The Starbucks “partner store” is a merchandise store with items not available at any of their actual coffeehouse locations. There is an online “partner” store which is only open to partners. (Starbucks calls their employees “partners.”). And there is one physical “partner” store located in the headquarters. This blog post is about the one store actually at the headquarters, not the online store. For those who don’t know, the address to the headquarters is as follows:
Starbucks Coffee Company
2401 Utah Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98134
Up until recently, there was no easy way to go shopping at the “partner” store. (From this point on I will call it the “merchandise store” because that is what it really is.) It used to be that to go shopping there, you required a corporate escort to host you. I’ve heard this was true whether you were a customer or a partner! The merchandise store saw the need to open up their location to more people by relocating within the headquarters to a location that no longer requires a corporate escort. On March 8, 2011, the merchandise store re-opened brand new on the 8th floor of the headquarters. It is now immediately adjacent to the reception area (the north side of the reception area) and easily accessible to anyone visiting the headquarters.
I wrote about the merchandise store before in a previous blog post about six months ago:
Stuff you might find at the partner store – previous blog post
The new partner store is all new in every way. It is in a new location (no longer buried deep inside the corporate headquarters), and it has tons of new merchandise with the new logo on it. You can find water bottles, t-shirts, coffee mugs, books, notebooks, pens, an umbrella, a jacket, a grocery sack, magnets, key chains, and much more. I bought some pens, the grocery sack, and an umbrella too. I particularly like my umbrella! It’s a great simple design and it’s a fun thing to have. I am showing off my umbrella for all of you in the picture that goes with this article. (Photo taken at the 7th and Pike Starbucks downtown.) They say real Seattleites don’t use umbrellas. 😉
I have to be honest that the day I visited the partner store, I wasn’t really thinking about a blog post so I only took a couple of photos. Nonetheless, if you are visiting Seattle, this is definitely a Starbucks must visit idea! I just wanted to announce the change of location and show off the few pictures that I did take.
((Edit on 4-2-11:
I realize from comments and tweets that I wasn’t clear in this blog article. This store is open to the public now. That is the big change as of March 8, 2011. The Starbucks headquarters operates Monday through Friday, normal business hours. Visiting this merchandise store would mean that you go visit the headquarters when it is open. Go all the way up to the 8th floor reception area. Look for the store’s entrance adjacent to the reception desk. Hope this helps to clear that up.))
Enjoy!
Edit on May 9, 2011:
I just used my Starbucks reusable grocery sack over the weekend and thought I would share a photo of it here. I got it on this trip to the merchandise store, which was the same day I took the photos above:
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Wow this is awesome, they should do one in the UK i know id love it!
wow! oh so jealous!!!!! (this would thrill me like Niketown used to!) I wish they would even put a FEW of those choices online for sale. Sbux is Seattle-heavy, for sure!
I’m reading the book, and having lots of feelings about H.S. and the whole thing, btw.
Thanx for sharing!
Do partner’s get their partner discount here?
I totally agree that SB has missed the boat a bit in not offering these stores to customers beyond Seattle. Offering merchandise only online to me is not bottom line effective and they should test market some of these stores at various locations.
It would be cool to have regional stores. I think a lot of their merchandise in stores is neat, but most of it is not something I’d use. I do like that the bears seem to have come back though… perhaps more cool things in the near future?
LOL it’s true! Umbrellas are how Nor’westers spot the tourists; if it’s wet enough to bother, it’s too windy to be of any use! ;))
Great post as usual m’lady. Makes me want to take a road trip to Seattle! What fun, to be surrounded by the Siren!
That looks awesome!
@Nick – Good question! I think you do get your partner discount in the merch store but don’t hold me to that. I will try to find out!
I’d love to shop here!
I would love to check that place out
How fun! I would love to go on a shopping spree at that store! I love to sport the Starbucks logo and show my support for my favorite coffee shop. Having a Starbucks umbrella would be awesome! And I’ve always had a thing for pens and keychains. I’m sure I could easily spend a ton of money at this place!
Thanks for sharing the pictures!
I’ll be in Seattle next week! Son’s wedding, I’ll def look into heading here…
That store looks AMAZING!! Maybe I just skipped over it, but now that they moved the location of the partner store and don’t require an escort etc… does that mean its open to the public if you are able to make a visit in the headquarters? Or is it still partner only for the most part with an occasional opportunity for customers to shop? I love the shirts and a key chain would be so cool to have!
Thanks for the great info! I’m planning a quick trip to Seattle in August — a visit to the partner store and pike place market are on the top of my list! I often peruse the partner merch website but there’s just something about getting to touch things in real life and make impulse purchases!
