I guess what franchises do do well is introduce a wider drinking public to the coffee debate, by marketing their product exceptionally well. It has also been well documented that when starbucks opens a store in a certain area, neighbouring coffee sales also escalate dramatically. And for many, as Anuta has said, these concept stores provide a training ground, and an introduction to the mechanisms and workings of the coffee product, that might not have happened otherwise. Hells teeth, my first coffee experience was as a budding 14 yr old working in my uncles cafe in Wellington, New Zealand, in the early 80's, when no one then had even heard of a cappuccino! It was percolated coffee all the way! So from humble beginnings big things grow. There is no doubt, that what the franchise stores do, they do well, in catering to a segment of the market place that overall seems happy with the product is provided. And although I do not wish in any way to emulate these stores, I do wish that I had access to their advertising budget, and their marketing prowess. ACG 😉
