Kempner: How Starbucks Killed a Ga. Couple’s Tea Empire

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | July 29, 2017 | Matt Kempner

[Cecily]

Too much caffeine does funny things to even the best of minds.

Like when the espresso-sipping leaders at Starbucks said the revolution they sparked in coffee would happen with tea, too.

In 2012, the Seattle-based giant struck a $620-million deal to buy Teavana, a mostly mall-based tea retailer that was built from scratch by Atlanta couple Andy and Nancy Mack.

A measly five years later, Starbucks has announced it will close all 379 Teavana stores in the coming year. That includes seven in metro Atlanta (Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, Cumberland Mall, Perimeter Mall, Mall of Georgia, Northpoint Mall and Town Center at Cobb).

Teavana – originally envisioned as a melding of tea and nirvana — isn’t living up to its name for the bean folks.

The problem, as outlined by Starbucks, isn’t tea; it’s malls.

[Cecily]

Maybe Starbucks will add Teavana products to their stores. Teavana teas are expensive and could probably be marketed better to the people who are already overpaying for Starbucks products.

[seamusnh]

Starbucks sucks. It is the darling of liberals and snowflakes. Give me Dunks any day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSvNhxKJJyU

[dfwgator]

VOICE-OVER
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KYLE
I don’t like big corporations.

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I like small businesses.

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KENNY
(In my family, it’s a silly enterprise.)

TWEEK
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VOICEOVER
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with charred caps.]

Paid for by Citizens for a Fair and Equal way to get Harbucks
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[Vaquero]

“Starbucks? Boint Coffee”

Jackie Mason

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Sounds to me like the original couple cashed out at a propitious time. Shedding no tears here, for either the couple or for Starbucks.

[Dilbert San Diego]

What does everyone think about the headline?? I at first thought somehow Starbucks drove some other company out of business based on the headline. But it turns out they sold their company to Starbucks. I’m sure they became quite wealthy as a result of selling. That’s just capitalism if that’s all there is to the story. How did Starbucks kill something off, kill someone else’s dream???

[Dilbert San Diego]

Yep I agree. If the couple sold at a good time for the right price, that’s just capitalism at work, isn’t it?

[Rio]

For $620 Million, I think they’ll get over it.

[Cecily]

The headline definitely does not correspond to the actual story since Starbucks bought the company from the couple for big bucks. The decline in sales seems to be the fault of mall locations rather than anything Starbucks has done.

Starbucks should carry the Teavana products in their stores, which already cater to people who will overpay for drinks, food, coffee cups, water bottles, etc.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Tea drinkers and coffee drinkers are two different animals.

They have to be marketed to differently.

Tea drinkers usually brew it themselves at home or, if they buy at a tea shop, expect more then a coffee drinker does.

They expect a fresh pot brewed just for them and they expect to be able to sit and savor it.

Coffee is fuel, tea is unwinding.

I buy my tea (loose whole leaf naturally) from a small local store but I gave Teavana a whirl but the tea was no better and more costly.

[Nifster]

Seems to me the Georhia couple sold their business. They got whatever they got.

Starbucks can do as it wishes

[fella]

Will they burn the tea too?

[raybbr]

Teavana is four or five times more expensive than any bulk tea I ever bought.

[Fiddlstix]

[Dr. Sivana]

Teavana is four or five times more expensive than any bulk tea I ever bought.

I bought some VERY expensive loose oolong for my wife there once as a gift. Maybe we just don't have the right palate, but we did not find it to be very good. Never again. Being part of the Starbucks empire would have just sealed the deal. Unfortunately, all the good ma'n'pa places that usually sell nice tea as well are located downtown. Mary's Market in Rockford, Illinois has a good combination of coffees and teas even though they are mainly a restaurant/bakery. In a pinch, Panera will do for coffee, and probably tea if you aren't a snob about it.

[napscoordinator]

That makes sense. Obviously it would be stupid for Starbucks to keep holding up the tea business when it is failing, but making it a smaller operation by putting a few types of teas into starbucks could be a good business practice. Otherwise the couple failed and needs to get on with life.

[napscoordinator]

Dunkin Donuts is annoying. I go in at 4 o’clock in the afternoon and they have nothing made.....yes I know normal hours are in the morning, but then close after lunch or something. Don’t have an empty store. One thing about Starbucks is that they are always open for business. Hopefully Dunkin Donuts will be out of business soon.

[Biggirl]

Do not like Starbucks. Its coffee is not that great.

I go to its competitor, Dunkin Donnuts.

[Biggirl]

Depends on who is managing the Dunkin. I go to a local Dunkin not far from where I live. Very well run and the staff treat me well. Starbucks charges too much and some of its coffee is not that great. Plus Dunkins sends out from time to time coupons.

[leaning conservative]

Ditto, thought the same.