Posted on 03/30/2015 10:18:35 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
At Starbucks annual shareholders meeting in Seattle on Wednesday a shareholder complained to Billionaire CEO, Schultz about the fact that Starbucks has lost customers because of its support of gay marriage.
Starbucks supported Washingtons states referendum backing gay marriage last year and in response the National Organization for Marriage started a boycott of the company. Tom Stobhar, founder of Corporate Morality Action Center, complained about the companys support of gay marriage, citing that the companys support for gay marriage has resulted in boycotts against the company that have cost Starbucks a considerable amount of business.
In the first full quarter after this boycott was announced, our sales and earningshall we say politely were a bit disappointing. Stobhar said.
This prompted Shultz to engage with Stobhar saying,
Not every decision is an economic decision. Despite the fact that you recite statistics that are narrow in time, we did provide a 38% shareholder return over the last year. I dont know how many things you invest in, but I would suspect not many things, companies, products, investments have returned 38% over the last 12 months. Having said that, it is not an economic decision to me. The lens in which we are making that decision is through the lens of our people. We employ over 200,000 people in this company, and we want to embrace diversityof all kinds. If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38% you got last year, its a free country You can sell your shares in Starbucks and buy in another company. Thank you very much.
To which, the crowd erupted in applause. This shareholders crowd might have been pleased with Starbucks decisions but other groups are very annoyed. Websites like DumpStarbucks.com and manny others have popped up who aim to boycott the company as long is it remains opposed to Biblical marriage. Dump Starbucks has a petition that has over 49,000 signatures against Starbucks. Many shareholders are taking Schutlzs advice and are indeed selling their shares.
Well said.... I totally agree.
[[I never understood how starbuck got so big and so popular.]]
By playing off the psyche of people who fall for trends so easily- charge a lot and people will think you’re the bee’s knees, the cat’s meow, the dog’s bark, the .... whatever- and they will flock to you and gladly throw their hard earned money down the drain for crappy coffee-
[[If all logical people boycotted their stores and/or gift cards, Starbucks would be out of business.]]
Not true, there are way too many illogical people In this country these days who support what these immoral cretins do
The sane might put a little dent in their profits, but really, most starbucks are located in inner cities where the majority are liberal whackadoos anyways-
I agree wholeheartedly. The cheapest store brand coffee has a better roast than the swill they pass off as coffee at these pretentious coffee stands.
Besides their holier than though Liberalism is really of putting.
Apple fan boys are beyond redemption. They are all things Apple, even though Tim Cook is a disgusting rump ranger and likely pedophile.
Make sure you write a nice polite letter expressing that sentiment to him and every Board Member.
Yes, Mr. Baruch. Got it.
It always tastes burnt. The only good tasting cup of Starbucks coffee I ever had was in Dubai airport.
True, Apple fans do seem to be a bit cultist. Can’t imagine any of them using a Windows PC...(or knowing how). heh. Somehow, that Democratic advertisement of Pajama Boy in the basement comes to mind.
Hell any store brand uses a higher quality bean and better raost than Starbucks their coffee just tastes wretched. There isn’t enough sugar and cream in the World to de bitter the taste of it.
Besides I can buy a pound of high quality coffee at the store for one cup of their crap and brew several pots.
If they’re getting a return of 38 percent it means that their prices are too high, and those big corporate executives are getting rich on the backs of the poor.
I think it's meant to be that way because of all the extraneous crap that's put into it. They never intended it to be drunk black.
Starbucks has long openly supported the homosexual agenda...going back to at least early 90s...Christians who drink Starbucks beverages are linking arm in arm with their social causes
Now I know, after all these years, WHY I have NEVER been to a Starbucks or tasted their coffee.
I can truthfully say that I have never been in a Starbucks and also truthfully, I plan to keep that trend going. Especially now.
The best coffee in Tampa was the old Quatro Julio on Howard Ave. Is it still great in the “new” location?
It’s popular because of the panache and circumstance.
Trendy, a little soup Nazi-ish, overly priced, pretentious, and they make their customers learn to speak a made up language when ordering.
It’s hip [whatever the ‘word’ is nowadays] to have that big cup with the green all over it - it shows you care, for something you can’t even describe.
Their hip customers carry their cups around like a big phallic symbol - must give them some sense of security knowing their junk is firmly in their grasp.
Schultzy is tripling down on stupidity.
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