My Five Cents.

'Tis always better to give than receive. Right?

Let me preface this with : I probably shouldn't knock any opportunity given to the public to contribute to a greater cause. (Although, don't we have opportunities to GIVE every single day? Or do we need a special purchase to grant us with their gracious percentage donation? But, I digress...)

As I was saying, I shouldn't knock it. But, I'm sure you know me better than that.

Billion dollar company, Starbucks, is hosting an "event" called, "Starbucks Goes Red for World Aids Day." I was introduced to this affair by an event invitation today on Facebook. (Even if you aren't familiar with FB, you can reach the logical assumption that it is a publicly accessible event invite with information regarding the event. The interesting feature about the FB invite, is that members can respond, reply or RSVP to the event.)

So far, so good. In the description of their "going red" for World Aids Day, Starbucks is explaining that for every drink purchase on Dec. 1, they are going to make a donation to the Global Fund. Sure, I would prefer it if they would donate the sum of their profits for that entire day, instead of a portion, but heck...giving is giving, right? Hmm. But then, I get to the part of HOW much the donation really is. The Starbucks corporation is donating $0.05 per HAND-CRAFTED DRINK purchase in the US and Canada. That's right, 5 cents on every drink purchased with an average of $4 a pop.

My, how generous of you, mega corporation. And to think, on the very day news breaks that Starbucks may be cutting out the "Venti" drink size, due to lack of purchases. In such struggling times for you, how can you possibly afford to donate $0.05 on every cup for one whole day?!?

I mean, to cover costs like that, you would need to somehow magically make more sales than you've been acquiring in the last several months. Especially during the Holiday Season, when Americans will be scrimping together all their pennies for gifts, and most likely cut back on expensive extras like a piping cup of Starbucks Coffee. 

WAIT. What if you came up with some brilliant marketing strategy to get more customers in the stores during this holiday season? But how?

I'm just going to throw this out there, but WHAT IF you used a National Awareness day right at the brink of the Holiday Season as a ploy to get sales? You could even advertise it on mega site Facebook, home to roughly hundreds of thousands of twenty-something, progressive-thinking coffee drinkers? Whereas if one person was to respond as "attending" to the event invite, their entire network may be privy to this invite and reply. This, of course prompting their do-gooder friends to join in the "giving" spirit, and thus accumulating one, after another, after another...attendees?

BRILLIANT. I applaud your marketing team. In a time where our economy is crumbling, much to the credit of greedy corporations, it's refreshing to see that the consumer's best interest is still in mind. It's clearly a win/win. What better way for you to give a little and receive a lot, Mr. Starbucks?

Unfortunately, I will not be able to join the thousands of attendees to your generous day of giving. Instead, I will be donating my 5 cents directly to the Global Fund, without needing the middle man, feeding the corporate giants or consuming the extra caffeine. To top it off, I believe I'll be making an event invite to all of my friends to do the same.

I implore you all to donate directly to the Global Fund, to help fight Aids across the world, by clicking the link below :

http://80.80.227.107/en/donate/why/?lang=en

For every donation of five cents, I'll be donating a high five.

'Tis always better to give than receive. Right?

Let me preface this with : I probably shouldn't knock any opportunity given to the public to contribute to a greater cause. (Although, don't we have opportunities to GIVE every single day? Or do we need a special purchase to grant us with their gracious percentage donation? But, I digress...)

As I was saying, I shouldn't knock it. But, I'm sure you know me better than that.

Billion dollar company, Starbucks, is hosting an "event" called, "Starbucks Goes Red for World Aids Day." I was introduced to this affair by an event invitation today on Facebook. (Even if you aren't familiar with FB, you can reach the logical assumption that it is a publicly accessible event invite with information regarding the event. The interesting feature about the FB invite, is that members can respond, reply or RSVP to the event.)

So far, so good. In the description of their "going red" for World Aids Day, Starbucks is explaining that for every drink purchase on Dec. 1, they are going to make a donation to the Global Fund. Sure, I would prefer it if they would donate the sum of their profits for that entire day, instead of a portion, but heck...giving is giving, right? Hmm. But then, I get to the part of HOW much the donation really is. The Starbucks corporation is donating $0.05 per HAND-CRAFTED DRINK purchase in the US and Canada. That's right, 5 cents on every drink purchased with an average of $4 a pop.

My, how generous of you, mega corporation. And to think, on the very day news breaks that Starbucks may be cutting out the "Venti" drink size, due to lack of purchases. In such struggling times for you, how can you possibly afford to donate $0.05 on every cup for one whole day?!?

I mean, to cover costs like that, you would need to somehow magically make more sales than you've been acquiring in the last several months. Especially during the Holiday Season, when Americans will be scrimping together all their pennies for gifts, and most likely cut back on expensive extras like a piping cup of Starbucks Coffee. 

WAIT. What if you came up with some brilliant marketing strategy to get more customers in the stores during this holiday season? But how?

I'm just going to throw this out there, but WHAT IF you used a National Awareness day right at the brink of the Holiday Season as a ploy to get sales? You could even advertise it on mega site Facebook, home to roughly hundreds of thousands of twenty-something, progressive-thinking coffee drinkers? Whereas if one person was to respond as "attending" to the event invite, their entire network may be privy to this invite and reply. This, of course prompting their do-gooder friends to join in the "giving" spirit, and thus accumulating one, after another, after another...attendees?

BRILLIANT. I applaud your marketing team. In a time where our economy is crumbling, much to the credit of greedy corporations, it's refreshing to see that the consumer's best interest is still in mind. It's clearly a win/win. What better way for you to give a little and receive a lot, Mr. Starbucks?

Unfortunately, I will not be able to join the thousands of attendees to your generous day of giving. Instead, I will be donating my 5 cents directly to the Global Fund, without needing the middle man, feeding the corporate giants or consuming the extra caffeine. To top it off, I believe I'll be making an event invite to all of my friends to do the same.

I implore you all to donate directly to the Global Fund, to help fight Aids across the world, by clicking the link below :

http://80.80.227.107/en/donate/why/?lang=en

For every donation of five cents, I'll be donating a high five.

Comments

[mybonnieandclyde]

Thank you so much, Ruth, for your kind words and support!

[Ruth]

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Ruth

http://www.infrared-sauna-spot.info