Final CRM - Starbucks Nguyen Duc Son 22070205
Final CRM - Starbucks Nguyen Duc Son 22070205
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
FINAL REPORT
ANALYSIS OF STARBUCKS CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP
MANAGEMENT (CRM) STRATEGY
I would like to send my most sincere thanks to MSc. Vu Dieu Thuy - lecturer of this subject.
Thank you for always enthusiastically guiding, creating conditions as well as helping me in the
learning process. Thanks to that, I was able to complete the report.
MSc. Vu Dieu Thuy teaches me step by step, from the way of thinking, giving feedback on the
outline and guiding me through the implementation process. She is not only a source of
academic inspiration but also a driving force that helps me overcome challenges in completing
this report.
Without his support, I would not have been able to finish the report. Once again, we sincerely
thank MSc. Vu Dieu Thuy and I hope to be your students in many more courses. Wishing you
good health and continued success in your work and dedication!
Your student
PREFACE
In the past, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to work as a part-time barista at
Starbucks. For me, Starbucks is not just a simple part-time job but also gives me a lot of
valuable knowledge, experience and experiences. That is the main reason I chose this topic.
Through my experiences, I believe this report can bring a more multi-dimensional perspective
to readers from the perspective of a former employee.
In the process of completing the report, errors cannot be avoided. I look forward to hearing
your comments so that the report can be more complete!
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................ 3
1.2. Analysis............................................................................................................................... 6
REFERENCE
Table of Figures
3
Figure 11: Retail .......................................................................................................... 14
Figure 12: ACCI Score (teams, 2024) ......................................................................... 16
Tables
Table 1: SWOT .............................................................................................................. 7
Table 2: Segment base ................................................................................................... 8
Table 3: Evaluate attractiveness .................................................................................... 9
Table 4: Starbucks customer analysis ............................................................................ 9
Table 5: Strengths and Weakness ................................................................................ 16
I. INTRODUCTION
For Starbucks, the core value is in the products the company brings to customers: "Coffee is
the most important thing. The difference between Starbucks coffee and any other coffee brand
in the world is high quality, fresh roasting, pure coffee.”, aiming to be a company with business
ethics, love and sharing.
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The 6 main success factors of the Starbucks coffee brand include: product quality, marketing
strategy, employee training, continuous improvement, clean service environment, respect for
local culture. One of them, Starbucks always maintains the "third place" culture, which means
that in addition to home and work, Starbucks is a third home where relationships meet and
warmth is the number 1 priority. In this way, the company requires each employee to share and
sympathize with customers. That is the key that directly determines the success of Starbucks
today.
In terms of market share, only in Vietnam, the company has 108 stores, accounting for 3.4%
of Vietnam's $1.2 billion coffee market. (Nhi, 2024)
Figure 3: The market share shift of coffee shop brands (Nhi, 2024)
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During my internal training sessions at Starbucks, Ms. Patricia Marques, CEO of Starbucks
Vietnam, has a clear direction: The company's strategy is to plant the flag, position the brand
and deliver more give Vietnamese people a choice, the experience coffee Exquisite, high-class
Arabica, arrive from many countries around the world. Actually, though cannot yet dominate
market share in the Vietnamese market, but Starbucks still basically implements the proposed
strategy well and grows from 304 billion VND in 2016 to 2022 to reach 1,000 billion VND in
revenue.
1.2. Analysis
To better understand the business, let's explore the preliminary analysis to understand the
business model, strengths and weaknesses, and an overview of Starbucks.
Strength Weak
- Strong brand recognition - Major dependence on a single product
- Innovative business model line(coffee)
- Commitment to sustainability, ethically - Intense competition in the coffee industry
- Strong customer loyalty - Limited international expansion in some markets
- Global presence - Potential negative impact of commodity price
- Strong digital presence and financial fluctuations
performance - Dependence on a large number of company-
- Largest coffeehouse chain in the world operated stores (Covid19 affect negative
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revenue)
Opportunity Threats
- - Product diversification, new production - Competition from other coffee chains and
- - Partnerships and collaborations with other independent coffee shops
companies or brands - Changes in consumer preferences or trends
- - Adopt price differentiation - Economic downturns or market instability
- - Coffee Subscription growth - Supply chain disruptions or sourcing challenges
- - Expanding the Starbucks rewards loyalty program - Labor disputes or employee turnover
- - Acquiring complementary businesses or brand
Table 1: SWOT
II. CUSTOMER BASE ANALYSIS
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for Copying does even better. Therefore: “If you are not consistent and always renew yourself,
as is inevitable will be eliminated. Some chains then only focus on fulfilling investors' targets
forget the original value of the brand. While there are more and more new, unique brands,
Interesting emerges.” (Anh, 2022) For Starbucks, although it is a global giant, the Vietnamese
market is extremely competitive. So to survive, Starbucks must make a clear choice strategy
(Nguyen, 2020- July) Only then can we survive for ourselves.
Based on the analysis in the above sections, we can choose the most outstanding point of
Starbucks Vietnam, which is behavioral psychology, as a segment base.
