Starbucks Closures. 300 Stores, 6700 Jobs - 2/3rds in the US. Business Down 69%

Cleaver

djm1972 wrote: »

I just feel annoyed that so many people feel that it's "cool" or "trendy" to be seen to bash Starbucks/Subway/McDondalds/whoever. Yet all 3 are EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES and you do not achieve that success with doing something right - providing something people want - and AT THE RIGHT PRICE.

This is the most overused, cliched pile of rubbish people sprout about massive, yet sh*te, businesses.

When you say that they are doing something 'right', you mean that they are successful businesses. So maybe they have a great business plan, great marketing, great prices etc. But that doesn't mean they have a great product, in fact, they all have a crap product.

Westlife are very popular, but that doesn't stop them being one of the worst things to hit the earth since the black death.

fc123

Subman wrote: »

Nothing more than a vile rumour.

Virtually all the meat sold at Subway in the UK is processed in Ireland, with most coming from Irish animals also. As you mention the steak, to my knowledge the steak generally is made from animals from Ireland, Uraguay and more recently, Brazil. The pork in the breakfast sausages is British and in fact, very little of what we sell comes from anywhere other than the EU or USA.

I am not aware of any products in Subway that have their origins in China.



Indeed, that isn't the primary selling point. For the record though, the eggs used for the Breakfast Subs are 100% free range, while the coffee beans are now Rainforest Alliance Certified.



I can tell you it would be virtually impossible to operate a Subway store with three staff! Most stores are open early to late, seven days a week, takes a lot more than three people! The average store probably employes about ten people, a mix of full and part time. The busiest stores may employ up to 40 people.



The largest franchisee in the UK owns 40 stores I think. Most stores are owned by individuals with either one or two stores however. Even franchisees with four, five or more stores are still almost always local businesspeople. Running a Subway franchise is very hands on, there are no faceless corporations involved in the running of the stores.



A Subway store only requires A1 consent.



Not true. Subway are very aggressive when it comes to negotiating rent and every single store I know of pays rent below market value. Rent can make or break a Subway store, and one will not open if the rent is too high.



Again, nonsense.

The veg in most Subway stores is delivered several times a week and is the exact same produce you'd find in the supermarket. Lettuce comes pre-shredded and olives, gherkins and jalapenoes also come in pre sliced, pickled and packed. Apart from that, the tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and onions are all delivered fresh and are chopped up in store on a daily basis. The salads sold in Subway are most likely among the freshest of any sandwich shop on the high street.

OMG :eek: :eek: (I had to treat myself to a little emoticon usage here...apologies in advance but I would need 4 paras to convey the same message).
NOW I understand the internet totally. My mid 40's person unbderstanding of the internet is now complete.

I have read about 'damage limitatation' bla de bla by companies and about protecting The Brand Image, paticularly online.

Here we have A REAL LIFE one....laid out in front of me .....it's Subman...The Defender of the mighty Subway Corp.

Man o man , where do I start?...a real life PR bloke, who defends a sleezy corp...on a Sunday.......

I am going to go away for a sec and have a think.....

fc123

Cleaver wrote: »

Westlife are very popular, but that doesn't stop them being one of the worst things to hit the earth since the black death.

Agreed, but dead dishy though. Over 40's like a bit of totty at arms length too y'know. It's not always about the music.

Subman_2

I have read about 'damage limitatation' bla de bla by companies and about protecting The Brand Image, paticularly online.

Here we have A REAL LIFE one....laid out in front of me .....it's Subman...The Defender of the mighty Subway Corp.

Man o man , where do I start?...a real life PR bloke, who defends a sleezy corp...on a Sunday.......

I am going to go away for a sec and have a think.....

I'm a Subway franchisee.

I happened to stumble accross this thread and felt the need to put the record straight on a few things. Of course, I'm going to speak about the brand in a positive light, but I hope I've made a few points about how we really do things.

Believe me, I wish running my business was as easy as importing cases of pre-prepared produt from China!

Cleaver

fc123 wrote: »

Agreed, but dead dishy though. Over 40's like a bit of totty at arms length too y'know. It's not always about the music.

Remember that everytime you think nice thoughts about Westlife an angel dies. Fact.

And I thought more of you FC. You sound like you have a nice quirky shop, you hate the big businesses - I thought you'd go for the interesting, rugged moody type. A Benicio Del Toro perhaps, or maybe a George Clooney. Not those five abominations that all look like semi-professional footballers on a stag-do in Basildon.

Cleaver

Subman wrote: »

Believe me, I wish running my business was as easy as importing cases of pre-prepared produt from China!

You never know, your wish may come true before long.

fc123

Subman wrote: »

I'm a Subway franchisee.

I happened to stumble accross this thread and felt the need to put the record straight on a few things. Of course, I'm going to speak about the brand in a positive light, but I hope I've made a few points about how we really do things.

Believe me, I wish running my business was as easy as importing cases of pre-prepared produt from China!

Just a quick Q...Why did you take on a franchise when you could have set up an original, and, dare I say, better baguette shop from scratch?
It wouldn't have been more expensive.

Subway is fast becoming a Chavtastic brand...fashion is a fickle thing. Affects food, just as much as clothing, hair, sofas, lifestyles.

I know it would depend on the area you are in BUT, if you have the Brighton one I am referring to you have;
1, paid way too much rent.
2; completely misunderstood the foodie trends of that particular area,
3; and I don't believe you will survive the downturn. The Subway Corp franchisor will clean up at your expense.

But thanks for posting......just that living and breathing ones OWN brand is different to living and breathing someone elses. That;s why I may come across as a bit ranting sometimes.;)

vikingaero

I'd rather drink anywhere than Starbucks.

Am I the only that find most branches of Starbucks to be disgustingly dirty?

Cafe Nero, Costa, Coffee Republic etc I'll go in the all, but Starbucks really shock me with the amount of detritus and debris left lying around.

fc123

Cleaver wrote: »

Remember that everytime you think nice thoughts about Westlife an angel dies. Fact.

And I thought more of you FC. You sound like you have a nice quirky shop, you hate the big businesses - I thought you'd go for the interesting, rugged moody type. A Benicio Del Toro perhaps, or maybe a George Clooney. Not those five abominations that all look like semi-professional footballers on a stag-do in Basildon.

Thing is Cleaver, my brother is a bit well known (musician/DJ/producer bla bla), OH best mate is very well known, and I hang out (in Real Life Land) with very ''cooool'' musicy types.

Thing is, it's a bit like being in the closet.

Sometimes, a girl just wants to ogle. OH is a good looking bloke..not far off George Clooney/Johnny Depp...but a a bit more frayed around the edges as we are not wealthy and time rich. But between you and me, in secret I do like a bit of trivia/mainstream man totty.

Cleaver

vikingaero wrote: »

I'd rather drink anywhere than Starbucks.

Am I the only that find most branches of Starbucks to be disgustingly dirty?

Cafe Nero, Costa, Coffee Republic etc I'll go in the all, but Starbucks really shock me with the amount of detritus and debris left lying around.

I find it peturbing that a very small amount of the money I would be handing over for my coffee in Starbucks would go towards funding a strange brand of corporate, background, jazz-inspired muzak.