Quotees Archive

I was taken by the power that savoring a simple cup of coffee can have to connect people and create community.

- Howard Schultz

I was working probably at the age of 10, when I had my first paper route. I had every different kind of job you could possibly imagine as a young kid.

- Howard Schultz

Customers have different need states and life experiences.

- Howard Schultz

Cutting prices or putting things on sale is not sustainable business strategy. The other side of it is that you can’t cut enough costs to save your way to prosperity.

- Howard Schultz

Do I take criticism of Starbucks personally? Of course I do.

- Howard Schultz

Don’t buy preground coffee.

- Howard Schultz

Dream more than others think practical.

- Howard Schultz

Europe has always represented a major strategic opportunity to achieve our goal of creating and building an enduring global brand.

- Howard Schultz

Even though people are under economic pressure, they still want to support those brands with values that are compatible with their own.

- Howard Schultz

Everyone must have a shot at the American Dream.

- Howard Schultz

Expect more than others think possible.

- Howard Schultz

For Starbucks, there will be no shortage of the highest-quality arabica beans. I suspect that for some others there could potentially be a problem, not in the near term, but over time.

- Howard Schultz

Great companies that build an enduring brand have an emotional relationship with customers that has no barrier. And that emotional relationship is on the most important characteristic, which is trust.

- Howard Schultz

Great opportunities can be and have been created during tough economic times.

- Howard Schultz

Growing up I always felt like I was living on the other side of the tracks. I knew the people on the other side had more resources, more money, happier families.

- Howard Schultz

I always saw myself wanting to do something deemed successful and good at the same time.

- Howard Schultz

I am concerned about any attrition in customer traffic at Starbucks, but I don’t want to use the economy, commodity prices or consumer confidence as an excuse. We must maintain a value proposition to our customers as well as differentiate the Starbucks Experience. That is the key.

- Howard Schultz

I believe life is a series of near misses. A lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. It’s seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. It’s seeing what other people don’t see And pursuing that vision.

- Howard Schultz

I can’t imagine a day without coffee. I can’t imagine!

- Howard Schultz

I could’ve just walked away but I never could have forgiven myself to allow Starbucks to drift into mediocrity or not be relevant. I just couldn’t be a bystander.

- Howard Schultz

I despise research. I think it’s a crutch.

- Howard Schultz

I do feel, in a sense, the rules of engagement for citizenship has changed, and we must encourage other people to speak up and to take action.

- Howard Schultz

A great business has to have a conscience. You have to know who you are and who you are not.

- Howard Schultz

America’s leaders need to put their feet in the shoes of working Americans.

- Howard Schultz

Americans reading the paper, listening to the news every single day, and all you hear is things are getting worse and worse. And that has a psychological effect on consumer confidence. That’s what consumer confidence is.

- Howard Schultz

Any business today that embraces the status quo as an operating principle is going to be on a death march.

- Howard Schultz

Anybody can leverage celebrity for profit.

- Howard Schultz

As Americans, there are very few things we have confidence in.

- Howard Schultz

At an early age, my mother gave me this feeling that anything is possible, and I believe that.

- Howard Schultz

Beverages have to be created. And they’re created by looking at what trend is in, say, the fashion industry – what color’s hot right now.

- Howard Schultz

Business leaders cannot be bystanders.

- Howard Schultz

California, in a sense, is almost Starbucks’ largest country, with almost 3,000 stores

- Howard Schultz

Care more than others think wise.

- Howard Schultz

Certainly the caffeine in coffee, whether it’s Starbucks or generic coffee, is somewhat of a stimulant. But if you drink it in moderation, which I think four or five cups a day is, you’re fine.

- Howard Schultz

China traditionally has been a tea-drinking country but we turned them into coffee drinkers.

- Howard Schultz

Companies should not have a singular view of profitability. There needs to be a balance between commerce and social responsibility… The companies that are authentic about it will wind up as the companies that make more money.

- Howard Schultz