People looking for experiences, Active, luxurious High earner and middle 25-45 years old
luxury products, lifestyle, earner
connections, brands. (Starbucks)
People looking for convenience, Fast, good quality High earner and middle 18-30 years old
good quality guaranteed (Circle K) earner & low earner
Traditional coffee lover - Robusta Slow, Simple, loves Middle, Low earner 35-60 years old
(Aha, local shop, …) tradition
People looking for space: self-care, liberal, likes High earner and middle > 18 years old
open/meet (work), take photos, freedom & low earner
communicate, get close to nature,
...
(Kafa, The coffee house, …)
Table 2: Segment base
Evaluate attractiveness
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(work), take photos, communicate, get
close to nature, ...
Table 3: Evaluate attractiveness
(Note: 2 crosses = really bad, 2 ticks = really good, 1 tick 1 cross = neutral)
Starbucks clearly chose and focused on segment number 1.
Adults from 25 Main target Space design, consistent Relatively high income, about 3% per
to 40 years old accounting for modern design in professional career and year.
(HASKOVA, 49% advertising as well as focus on social
2015) decoration. Good product connections and lifestyle.
quality. High
connectivity.
Young people: ~ 40% Abroad, Starbucks Positioned as a place where college about 4.6 percent
18 to 24 years (Etienne students can study, chat with friends, and meet people. per year
old Musonera, 2021) In Vietnam, young people with economic conditions
come mainly to check in, study, etc. Besides, Starbucks
takes advantage of social networks to actively build a
youthful, dynamic, classy and influential image.
directly to this target group.
Children and Accounts for 2% - Drinks containing milk Although the number is not much, this can
adolescents: most of the or sugary coffees, increase customers
from 13 to 17 Children's items non-caffeine, whipped future potential, i.e. Starbucks has made
years old are purchased by cream topped coffee, ice children and teenagers
parents - blended. brand recognition and making the brand more
children travel - Eye-catching vases, friendly to customers
with their cups, etc. This phenomenon may return in the future
parents. (when old enough to use these types
Starbucks signature drink)
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to the high-income class: office workers, businessmen, etc. mainly live and work in big cities,
are luxurious, sophisticated and wealthy; with modern, Western lifestyle trends; have aesthetic
taste and promote safety issues such as health, environment, society, etc. Starbucks provides
unique and personalized services and high customer service standards to satisfy target
customers. their target audience, who prefer coffee products for coffee connoisseurs and create
prestige for the brand.
In terms of positioning, Starbucks positions itself as a highly reputable brand, providing
premium products with global standard flavors, helping to differentiate the company from other
competitors in Vietnam such as Highlands Coffee, The Coffee House, Trung Nguyen coffee,
...
These things are applied consistently and throughout at Starbucks, clearly demonstrated
through the following aspects:
Customer journey
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The customer journey is very important and there are many touch points with customers,
highlights can be mentioned in order such as: cozy space, staff remembering names and drinks
of frequent customers, receiving personalized drinks make it and have your name on the cup
,...
Customer-oriented culture
- Automate the sales process: CRM helps manage the sales process in different stages
and manage employee activities.
- Analyze customer data to serve Marketing: CRM helps identify and target Managing
and measuring the effectiveness of CRMs helps them improve Marketing campaigns.
- Customer service management: Software helps companies improve customer service,
while increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
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Example: By analyzing data and reviewing key performance indicators, Starbucks can improve
and optimize the menstrual process business to increase revenue.
In store:
The most prominent is the customer loyalty program - Starbucks Rewards, according to CNN's
report, as of October 2022, Starbucks Rewards had more than 28.7 million members and
brought Starbucks annual growth of up to 16%. Another Manifest study revealed that of all
smartphone users who use restaurant loyalty apps, nearly half (48%) are members of a
restaurant loyalty program. Starbucks Rewards.
This application has useful features such as: Managing orders, earning points for loyal
customers, providing personalized rewards programs, analyzing purchase history to
recommend suitable drinks. Free drinks when it's your birthday, ...
The results achieved show: More than 20% of transactions are made through the application.
And the most important thing is that customers feel appreciated and treated like VIPs when
they are members.
It is clear that Starbucks is always present even when customers do not come to the store,
through personal bottles, social interaction channels, and regularly organized events. And
especially private events/products, … only for loyal customers.
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Starbucks doesn't just sell coffee, it also offers a unique service experience that focuses on
personalization and high quality.
- Good and diverse products: 100% Arabica coffee worldwide, tea products, snacks,
retail goods (vase, cup, souvenir, ...), lines coffee products premium (Starbucks
Reserve), consumer packaged goods (CPG)
- Personalization: Handwritten customer name, using "Barista Promise" - customers can
customize drinks according to their wishes.
- Service experience: The space is clean and pleasant. Customer focus and convenience
(average 45 seconds/order).
Price:
Starbucks uses a premium pricing strategy. In the marketing mix, this pricing strategy takes
advantage of behavioral trends of customers, who will buy more expensive products on the
basis of perceived correlation between high "price" and high "value".
