets for their products. Both are true, but the chains' aggressive strategy of market expansion has the added bonus of simultaneously taking out competitors.

Jip

Had the same discussion with my wife a few weeks ago, it's a bit nuts considering there's relatively few around the rest of the city.
Although I'm not a coffee drinker myself I do tend to drop in for a giant cup of their hot chocolate with caramel and a big pile of cream on top !

Nevyn

And scarily it looks like Walmart is buying into Dunnes Stores.

Jip

That's just rumour and conjecture at this point. Depend on who you speak to it's Asda, Walmart directly, Sainsburys etc etc etc.

ChewChew

Thaedydal wrote: »

Which one ?

The new insomnia in erris square. its really really nice!!

Zaph

Where's Erris Square?

I noticed when I was in Madrid last year that there were an unfeasibly large number of Starbucks in a relatively small area of the city. If it can work in a city like Madrid where you'd expect people to be a bit fussy about getting decent coffee, it's a sure fire winner here where people just seem to love brands, especially American ones. They've already opened two branches in the IFSC, which isn't that big an area to begin with. I don't drink coffee, so it really doesn't bother me too much tbh, other than a general dismay at how Ireland is becoming more and more like everywhere else in the developed world.

ChewChew

sorry Zaph. . should have said. . its the new block of houses on the left on the snugborough rd past the aquatic centre and if you come up waterville road its that new housing block up there.

Nevyn

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Erris+Square+dublin+15+ireland&sll=38.889914,-77.009&sspn=0.00577,0.0078&ie=UTF8&ll=53.393221,-6.37207&spn=0.008842,0.0156&t=h&z=16

Zaph

Ah right, never really have any need to go up that way myself.

ChewChew

it's right beside work so its super handy. no need to go to westend anymore

Gaspode

Saw this on TV last night, bang on cue!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbPIqZT6R1I

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=mbPIqZT6R1I

Nevyn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbPIqZT6R1I

[noparse]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbPIqZT6R1I

[/noparse]

Gaspode

Cheers mod & almost mod for fixing that, I was just coming back from FAQ to fix it mesself!!

mental07

Thaedydal wrote: »

I don't mind there being more coffee shops then pubs but why to they all close so early.
Why can't I go and sit for an hour and have coffee at 10:30pm ?
Why don't they encourage people to have meetings and use the place for socail gatherings like they do in other countries.

Apparently it's in the constitution that all social gatherings must revolve around alcohol

quank

Yeah, it's pretty unreal the amount of them. Now we can finally appreciate that episode of the Simpsons where all the shops in a mall are turning into Starbucks. I think all these new stores are creating new coffee-drinkers because I would've never seen the potential market before. People love being consumers.

mental07

quank wrote: »

Yeah, it's pretty unreal the amount of them. Now we can finally appreciate that episode of the Simpsons where all the shops in a mall are turning into Starbucks.

Ha ha, you're right! The first time I saw that episode I didn't even know what Starbucks was! Think that episode dates from circa 1995...

Keith186

Thaedydal wrote: »

I don't mind there being more coffee shops then pubs but why to they all close so early.
Why can't I go and sit for an hour and have coffee at 10:30pm ?
Why don't they encourage people to have meetings and use the place for socail gatherings like they do in other countries.

You don't mind more cofee shops than pubs??? Are you fit to be a moderator of Beer, Guts and Receeding Hairlines anymore?

Joking aside the late opening social thing for meetings could be good in certain areas. Would be a good idea for somebody thinking of starting up to mailshot local clubs and give them some reward like 20% off prices for meetings.

Starbucks is very expensive and not really worth it I think. I got a Mocha or some shoite with cream anyway in Dawson St and the bitch making it was spraying cream on the other guy there and pressing it into him before she put it in my coffee. Just left and would never go back to a dump with staff like that. Who knows what I could have caught off them? I could have ended up trying to speak with an American accent like all the staff there!!

I too would also like to say I'm dissapointed with the Americanisation of Ireland to this extent.

colly10

Keith186 wrote: »

I too would also like to say I'm dissapointed with the Americanisation of Ireland to this extent.

+1 - Id say Starbucks coffee is the worst of any of the coffee chains with the exception of the coffee in O'Brien's and possibly Cafe Sol yet it somehow manages to do the best business of any of them. Im convinced that half of their customers aren't really coffee drinkers (or at least weren't until Starbucks opening in their area)

Sea Devils

Though it eventually will happen I hope to hell Starbucks never comes to Galway

Gaspode

Sea Devils wrote: »

Though it eventually will happen I hope to hell Starbucks never comes to Galway

Pffft,not likely! Even Cromwell wouldn't go there!

Nevyn

Keith186 wrote: »

You don't mind more cofee shops than pubs??? Are you fit to be a moderator of Beer, Guts and Receeding Hairlines anymore?

More cafes and coffee shop that would also sell beer like what they have in holland, belguim, germany.

That way the bothers could have a doughnuts when ever they wanted as well as beer :P

I was glad to see the bald barrista is branching out, now that is a coffee premises I would love to see in blanch.

Sea Devils

deswalsh wrote: »

Pffft,not likely! Even Cromwell wouldn't go there!

LOL there's more to Galway then you think:p

Turbulent Bill

Keith186 wrote: »

Joking aside the late opening social thing for meetings could be good in certain areas. Would be a good idea for somebody thinking of starting up to mailshot local clubs and give them some reward like 20% off prices for meetings.

