Eric Lyons’ Post

Interesting read on Starbucks and their new inclusive design framework for all new builds and renovations in the US. I hope it comes to the UK and worldwide too! Quite a comprehensive list of accessible touch points for Starbucks staff and customers: from POS, access, and communication. One aspect which caught my attention was acoustic dampening - reducing noise and helping those with hearing loss. #InclusiveDesign #accessibility

Instead of praising Starbucks for creating a new inclusive store format with more accessibility for customers and employees, maybe we should be saying: What took them so long? As Starbucks said, "An estimated one in four adults in the United States has a disability." Many people with disabilities want to work. Disabilities range from bad backs to mobility issues tied to various disorders like MS. We all know people like this, who want to work but can't find a suitable job. This is long overdue in the industry. Still, if anyone is going to lead the industry in this manner, my money will always be on Starbucks. I'm glad this is not a beta test. The chain said, "Moving forward, all newly built and renovated Starbucks company-operated stores in the U.S. will begin to incorporate the framework, a key milestone in ensuring Starbucks continues to expand accessibility and inclusion. The framework will also be open sourced and further developed to help expand accessibility across the retail industry." Read more about the company's Inclusive Spaces Framework here: https://lnkd.in/gkQzMewH

Is Starbucks’ Focus on Store Ambiance a Sign of Future Trends? Starbucks is making changes to improve guests’ coffee shop experience. The company is working on reducing noise inside its stores and enhancing accessibility for all customers. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ekuqTE6K Brian Numainville "Retail is experiential. When the environment isn’t pleasant, that’s a big detractor. Great to see Starbucks focus on making the store environment more inclusive and pleasant!" Neil Saunders "Obviously it can be difficult to cater to the precise needs of everyone but the steps Starbucks is taken are sensible and create a more inclusive environment. They also fit into the general category of creating a pleasant ambience – something some retailers with their harsh lighting and cluttered stores should take note of!" Georganne Bender "Making its public spaces more accessible for those with special needs is admirable. Obviously, anything Starbucks does to enhance the customer experience will be welcomed, even if customers are not consciously aware that those enhancements are happening."

Accessibility and inclusion are good for everyone. 🥳 Starbucks recently opened a new store design in D.C.'s Union Market that prioritizes accessibility and inclusion. They worked with customers, employees, and accessibility experts to develop the so-called “Inclusive Spaces Framework.” 🤔 ♐The new store features power-operated doors, lowered counters for wheelchair users, and a voice-assist checkout. ♐Digital boards update customers on order status. ♐Improved lighting and insulation enhance ambiance and reduce noise. ♐A revamped brewing system offers tactile feedback for employees’ easier use. This new store design will expand beyond DC and the “Inclusive Spaces Framework” guidelines will be open-sourced and continue to evolve to further expand accessibility in the retail sector… and all of this is good for everyone, not just those with disabilities. (h/t to Karen Catlin for this one) #Starbucks #DEI #Accessibility #5ThingsDEI

Marketing 101 lesson 🚀  "Sell the experience, not the Product" Examples: Starbucks: ☕ Starbucks doesn't just sell coffee;  it sells a lifestyle experience. The ambiance of the stores, 🛋  the personalized service where baristas remember your name and order, and the idea of a "third place" between home and work 🏡 💼 all contribute to the unique Starbucks experience. ✨ Apple: 🍎 Apple stores are designed to be open and inviting, 🙏 encouraging customers to try out products in a hands-on environment. 📱 The sleek design, knowledgeable staff, 🤓 and overall brand ecosystem make purchasing 💲and using Apple products an engaging experience. IKEA: IKEA offers a unique shopping experience with its large, 🛒 maze-like store layouts 🧩 designed to inspire customers with room setups and home solutions. 🏡 The in-store experience includes the ability to physically interact with products, and the fun, hands-on assembly process at home 🔨 is part of the brand's charm. Additionally, the in-store restaurants 🍷 and child care services enhance the overall experience. 👶 #Marketing101 #SellTheExperience #CustomerExperience #BrandExperience #Starbucks #Apple #IKEA #MarketingStrategy #CustomerEngagement #LifestyleBrand #InnovativeDesign #ShoppingExperience #UserExperience #BusinessTips #MarketingTips

The power of #inclusion #creativity #design can illustrate how the #businesscase for #disability can be actualized. Starbucks can be a model all companies should pay attention too! #DISABILITYECONOMY

Standing in line at Starbucks got me thinking... ☕️ Is this place really accessible to everyone? 🤔 It’s easy for me, but what about someone in a wheelchair? ♿ Could reaching the counter and moving around be easier? So, I did a quick Google search to see if Starbucks is doing anything about accessibility. 🔍 And yes, they are! 🙌 Here’s what I found out: 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐬 🚶♂️🚶♀️ Imagine navigating a wheelchair through a tight, crowded space. Not fun, right? Starbucks is making their aisles wider, so everyone can move around more comfortably. 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 📋 Ever struggle to read a menu placed way up high? Starbucks is fixing that by using clear signage at different heights, making it easy for everyone to see what’s on offer. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲-𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 🌟 Not everyone enjoys a noisy, bright coffee shop. Starbucks is working on special areas with softer lighting and less noise for those who prefer a calmer environment. Honestly, it’s great to see big companies like Starbucks taking steps towards more inclusive design. 💖 Going out for coffee should be #accessible to everyone, no matter their ability. 🌍

