Does Starbucks Have Public Toilets?
Starbucks has a policy of allowing anyone to use the toilets, regardless of whether they have bought something or not. This is part of an effort to bring down the allegations of racism after the Philadelphia incident. Howard Schultz, Chairman of Starbucks, made a statement to the think tank, Atlantic Council, that he believes that they are going to make the right decisions and give people access to the washrooms.
Reason For Restriction
Public restrooms are often vandalized and have maintenance problems. In order to help with the maintenance cost, many companies request customers to buy something first. Another major concern is drug use in public toilets. A survey found that 58% of managers have seen people engaged in drug use when given access to public toilets. However, it is worth noting that this change of policy can make a big difference in the lives of people without a home. People who are homeless belong disproportionately to racial minorities. Maria Foscarinsi believes that it is an opportunity for Starbucks to educate its staff on homeless anti-bias information. ..
Cause For The Change In Policy
A row between the manager of Philadelphia and two black men resulted in the change of the policy. The men had come to attend a business meeting and hadn’t yet made a purchase when they requested to use the bathroom. They were arrested. It resulted in the company having to shut down its café for mandatory anti-racial training of its staff and issued a public apology to the men. Around 175,000 staff were trained and the company ended up losing $20 million. It became one of the infamous incidents of public-relations disaster for Starbucks. The footage of the incident went viral with outrage from people accusing Starbucks of racism. In an email that Starbucks sent to its employees, it stated that every customer should feel welcomed in the café. Mr. Johnson believed that the incident could have become a vehicle for positive change.
Consequences
Fewer Customer Visits
A study found that monthly visits to the café dropped 6.8% when compared with coffee shops adjacent to Starbucks. The study was made by scholars at academic schools of the University of Texas and used cell phone location data from 10,800 stores. Starbucks slashed down the findings by claiming that they have been seeing a record influx of customers in its coffee shops. Starbucks pointed out that the study is faulty as it does not consider the purchasing behaviors of 100 million weekly customers. ..
A Decline In Customer Traffic
According to a recent study, it was observed that customer traffic declined in stores that were closer to homeless shelters, and fewer cases of public urination near the stores. It’s better-off clients have been visiting the cafes less, leading to a drop in income for Starbucks’ customers compared with the nearby shops. It can hurt business as non-paying visitors can affect the flow of regular customers. The policy could also deter people who had felt compelled to buy something to sit and access the store’s bathroom.
Shorter Visits
The time customers spend after the policy change is shorter, according to a study by Experian. The study found that 4.2% less time was spent in stores after the policy change went into effect. This can be attributed to the digitization of placing an order which makes it easier for customers to order in advance.
Shared Experiences
Starbucks is facing backlash after two black men were arrested at one of its stores in Philadelphia. The arrests have sparked outrage and calls for a boycott of the coffee chain. Similar incidents have also been reported by Starbucks customers in other parts of the country. One such incident occurred in California, where a white customer was allowed to use the bathroom without having bought anything. These incidents are raising questions about race and discrimination at Starbucks. ..
Staff Training
Starbucks has put in a lot of effort to create a curriculum that will make the Starbucks store more inclusive and safe for everyone. The goal is to create an environment where everyone can feel comfortable and welcome.
The University of Texas study found that Starbucks does not have public toilets, contrary to the chain’s claim. The study compared the data at nearby shops and cafes, and found that Starbucks’ rapid expansion has become a cause for concern as it might affect its inflow of customers at older stores. It has started facing competition from rivals like McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Que. Does Starbucks Have Public Toilets??
Starbucks cafes have washrooms inside other stores, but the ones that are located in Starbucks themselves have a separate washroom.
Starbucks’ bathroom code is SRO.
The company no longer uses a bathroom code or key system. Customers must request the key to access the bathroom.
The most popular drink at Starbucks is the latte.
Starbucks is a popular spot for coffee drinkers to go. They offer a variety of drinks, including Vanilla Latte, Iced White Chocolate Mocha, and Pumpkin Spice Latte. ..