One of the first Starbucks in Ireland (on College Green) used to open late, not sure if it still does. It used to be a great place if you were waiting for someone at night, having a coffee after a film etc., and didn't fancy going to a pub (basically the only other choice). This probably wouldn't work in Blanch S.C. as it's almost empty once the shops close, but maybe the new stand-alone cafe could try late opening.

The staff in the College Green branch were excellent too, but in the new cafes they aren't of the same standard.

Turbulent Bill

colly10 wrote: »

+1 - Id say Starbucks coffee is the worst of any of the coffee chains with the exception of the coffee in O'Brien's and possibly Cafe Sol yet it somehow manages to do the best business of any of them. Im convinced that half of their customers aren't really coffee drinkers (or at least weren't until Starbucks opening in their area)

Look in any Starbucks and most of the people will be drinking very milky lattes, hot chocolate, foamy cream things etc. - basically everything that has the least amount of coffee.

OT, why are there so few places in the S.C. to get a decent, reasonably-priced lunch? O'Brien's make your sandwich on the spot, but most other places have prepacked stuff.

ciaran76

colly10 wrote: »

+1 - Id say Starbucks coffee is the worst of any of the coffee chains with the exception of the coffee in O'Brien's and possibly Cafe Sol yet it somehow manages to do the best business of any of them. Im convinced that half of their customers aren't really coffee drinkers (or at least weren't until Starbucks opening in their area)

Starbucks is terrible coffee. The best in the centre for me is the place downstairs near the vodafone shop , Bon Coffee or something its called.

Bang Bang

ciaran76 wrote: »

Starbucks is terrible coffee.

I totally agree with you. The first time I drank Starbucks coffee was in Australia a few years ago, (Well before they hit our shores), I was walking through the streets of Brisbane and there it was, my first Starbucks experience. Let me tell you now, there hasn't been many since, pure pish..

Acacia

Starbucks coffee is over-priced and not particularly nice. Shame how Americanised Ireland (and other countries) are becoming.

To reference another Simpsons episode, all the coffee chains here seem to sell 'expensive coffee in little cups'!

Ah, the days when the Irish were happy to drink tae out of jam jars! :pac:

ciaran76

Bang Bang wrote: »

I totally agree with you. The first time I drank Starbucks coffee was in Australia a few years ago, (Well before they hit our shores), I was walking through the streets of Brisbane and there it was, my first Starbucks experience. Let me tell you now, there hasn't been many since, pure pish..

Strangly enough my first starbucks was in Australia too.:pac:


Tried it 2 times more once in New York and once in Dundrum and havent changed my mind.

Kintarō Hattori

Gonna cram in here with the Starbucks is crap posting. It really is awful coffee, much prefer Insomnia myself. Myself and the missus were in London a year or so ago and the amount of Starbcks was shocking. You couldn't walk 50M and there was another shop.

I've not tried it but I've seen the Bald Barista mentioned a few times as having excellent coffee. The only one I know of in the city centre is on Aungier Street, are there any others?

ChewChew

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Gonna cram in here with the Starbucks is crap posting. It really is awful coffee, much prefer Insomnia myself. Myself and the missus were in London a year or so ago and the amount of Starbcks was shocking. You couldn't walk 50M and there was another shop.

I've not tried it but I've seen the Bald Barista mentioned a few times as having excellent coffee. The only one I know of in thecity centre is on Angier Street, are there any others?

oh my god, I totally agree. I was in London 2 weeks ago and there was star bucks everywhere. and every one of them that I went into where pretty crappy tbh. but was in star bucks in BT2 Grafton st on Sunday and it was just delicious. got their xmas one 'Dark Cherry Mocha' oh my god it was wonderful.

But I do prefer Insomnia :pac:

sambora

Its the same in London with Starbucks....Im not sure if each one is like Subway and is owned by different people so whenever the chance to build one arises, Someone just pounces.

+1 more on the aul starbucks in the SC by the way...theres one in Quinn too...well, sorta, they brew starbucks coffee, and sell all the food, its kinda a "half-franchise" or whatever.

They'll try and suck you in wherever you can.

Much prefer the coffee from Bon Espresso in the Red entrance tho !

Spy

Hard Larry

Hmm seem to be in a minority here...but I likes Starbucks Coffee

But I hate the Starbucks in Blanch SC because they are always filled with damn buggies and prams, oh and those girls who wear Ugg boots and wear brightly coloured Bedouin Shemaghs around there necks and always seem to have the see through cups (I think they are frappachinos...am I right?).

I've been in many a Starbucks around the world but I don't think the local population of my home town has twigged the whole concept of sitting down and relaxing while enjoying a coffee on your own with a book or with friends. It feels like being in a Fast Food restaruant TBH.

Rocky Roads are the Devil in cake form.

Nevyn

I do like the one in boarders, really coffee in a bookshop ftw.

DenMan

Well of course you have to be seen with it, that's the whole point. I mean regular coffee, come on!!!!

ciaran76

anyone try the new java republic coffee shop up near Dolly's pub? They change their beans every week so different coffee. I liked it.

UsedtobePC

I actually prefer Butlers in the SC next to Marks & Sparks. They make the nicest lattes and junior loves the hot chocolate always delivered with a smile from Helga the resident Valkirie (if you've ever been there you know the girl I'm talking about)