When Did Howard Schultz Start Working At Starbucks?

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Howard Schultz first became involved with Starbucks in 1982 when he joined the company as the director of retail operations and marketing. Starbucks was a small Seattle coffee business with only a few stores at the time. The business concentrated on the sale of high-quality coffee beans and equipment, not on serving coffee to customers. Schultz saw the potential for so much more and was instantly drawn to the idea of developing the brand further than its existing format.

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Howard Schultz Was Inspired by European Coffee Culture and Introduced a New Coffeehouse Experience to America

During a trip to Italy in the early 1980s, Schultz was captivated by the café culture he encountered in Milan. Not only did Italian espresso bars offer superior coffee, but they also provided a social atmosphere in which people gathered to chat, work, and relax. He recognized that Starbucks could bring the same concept to the United States by creating an outlet in which customers could enjoy superior coffee in an inviting and comfortable environment. This vision would later prove crucial in helping Starbucks become the recognized brand that it is today.

Howard Schultz Left Starbucks for a Brief Period to Pursue His Coffeehouse Concept on His Own

Though Schultz was certain about his vision for Starbucks, the company's original owners were less interested in shifting the emphasis from coffee bean sales to coffeehouses. Schultz thus left Starbucks in 1985 to start his own coffee company, Il Giornale. This provided him with the chance to test his ideas and prove that the coffeehouse model was viable in the U.S. market. Il Giornale was a success, and it was apparent that Schultz’s concept resonated with customers who wanted more than coffee itself—an experience.

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Howard Schultz Returned to Starbucks and Purchased the Company to Enhance Its Growth and Serve More Customers

In 1987, Schultz had his opportunity to buy Starbucks when the original owners were looking to sell the company. Using the success of Il Giornale as proof that his ideas could be profitable he bought Starbucks and merged it with his company. This marked the beginning of Starbucks as the global coffee powerhouse it is today. Under Schultz's leadership, Starbucks rapidly expanded its stores, introduced new beverages, and cultivated its customer experience strategy.

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Howard Schultz Focused on Customer Experience and Employee Well-being to Make Starbucks Stand Out

Schultz believed that Starbucks needed to be more than a coffee purveyor. He wanted a brand that emphasized customer experience, store environment, and employee well-being. One of his first major efforts was extending health care coverage to part-time employees, which was rare in the food service industry. He also worked on making Starbucks stores inviting by creating stores that made individuals want to stay and connect with others.

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Howard Schultz Helped Starbucks Grow Around the World and Transform the Way Individuals Enjoy Coffee

During Schultz's tenure as CEO Starbucks grew from a regional Seattle store chain into an international brand with thousands of stores worldwide. Starbucks entered new markets created specialty drinks and built a reputation for quality coffee under his leadership. Schultz's leadership took Starbucks beyond a coffee retailer—Starbucks became a lifestyle brand that influenced how people enjoy coffee and interact with their local coffeehouses.

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Howard Schultz’s Early Days at Starbucks Played a Major Role in Shaping the Company’s Identity and Future Success

Howard Schultz's Early Days at Starbucks Were Instrumental in Establishing the Company's Identity and Long-term Success Schultz's Starbucks journey began in 1982 but his early years at the company made an indelible impression on its future. His vision persistence and risk taking turned Starbucks into a household name and one of the world's most recognized brands from a small coffee retailer. The decisions he made during those early years positioned Starbucks for long-term success and impacted the world's coffee culture in a very significant way.