WHY STARBUCKS WILL WIN IN CHINASHANGHAI, CHINA Two weeks ago, construction began on a dormant property sitting along a busy intersection outside my home. From what has been an empty or vacant lot began to bustle and boom with the noise of construction workers each day welding, building, and destroying the property inside-out.Two weeks ago it all became clear when the iconic Starbucks logo began glowing green. Every morning as I commute to work, and each night as I arrive home, I see the that glowing logo beating beside Subway and Chinas leading cafe, Pacific Coffee. As bold as its beans, Starbucks had slapped yet another cafe in a famed and popular central location in Shanghai.What is Starbucks Doing in Asia?

Why Starbucks New Strategy is ImpressiveCEO Howard SchultzIn 1971, three students from the University of San Francisco set out to establish a coffee bean business calledPiquod, named after the famous ship in Moby Dick. Within a few years, the students expanded their business in Seattle and had the company renamed to the Captain of the Piquod, Starbuck. The co-founders sold the rights to founding member Howard Schultz in 1983, and the company quickly began to expand. By 1992, Starbucks was brewing 2,000,000 beans a year, and went public.The year is 2008, and Starbucks CEO Jim Donald is facing pressure from years of slow growth and rising materials prcies and enhanced competition in the coffee market. Founder,Howard Schultzreturns to the post to resume is hole as President and CEO after an 8 year hiatus.

Schultz sought to restore the distinctive, Starbucks Experience despite booming expansion across US and International Chains. Facing rising competition from lower-priced fast food chains such as Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds, Schultz reformed brought the Starbucks Experience to the forefront of their expansion strategy that sought to not dilute the company, but to maintain its popularity amongst coffee drinkers.Starbucks in ChinaRecently, Starbucks CEO Schultz announced plans to reposition Starbucks ambitions towards Asian markets.In a region that sees tea as the #1 most popular drink outside of water, Schultz seeks to turn 1.3 billion tea drinkers into coffee lovers. How will he do this? Is it fathomable to imagine a man who took an 8 year retirement from the company he founded, can exceed its original status as Americas most popular cafe?Starbucks success isnt unfamiliar to anyone living outside or inside the States. With 14,000 stores domestically brewing beans each day, it boasts 6,000+ stores worldwide. Nearly 1,000 in Japan. Over 150 in Thailand. Hundreds across Mexico, and soon1,500new stores across mainland China.

Balancing Act of Global ExpansionWhile the future seems set for Starbucks vision and Chinese surround me currently gulping down every roasted variety on the menu, there are more numbers to consider when understanding Starbucks aims.With nearly 11,000 stores in the US and less than 7,000 worldwide in 2012, Starbucks faces a steep balancing act. While the prospects of growth in markets like China seem on-track, the company has struggled in some nations. In Russia, the largest nation in the world, there are only 56 stores following disagreements and a Moscow-based lawyers attempts to land rights to the company. In France, Starbucks has poured significant money into less than 75 stores and has barely even broken even on its efforts.In 2012, the company stepped on the gas, intending to launch 1,200 stores the following fiscal year, about three shops per day in 2012. Less than half of them were in the USA.Were in the early stages of growth in Asia representing the fastest and largest retail growth opportunity in the companys foreseeable future.- John Culver, President of Starbucks China and Asia Pacific Region

SecuringGlobal Coffee Bean Producers in ChinaYUNNAN, CHINA Starbucks is planning to launch a farmer-support network in Chinas Yunnan region to assist in the production of cost-efficient coffee beans destined for Asian palettes.Starbucks is poised to establish an unprecedented stronghold on the coffee market in Asia. By buying out coffee bean producers in the Yunnan (lit. Low Clouds) province, the company has begun selling popular Asian themed drinks in its stores.[youtube height="HEIGHT" width="WIDTH"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYSiGomkGdg[/youtube]Even Starbucks largest competitor,TeaVanahas beeninhaledby the company, securing Starbucks foothold in a country that is poised to becomethe second largest coffee marketby 2015. For Chinese I spoke with, they told me that they loved the taste, and that enjoying a drink a Starbucks was in itself, a social experience and an act of self expression.ControversyBut what does this all mean for Chinese? Will they buy the bait? The truth is, simply being in, or purchasing Starbucks itself can be seen as a status symbol in China. Chinese enjoy being seen purchasing and consuming such a luxury coffee brand. Such a status symbol in itself, serves as an example of the growing classes of wealthier Chinese.

Starbucks CultureRecent controversy rise as state media reported the outrage of prices in Shanghai overpriced they argued. Where a Starbucks thermos can go for $12, or a cup may exceed $0.45 the average cost of what you may find in Chicago, LA, or even New York City.-Starbucks turn to Asia, even with its homegrown elements of producing its unique blend from Chinese producers is an interesting move in its own right. For a company that has seen sluggish growth as various obstacles in establishing a world wide brand, it appears to be moving in their favor.A gentleman wearing a suit and speaking perfect English just asked to borrow my seat as he accommodates the company of his colleagues for an afternoon meeting over coffee. Im reminded once again that maybe Im not even in China, but some other conglomeration of absolute-globalization in Eastern Asia.