I just finished reading an article on how Starbucks is closing over 7000 of their stores, for 3 hours on Tuesday, for remedial espresso training.  Starbucks, which already has an extensive training program feels that their baristas are not making their coffee drinks up to the standard that Starbucks seeks to be known for. 

When was the last time you saw a company, who is committed to success, stop all business activities to insure that their staff have the proper skill set to perform their job?  You don’t see it because most companies are short sighted.  They are willing to delivery mediocre products and let their customers know that as a company, they do not care!

Starbucks is setting a ‘gold standard’ on this.  They ‘are doing’ what many more companies aught to be doing…. training their staff.  They are less concerned with the loss of economic opportunity (which Dunkin Donuts is taking advantage of with their 99 cent caffeine shot) for those 3 hours, but remain focused on the truly ‘long-term’ value of delivering high quality coffee products. 

In the end, this training action by Starbucks will cement their already strong relationship with their customers, who in turn will provide the on-going viral word-of-mouth advertising for their superior coffee products.