In China, Starbucks has announced a new seating policy. They will require customers to make a purchase if they want to sit in their stores. This change affects all 8,000 Starbucks locations across the country starting Thursday. The decision aims to improve the experience for paying customers, ensuring they have available seats.
Starbucks China faces strong competition from other coffee brands like Luckin Coffee, which offer cheaper options. The company wants to maintain its full cafe experience where people can relax. Many customers on social media support the change, as it discourages non-paying individuals from occupying seats. In other countries, Starbucks also prefers prioritizing paying customers to avoid crowded spaces.
Starbucks recently faced similar issues worldwide, such as in South Korea and North America. In these places, they have encouraged people to refrain from occupying space without buying anything. The company's new strategy focuses on keeping their cafes enjoyable for those who choose to buy their products.
Original news source: No order, no seat: Starbucks China rolls out new store policy – BBC News (BBC)
🎧 Listen:
📖 Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
1. Have you ever been to a Starbucks? What was your experience like?
2. Why do people like to visit coffee shops?
3. What rules do you think are important in a cafe?
4. How do you feel about making a purchase to sit in a cafe?
5. Can you name other popular coffee shops besides Starbucks?
🤔 Comprehension Questions:
Customers must make a purchase to sit in stores.
It affects all 8,000 locations.
To improve the experience for paying customers and ensure they have available seats.
Luckin Coffee is mentioned as a competitor.
Many customers support the change.
Starbucks has faced similar issues in South Korea and North America.
The focus of the strategy is to keep cafes enjoyable for paying customers.
🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
In China, Starbucks has announced a new policy. They will require customers to make a if they to sit in their stores. This change affects all 8,000 Starbucks locations across the country starting Thursday. The decision aims to improve the experience for paying customers, ensuring they have available seats. Starbucks China faces strong from other like Luckin Coffee, which offer cheaper options. The company wants to maintain its full cafe experience where people can relax. Many customers on social media support the , as it discourages non-paying individuals from occupying seats. In countries, Starbucks also prefers prioritizing paying customers to avoid crowded . Starbucks recently faced similar issues worldwide, such as in and North America. In these places, they have encouraged people to refrain from occupying space without anything. The company's new strategy focuses on keeping their cafes enjoyable for those who choose to buy their products.
💬 Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think it's fair to ask people to buy something before sitting?
2. How would you feel if you couldn't find a seat in a cafe?
3. What makes a cafe enjoyable for customers?
4. Why might some people disagree with the new policy?
5. How important is it for cafes to have enough seating for paying customers?
6. Have you ever felt a store was too crowded? What did you do?
7. What do you like to do when you're at a cafe?
8. How can cafes balance between being welcoming and making a profit?
9. How do different cultures view sitting and buying in cafes?
10. What strategies do you think cafes can use to attract customers?
11. Why are loyalty programs important for cafes?
12. How do you think this new policy will affect Starbucks' business?
Individual Activities
📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
