“The place you love during the day now has more reasons to love it at night.”—Starbucks

  Image from http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/starbucks-stores/starbucks-evenings

Starbucks is pressing ahead dinner-type food. Most Starbucks have not sold dinner yet, but Starbucks is testing the evening menu in 32 stores in the U. S.

The present evening menu includes small plates, desserts, wines, and beer.

Grilled Vegetable Plates

Image from http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/starbucks-stores/starbucks-evenings/menu

The evening menu starts at 4 pm until the closing hours; while the regular food and beverage menu are still available after 4 pm.

Providing evening food is a wise idea. Many people look for convenient dinner in a relaxing environment. Starbucks has this kind of environment for casual meeting and unwinding. In addition, Starbucks has a big success in the lunch menu; so they are possible to get another success in dinner menu since they have the reputation.

Image from Wine and Starbucks: http://bakingbites.com/2013/01/wine-at-starbucks-a-starbucks-evenings-visit/

Starbucks surprises me when it adds alcohol on the evening menu. Coffee and alcohol have different cultures as well as different production processes. When Starbucks mix the two cultures together, it is not a traditional coffee shop anymore; instead, it becomes a restaurant.

Sources:

http://bakingbites.com/2013/01/wine-at-starbucks-a-starbucks-evenings-visit/

http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/starbucks-stores/starbucks-evenings

http://www.starbucks.com/coffeehouse/starbucks-stores/starbucks-evenings/menu

http://www.thestreet.com/story/12942754/2/dunkin-donuts-starbucks-are-preparing-to-sell-dinner-in-2015.html

Images from These Mar Jacobs Headphones Can Be Thrown In The Wash Like A T-Shirt

The blog title These Marc Jacobs Headphones Can Be Thrown In The Wash Like A T-Shirt on Fast Company thrilled me! I cannot imagine throwing a piece of electronic device into a washing machine.

However, after reading through the whole blog, I am not that excited about the washable feature. People can peel off the headband and the ear cushions and throw them into the washing machine, but not throwing the entire headphone directly into the washing machine.

Apart from this unexcited news, the new headphone still reminds me “positioning”. Beats’ headphones are widely recognized with high quality. Urbanears cannot compete with Beats at this perspective. However, Urbanears is smart. They cooperate with Marc Jacobs, a famous international fashion company, to design this washable headphone “Humlan”. Teaming up with Marc Jacobs brings “Humlan” a sense of fashion. In addition, the unique washable feature still makes life easier when the headphone gets dirty. Also, this headphone only sells for $60, which is much cheaper than Beats. Urbanears can be a nice substitute for Beats with less cost.

Image from Fast Fashion- There’s a Reason Your Clothes Are So Cheap

I am a big fan of H&M, GAP, and Uniqlo. The reason is simple: they are trendy and cheap.

However, I have the problem that Amy (Chae Won Wu) mentioned in her blog Can Fast Fashion be Both Affordable and Ethical —I do not wear them often. Because of the low price, I do not hesitate to buy much clothing every time I shop. How wrong I am! After I bring them home, I realize that I hardly have chances to wear them in most of my life. Originally, I choose fast fashion is to save money, but indeed, I am wasting money.

As a consumer, my shopping habit is insane but common. Millions of girls consume fast fashion like me. I really appreciate these fast fashion companies’ marketing strategy. Cheap fashionable clothing is like drugs. Customers are addicted to buying more and more.

Image from The Business of Fast Fashion

I do not think a good marketing strategy means unethical, but making toxic products is unethical for certain. According to Greenpeace (2012), H&M’s and Zara’s products contained hazardous chemicals that could cause cancer and hormone disruption. Reducing cost is important for the fast fashion industry, which is a competitive market with low price. However, customers value safety more than cheap trendy clothing. If they keep selling toxic clothing, I would rather spend more money to buy a sense of safety.

Image from 10 Life Lessons From Girlboss

This week I read Catherine (Niki) Non’s blog. The article #Girlboss attracts my attention. #Girlboss is a book written by Sophia Amoruso, the CEO of Nasty Gal.

Amoruso’s experience is interesting. She has neither business background, nor a college degree. She breaks the stereotype of a woman. As the quote Niki took from Newsha’s blog “Not Quite There Yet”, Amoruso is an entrepreneur “who doesn’t quite fit the mould of a stereotypical businesswoman”.

Actually, I do not agree with Newsha’s expression of “sterotypical businesswoman”. All people have their own ways to success. It is unreasonable that successful businesswomen should have same traits.

Image from Does Integrated Marketing Mixed With Femininity Equal Success?

Also I suppose Newsha’s opinion builds on gender stereotypes. People usually link entrepreneurship and success with males; and treat female entrepreneurs as exceptions. Like Newsha thinks, most businesswomen share stereotypes. I am sure if Amoruso were a male, Newsha would never name Amoruso “not as a stereotypical businessman”.

Businesswomen are not exceptions. The two Sauder alumnae visited COMM 101 on Tuesday, Amielle Lake (Tagga) and Emma Smith (Zimt Artisan Chocolate), were both successful female entrepreneurs. Stereotypes are untrue; please stop talking about it!