Starbucks Third Place Positioning – Still Relevant?

Case Study, Consumer Behavior, Marketing Environment, Marketing Mix, Member Activities, Services/CRM, Strategy and Plans

This Starbucks case study focuses on their longstanding “third place” concept, which has been a key component of their success and differentiation. However, your students will need to assess whether this “third place” offering remains a viable strategy in today’s marketing environment, considering trends like remote work, increased competition, cost of living concerns, and shifting consumer expectations.

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About The Author

Geoff Fripp

Geoff Fripp is an experienced marketing educator and practitioner with many years of expertise in teaching and industry roles. As the founder of Great Ideas for Teaching Marketing, Geoff has created over 500 activities and tools to help educators deliver engaging and practical lessons across diverse learning styles and student levels. With nearly 2,000 lectures across ten universities, including 19 years at the University of Sydney, Geoff is recognized for his practical approach to marketing education. Geoff’s industry background includes senior marketing roles at medium and large firms, as well as entrepreneurial ventures. He has authored and co-authored textbooks with Pearson Education, as well as developing more than a dozen case studies for their marketing textbooks.