WOW!!! I’m glad I checked this out! I saw your tweet from this morning but didn’t think to follow the link then – then I saw your post on FaceBook 😀 These are GREAT pictures! Again thank you for sharing. I am adding this to my growing shopping list of things to check out once I’m part of the employed again LOL 😀 Your posts always make me *SQUEE* I’m totally happy about this store opening up to the public!!! Thank you for sharing!!! 😀
Awesome post MEL! It’s been a long time since I’ve made the treck to HQ but the new store looks very upgraded 🙂 Umbrellas are never near me when I need them and I don’t know if I’d endorse one but that SBUX one looks fun!
@Purple1 (and deniseR if you’re out there!) – Purple, I’m kind of replying to your tweet here.
Denise – As to Starbucks being Seattle-heavy, I guess it is. But I think that most corporations have some sort of gift shop/ merchandise store at their headquarters that offers things that would otherwise be hard to find.
You both know that I totally think there is room in the stores for more Starbucks logo merchandise. I just have this very strong aversion to the idea of t-shirts, jackets, and clothing being sold in Starbucks. I think I’m scarred from having worked at the Limited as well as Eddie Bauer. Clothing has this unique component where people want to try it on, find a size, find a color, want it in gift boxes with gift receipts, and I’ve spend way too many hours with a folding board in these hands.
I would far rather see Starbucks umbrellas, stationary, notebooks, and books in a Starbucks store than t-shirts. T-shirts make me cringe!
ooooh that store looks awesome! too bad Seattle is so far away from NC!
Hmm, I can think of a few people that would appreciate a gift from there!
@Kimmy -Glad I could help! @LatteRose – That is a great idea -What a perfect place to go shopping for birthday presents!
The new online store is only open to US partners, so now I know that there is a physical store that I also can’t shop at makes me even more sad. 🙁
I hear they’re working to make it available to International partners again, but still. I want clothes with the new pretty lady on them!
Cool that it’s there though, I wonder when my mom has to go to Seattle next. I could send her in to get me some things.
Thanks for the edit! Woohoo it IS open to the public (aka, us fans!) That is a must visit…I can’t wait to get to Seattle someday!!
@Michelle – Don’t slap me, but mentally every time you post on here I have this visual image that you’re down in Texas. I don’t know why I get that stuck in my head wrong. I know that is wrong since I’ve seen your tweets.
Re: online partner store – Is that a change? Was the online partner store open to international partners before? I’ve never actually visited the partner store online though I think it’s run by the same folks as the actual physical store, so I assume it’s the same stuff. However, I’m with darkkatpouncng, that it’s way more fun to physically pick things up and get it immediately (and not pay shipping) than to shop online. As always Michelle, it’s good to see you here!
The store will be right here waiting for you when you want to take a vacation to Seattle! 🙂
I can’t wait to spend all my money here when I visit at the end of the month!!!
Hmm so would I really be struck by lightening if I decide to make a trip to Seattle to go to this store and not see my sister.
Oh I hear the thunder coming over head now
@LoreneRomero – I just got a good chuckle out of that. That’s exactly the kind of thing I would do! Spring storms …You’ll need a good umbrella.
This is paradise for me…just paradise!! :DDD
Amazing nice stuff there! I would buy everything!!
@Sebastian – I feel the same way as you. I could make myself broke shopping there. If you ever make it to Seattle, you’ve got to get to the partner store!
Melody, I totally agree. I mean, I’d love to be able to easily access this stuff as much as the next Starbucks enthusiast, but I think bringing clothing items and such into Starbucks stores worldwide would be a really bad idea. It just doesn’t go along with the coffee shop feel—Baristas don’t need to be busy helping people find their sizes. Bathroom lines don’t need to build up just because people are trying things on. There’s definitely room for more merch in stores, but…I don’t think jackets, shirts, etc. are good choices for in-store sales.
I’d love if there were a way I could order things from this store online, but you’re right—a lot of corporations have gift shops/gift items at their flagship store/headquarters that aren’t easy to come by everywhere else.
I hope I get to visit Seattle one of these days! If I do, this is totally on my list of things I simply MUST do! 🙂
@Pencil to paper – I forgot about the fact that the restrooms would become changing rooms. There is no doubt that would happen.
I’m writing this to anyone who is interested: I have moments where I get so emotional about how it is such a small world and an even smaller Starbucks world. In response to this blog article, I got an email from a customer in Bangkok, Thailand. It >happens< that he is about to leave on a vacation to Seattle – He wants to see the first store and do all the Starbucks things there are to do here. He read my blog post about touristing in Seattle, and even plans to get to the 40th floor Columbia Tower Starbucks for its unique and gorgeous view.
