Comments on: Not Seeing Red Over Starbucks/(RED)

By: Digital coffee and good causes « Digital Drums

Digital coffee and good causes « Digital Drums — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:35:07 +0000

[...] http://selfishgiving.com/cause-marketing-in-action/not-seeing-red-over-starbucksred [...]

By: Ben Boles

Ben Boles — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:47:10 +0000

I thought this was worth to share and show that Starbucks wants to do more. In Jan 2009 through Dec 2009 you can purchase a Product(Red) Reload Card that when you use on any drink it donates 5 cents. Check it out http://blogs.starbucks.com/blogs/customer/archive/2008/12/18/coming-soon-the-starbucks-red-card.aspx

By: Ben Boles

Ben Boles — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:00:26 +0000

While I have been one of those people who complained that Starbucks isn’t giving enough, at least their giving something. Just a little bit of math though for there to be an eight figure check sent to Product(Red) it will take 200,000,000 cups of the 3 drinks sold.

By: KyNam Doan

KyNam Doan — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:18:44 +0000

Nice summary here. I want to expand upon your points.

As cause marketing comes into its own, people will realize that their utility functions include utility of social good. Now we’re just getting complicated!

My own utility function places heavy emphasis on social issues such as women’s rights, racial equality, educational equality, etc., and a smaller emphasis on environmental health.

Smart business will (and already have) take this into account and know how to acquire me as a customer by playing to my socially-heavy utility function.

And by the way, I’m launching a cause marketing campaign of my own in two days at http://iNeedAnInterview.com. Any amount of feedback would be amazing .

Best,
Ky

By: The Online Fundraising Blog » (PRODUCT) RED Makeover: the best way to support the AIDS cause?

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:34:43 +0000

[...] my contention: cause marketing is a means to an end, not an end unto itself. If you’re already going to buy a coffee, or a scarf, or an Armani t-shirt, and you like [...]

By: Holt Murray

Holt Murray — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:11:54 +0000

While I tend to think that in this economic climate, people are going to be a bit mystified as to why Starbucks is sending their charity abroad (to an admittedly great cause with huge cache these days, but,… ummmm… hopw about local efforts to help those in need?), I cannot agree with people deriding the 1% donation as too little.

Starbucks is closing stores at this point — along with everyone else, it is receding… the fact that while it is contracting it is still willing to donate proceeds is noteworthy. I'm all for donating, but 'Bucks is a public company that is beholding to its shareholders — I kinda of don't think they want to hear some personnel had to be laid off while worrying that 2 mill donations are seen as better than 1 mill giveaways.

By: Joe Waters

Joe Waters — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:42:03 +0000

One thing I think we all have to remember is that Starbucks gives a lot more than just five cents on a cup of coffee. Look at what they do for fair-trade farmers. Consider what they do every March for Boston-baesed Jumpstart with when they sell they Leprechaun Lattes and give 25 cents of every drink back to that organization. Visit the Starbucks website and look at all they do. Taken within that broader context their product RED contribution is quite generous. Thanks for commenting!

By: Monica Hamburg

Monica Hamburg — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:42:54 +0000

This is an excellent post, and it makes good sense (as does your math). Certainly donating something anything is better than nothing – and 5 cents x the insane number of Starbucks stores is definitely something. But I have to side with the people who are dismayed by the amount of Starbucks donation. A 1% donation from a company as large as Starbucks is not impressive. The company could certainly afford to donate more than that. While something like 50 cents would cut into their profit, certainly, from a PR standpoint donating more might encourage the anti-Starbucks folks to reconsider – thinking that their purchase would be doing some (real) good.

By: Mike Maddaloni

Mike Maddaloni — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:59:27 +0000

One perspective – I bought a (RED) iPod Nano because I hated the other colors, and not necessarily for this campaign.

And of course companies are going to spend cash on promoting their good deeds… not sure if red aprons are needed when a badge or button would be just as not noticed.

mp/m