Starbucks is offering more then just coffee these days with their jump into the music industry last year selling several CD’s register side. A recent report in the WSJ titled "Starbucks Plans to Make Debut in Movie Business" has Starbucks diving into both the movie and publishing industry as they plan to sell and promote DVD’s and books in their coffee shops within the next year. Starbucks is not only adding movies and books but also moving building
drive up windows and adding breakfast sandwiches to their somewhat
spare food offerings. I think these changes are much needed since a
hungry individual would most likely chose a breakfast sandwich from Dunkin Donuts
or McDonalds over a Starbucks pastry.
I think promoting DVD's is a good move by Starbucks and should generate additional income from their already solid coffee business. However, the movie business is a little bit more risky so we will see how well Starbucks does with its first movie release which is set to hit theater April 28, 2006 titled, "Akeelah and the Bee." The DVD release is to follow and to be sold in Starbucks stores similar to the exclusive music CD's that were sold last year. You can view the fifty three second movie trailer here. Furthermore, heartier food offerings is a "no-brainer" improvement and I welcome the idea since I really do not like Starbucks present food options.