So now, he is including in his plans a trip to the headquarters to the merchandise store. Starbucks is amazing how it pulls customers from all over the world to Seattle. Reminds me of the trips that Noboru Sakamoto has made too- He is SO wonderful!
It tickled me pink that with a little help of a blog post, a customer from Bangkok will find his way to the merchandise store at the headquarters.
@Michelle, are you a Canadian partner? There is a dedicated partner store that you can link to from http://www.starbuckscoffeegear.ca
Melody: no…I totally agree with you about ‘stuff’ in the stores!!! I would NOT want to see clothes etc!!! (I WANT some of those things but not in the cafes) As they used to do…I’d like at least more mechadise stuff like we’ve referred to. BUT, I’d like access to a few of those Sbux other things… at least online.
You’re right about every corp. etc….in its own place. Oprah has a store here, across from her beautiful huge studios. (I’ve been wondering what will happen to allll that at the end of this ending :((((((( season. ) i luv Oprah.
Intelligentsia, which you will one day visit, I believe, 😉 stays small and very much like what Sbux used to be..they sell a couple tshirts, coffeeware, carry-bag and maybe a thing or two else, besides their limited mug offering. Very little merchandise, but….some. but they stay small. (and are not Sbux)
I would just like to ab able to get my hands on some of that Sbux stuff….but I wouldn’t want it in the cafes. It’s funny, but, if partners are interested in this kind of stuff, and have access online…..I don’t think they’re, maybe in GENERAL, as desiring of it as we (customers) are.
(I never felt particularly attached to any of the things… big beach towel, camping/hiiking cooler, mugs, tshirts, etc. that I ever recvd from one large university hospital where I worked for yrs. except when they went to the Rose Bowl one yr and we all got baseball caps with all that on them. there’s those cap stories again…. yikes. and, actually, I do have an umbrella somewhere in my car with the places name on it, speaking of umbrellas! My point is, I think mpre customers would actually buy alot of the stuff than maybe the partners.
You have the things in the 1912 place, too…which is cool. A friend I grew up with called me from that store a couple yrs ago…she lives in WA., not Seattle, and asked me which color tshirt I wanted…so, I did get that..which I might add, gets lots of comments, mostly from the partners!
I don’t think that many of the retail partners have the disposable income to buy a lot of Starbucks branded merchandise. It might be nice to see corporate give them some of these items to wear in the stores and then direct customers to an online site where they could purchase them.
And @Melody – your comments about folding clothes at Eddie Bauer and the Limited brought back memories of the old SNL skit with David Spade and Chris Farley (the Gap girls) – “just cinch it!” 🙂
@CD – You bring up a good point. I’ve gotten the sense that the price point of many of these items is little higher than what a typical barista is comfortable with but I think they DO get their partner discount which in the end makes it a much more affordable place to shop for a partner.
@DeniseR – An Oprah store? Now that sounds cool!!! Wow! I would have fun in there too. How could anyone possibly not love Oprah!!??
Is it right that, when I have my German Starbucks partner card soon, I can go shopping on http://www.starbuckscoffeegear.com ?
Would be a blast…
I too agree Melody that clothes are a difficult thing to have in the stores especially since some partners are not focused enough re making the drinks and interacting with customers no less to help with a clothes purchase. However, it would be nice to have the option either online or at regional stores to purchase items. BTW, I have not seen anyone purchase the HS book but I have seen people take it off the rack and sit down and read it while drinking their coffee. My local store also continues to feel stale as far as displays of merchandise and needs to be refreshed.
@Sebastian – I’ve always thought that partners anywhere could go to the online site and go shopping, even if you are in Germany. I’ve been told that you sign in with a “global user name” which is a country code + partner number – But don’t hold me to this! If you can’t figure out how to log in, I bet you could tweet a few SSC folks to help you. There are a few people on twitter who work in the SSC who might be in the know.
@purple1: sales of the book at my store are very slow, too. I have never SEEN it purchased and when I asked, the partners on at the time, tell me they aren’t selling them much.
I would certainly urge any partner or manager to NOT allow ‘sitting down’ with the book. If someone wants to stand there and thumb thru it, to see if they want it, that’s one thing. But to SIT DOWN with the book? that would be the place I’d draw the line.
@CD: yes, there’s a store of all things Oprah (well, the tangible things!) across from her studio on west Washington. and alot of it is also online. I have not been to the store but intend to get my butt there before the end of the show. month of May sometime. 🙁
correction: (I am too distracted right now) the @CD remark re: Oprah store should’ve been @ Melody. (I got you two mixed up) xx
@deniseR – It’s funny that in-store sales of the book look slow here. I’m not sure if it is a sign of how so many people buy books online, or there were a number of pre-sale promotions. Maybe it’s already sold so well. I’ve never seen anyone buy the book yet either (in the store I should say).