The focus on price has two main points: customer experience and quality to maintain a
premium brand image, always improving product quality and customer experience.
- Flexible price adjustment: Prices are adjusted based on location and market
conditions, reflecting operating costs, local rainfall and increased competitiveness.
- Psychological Pricing Tactics: Starbucks often uses psychological pricing strategies,
such as pricing items slightly below a whole number (e.g., $4.95 instead of $5.00). This
makes prices seem lower than they are, a tactic designed to encourage more spending
subtly.
- Tiered Pricing for Size Options: Starbucks utilizes tiered pricing for different sizes of
drinks, providing customers with options that cater to different needs and price
sensitivities. This allows customers to choose based on their budget while encouraging
upselling.
Place:
Through 3 main channels: offline stores, Retailer and online platform.
- Extensive store network strategically located: With more than 38,000 stores
globally, in Vietnam they are mainly located in shopping centers, office buildings or in
urban areas, crowded city centers with a large number of people.
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Figure 10: Starbucks App
- Community-Oriented Store Experience: Starbucks focuses on creating a welcoming
and comfortable “third-place” experience in its stores, encouraging customers to linger,
work, or socialize. This approach increases foot traffic and fosters community and
brand loyalty.
- Discount: 10,000 VND when bringing personal cup/bottle when purchasing at the
store, combined with partners who offer discount codes (swipe discount card, order via
app, etc.)
- Point accumulation programs, memberships, combos, etc.
- Seasonal and Limited-Time Offerings: By introducing seasonal and limited-time
products at a premium price, Starbucks creates a sense of urgency and exclusivity. This
strategy drives sales during the offer period and helps attract new customers and retain
regulars’ interest.
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People:
The human factor is the most important factor. This aspect is crucial in service-based industries
where customer satisfaction heavily depends on the quality of the service provided. Here are
key points regarding the “People” aspect of Starbucks:
- Employee training and development: From part-time barista to store manager, there
are online courses and detailed training curriculum. The training program lasts about 1
month and then there will be tests and there will be regular tests during the working
process. For me, someone who knew nothing, became someone with coffee knowledge,
customer service, and operational skills. This, ensures a consistent and high-quality
customer experience.
- Employee satisfaction and retention: Appreciate employees, call them partners, not
employees. I can say that Starbucks' benefits are extremely good compared to the F&B
industry (subsidized meals, gasoline, health insurance, etc.). Many career development
opportunities, in addition, there are many extracurricular activities (barista Asia cup,
volunteer,…)
- Customer service focus: Aim for a personalized experience, building relationships
with every customer. This includes remembering customers' names and what drinks
they order most often, helping to create an open space for people to meet and connect.
- Feedback and continuous improvement: Employees can send emails directly to leaders,
customers receive regular activity surveys, etc.
Process:
As a former Starbucks employee, I can say: "Everything at Starbucks has a process." The
process at Starbucks is extremely optimized for operations, so much so that I feel like I am
programmed like a robot. However, because the process is too strict, there are some things that
are not flexible, restrictive or even inappropriate,… Some outstanding processes can be
mentioned:
- Employee training process
- Operating procedure: Extremely optimized setup
- Supply chain management: ingredients from around the world, highlighted by
partnerships with coffee growers.
- Quality control: Transfer employees between stores to enable cross-supervision. There
is always an internal inspection team to conduct random checks. In addition, Starbucks
also hires a third company to control quality. Therefore, I can say that product quality
and hygiene are even more guaranteed than when you prepare it at home!
Physical Evidence:
- Store design and space: 4 main styles: Heritage, Regional Modern, Concept, Artisan.
In addition, the store style will adapt depending on the local context and culture, all to
create a comfortable, warm, and gentle atmosphere for customers.
- Brand logo and packaging: Very easy to recognize, aiming for sophistication, beauty
and environmental protection - sustainable development. This helps reinforce the
brand's premium image.
- Community Board: At each store, there is a small board to preserve memories of
employees and customers. This helps increase cohesion, helping to uniqueize Starbucks
stores
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4.2. Evaluate customer satisfaction level
To evaluate the level of customer satisfaction at Starbucks, we can measure it through reporting
indicators, number of stores growth, revenue growth, etc. (Xingyue Liu1)
Thus, from the arguments given in the above sections, we can evaluate and give some
outstanding points and limitations of the Starbucks CRM system as follows:
Strengths Weakness
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V. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1. Summary
Starbucks already has a good and great CRM system, which is one of the most successful and
widely adopted cases worldwide. Starbucks is more than just a coffee chain; it’s a paradise, a
workspace, a meeting point, and a community hub. They always listen, put themselves in the
customer's position and serve with all their heart. Clarity and consistency from strategy to CRM
implementation.
Long term:
- Technology: Applying artificial intelligence and big data to further analyze customer
characteristics and preferences. From there, personalized consumption trends can be
predicted and products can be intelligently suggested based on Big data
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REFERENCES
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