What’s your go-to at Starbucks? Mine is the Honey Citrus Mint Tea aka the Medicine Ball aka the Cold Buster. But let’s just call it the 8th Wonder of the World. Lol But did you know the medicine ball - which came in 2017 - wouldn’t be a hit today without the organization’s 2011 logo redesign? Starbucks unveiled a new logo that upgraded its brand identity by simplifying the iconic mermaid logo and dropping the company name and "coffee" from the design. This strategic move was part of Starbucks' vision to expand beyond coffee into new markets such as tea and food, positioning itself as a lifestyle brand. The redesigned logo, with its modern and minimalist approach, played a crucial role in reshaping Starbucks' image and allowing the company to diversify its offerings while appealing to a broader audience. This redesign, combined with store renovations, new products, and a focus on sustainability, propelled Starbucks to new heights of success. The Starbucks logo redesign exemplifies the incredible power of branding in driving business growth and adaptation to changing market demands. Comment ☕️ if you’re a coffee lover. Comment 🫖 if you’re a tea lover. #Branding #SuccessStory #Starbucks #BusinessGrowth #LogoDesign #BrandIdentity #Innovation

Signal spotting🚨Hyper-niche • Part 08 Today, thru the lens of retail. Have your heard of blind boxes? The 🇧🇱🇮🇳🇩 🇧🇴🇽 🇪🇨🇴🇳🇴🇲🇾 is here & it is picking up major global steam. But not as part of a retail experience - the entire retail experience. ▶️ My video from MINISO UK BLIND BOX store that I snapped during the London leg of my 19-day European adventure this June. This is only the 2nd dedicated blind box store in the world and only opened 9 months ago. (🔗 https://lnkd.in/g4jzbp2T) 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹? The entire store had one hyper-niche theme - blind boxes 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘅 & 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘅 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆”? • Blind Box refers to the “type of packaging that keeps the collectible toy as a mystery until it is opened.” Blind boxes typically come in series that shows a collection; some figurines are rarer to find than others, these are referred to as "secret", "hidden" or "chase" figures. (Via POP MART) • The blind box economy capitalizes on the excitement of mystery and rarity, encouraging repeated purchases and fostering a vibrant secondary market for collectible items. • Blind boxes, originating in 1980s Japan with *fukubukuro* (lucky bags) and *gashapon* (random toy vending machines), are not new, but entire commerce experiences centered around them are. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 the 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 💲? The global market for blind box decorations is forecasted to increase from USD 6.8 billion in 2024 to USD 9.8 billion by 2029 📌 Per Global Market Stats and Figures 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴? Human nature is fueled by 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓽𝔂 (hello, Adam & Eve) Through our modern lens, it’s simply the “fascination mixed with unpredictability and the thrill of surprise” that, IMO, has led to the blind box concept expanding. 📣TL, DR: This trend signals a shift towards 𝓱𝔂𝓹𝓮𝓻-𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓼, suggesting that businesses can leverage focused themes to create immersive and engaging shopping environments that captivate consumers. #miniso #blindboxstores #curiosity #hyperniche 📌 Series: The Power of Hyper-Niche 2024 Part 07: Curated Co-Brands https://bit.ly/3xu9NZ9 Part 06: Instagram Broadcast Channels = Niche Communities https://bit.ly/3xLsNCg Part 05: Passive Connectivity = Super Loyal https://bit.ly/3W2yfdf Part 04: Longing for Tom: Throwback Social Media w NO SPACE https://bit.ly/3W2eJxF Part 03: Hyper-niche Community = Currency bit.ly/4crskEv Part 02: Cozy Corners of the Internet bit.ly/3XLlMwa Part 01: Slack is 🔥 bit.ly/462vSuJ

#InclusionSpotted! If you know me, you know Starbucks is my happy place! One of my favorite past-times is sitting leisurely, sipping the delicious caffeinated goodness, and catching up with friends. My daughter's first words may-or-may-not have been, "grande mocha, no whip!" It is rare to find a place where I can go and PHYSICALLY fit right into the built environment around me… the entrance, the tables, the counters and cash registers. This often means having to awkwardly ask strangers to do you a favor, like move a chair out of the way, or hand you your coffee off the bar. Even having to ask someone to hand your credit card up over the counter to the cashier. People are generally kind and don't mind, but would YOU want to have to ask a stranger to reach your coffee, or fork over your credit card, or debit card to a stranger? I, personally, would rather I be able to just use the space around me as anyone else would, with the independence I strive for in every aspect of my life, and that anyone else who walks into the space can have. And here is the thing… These changes Starbucks has made doesn't make the space any less usable or comfortable for anyone else. It just makes it more inclusive for people with disabilities. Hi-five, Starbucks! Who will be next to follow suit? #UniversalDesign #DisabilityAdvocate #DisabilityAwareness #InclusionMatters Muscular Dystrophy Association #BuiltEnvironments #Accessibility