When Store Systems Aren't The Problem

By Matt Pillar, Editor In Chief, Integrated Solutions For Retailers magazine

On a Tuesday evening in February 2008, Howard Schultz closed down 7,100 United States Starbucks stores for 3 1/2 hours. Though the stores were closed, all baristas were on deck and on the clock. Coffee stations were in working order, store systems were up and running, the lights were on, and the floors were clean. There was no facilities or systems maintenance to be done, no rollout of new hardware or software, no announcement of new products or brand strategies.