@melody: ps: I saw your tweet re: Nob. I don’t know what it’s about but I can certainly pray for him, too. I know he’s a really goood, interesting guy.
Melody: re the book sales (or lack of) I think the whole “Onward” card fact (with purchase of the book) is not well advertised. I bought it for that reason…..even tho I already had a book thru your ordering. I can easily give the book as a gift, and I wanted the card.
I don’t think they promote that very well at all…or else people don’t care. ???
I am not totally sure that you can control people re reading a copy of the HS book at a table without puchasing it. At least at my local SB it would be difficult unless you put the book display behind the counter. People are reading the newspapers without purchasing them. Plus the lines can be so long at times that the partners have enough to do re taking orders, cleaning the condiment bar, etc.
Hi Mel:
Ive purchased through the US site over the past three years and recieved some awesome cups and pins and baristawear. After speaking with US Coffee Gear directly, Starbucks wants to assist the international partners wiith better options regarding pricing due to taxes, shipping and Duty taxes. So when the new coffeegear site launched, they restricted access to only US partners untill all these oppertunites to better assist international partners are implemented.
I look forward to being able to purchase again from coffeegear.com
However, for Canadian partners, coffeegear.ca is still a great site. Although the selection is limited when compaired to its US counterpart, its still a great way to show off your inner Siren! 🙂
Love What You Do!
Brad Bauder
@lairelandon
@purple1: Your frustration resonates with me. It can be truly difficult to see the misuse of our merchandise. This is most deffinatly a concern that you should bring to your store managers attention. I’m sure they will value your imput as someone who is on the floor constantly observing the ebb and flow of the store.
In our store, the “Onward” book display is right at POS and is easily monitored and easily refered too whenever someone is looking for a Starbucks Card. Maybe you can use more cue based or suggestive selling techniques to “up sales” of this wonderful book whenever someone is looking for a unique Starbucks Card.
Love What You Do!
Brad Bauder
@lairelandon
@Nick: Yes, partners receive their 30% discount off merchandise at the store. Enjoy!
Brad from your answer to me am not totally sure if you realize I am not a partner but a customer. I have at times spoken with the SM and DM on various topics (not the HS book or newspapers) and depending on the situation their actions vary. I suppose with any of the SB stores, the level of communication depends on the time of day, what partners are on, etc. Sorry Melody this is off topic a bit. Re merchandise- the stores really have to make it more inviting for a customer to look at the merchandise and consider purchasing it. I just don’t see people looking at the merchandise right now as the stores look so bland.
@purple1: I agree and was especially noticing today….the blandness. As the neweness of Tribute stuff wears off and disappears, we are looking very…empty, at least. The “Onward” books at my place are right at ther register, too but…. the partners generally seem unaware (too busy, often) of what’s going on with that display.
Plus, I just recvd the Costco magazine that has H.S, (on the cover) and a whole little ‘Onward’ story with him inside. Then, I see the book at Costco for half the usual asking price. This Costco is within 0.5miles of my Sbux…… The only way, to me, they sell the books in the stores is more emphasis on the ‘card’.
Melody – Nope not in TX. Though…I went there once? 😉
I will definitely be coming to Seattle at some point. I’ve been dying to visit for quite a while, but I told my mom recently that the next time she has to travel there for work that I’m coming with her (that way I can stay for free!), so the store will definitely be a place I’ll visit.
They relaunched the coffee gear site when the logo changed over. We could order from there prior to that, but can’t anymore. The thing that sucks about that is that I used to order and ship to my mom’s address. So, while I’m a Canadian partner…I always had it shipped to a US address (to save $ on shipping & duty), but since we have to register with our global username, the site will know without doubt where I live.
becca – Yes, I know about the Canadian Coffee Gear site, it’s just not as good as the other site. The selection is very limited. However, I haven’t looked since the new logo came out, if there’s stuff there with our new pretty lady, I should go take a look.
purple1: Thank you for bringing to my attention what I missed, that you are a valued guest in our stores! Even more so should you speak with the Store Manager at your Starbucks. If you have found that your call to action,+ in a reasonable period of time, has seemingly fallen on deaf ears, than I urge you to contact our Customer Service line at 1 800 23 LATTE.
Our goal is to provide a legendary customer service experience and create enthusiastically satisfied customers every day. If we’ve somehow fallen short in our mission, or you see an area of opportunity for us to do better, such as a refresh of our wall bays or merchandise tables etc., we surely want and value your honest feedback!
I hope we haven’t lost you as our guest and will give us the opportunity to serve you with renewed vigor. 🙂
Love What You Do!
Brad Bauder
@lairelandon