So I stumbled across this blog the other day penned by Alyssa Milano.
Alyssa Milano's blog
I found it strange to think of someone of this nature and "celebrity" as a normal person who goes out shopping with her Aunt and goes to visit her Gran. I also found it amazing that she didn't go to her prom because noone asked her.
Such a waste of my life reading random crap like this... However it is strangely addictive reading...
Wasn't aware of the entire global downfall of Starbucks... Wow...
I guess it is a sign of global credit squeeze and cost of living increases. Luxury items are the first to go. I know - in an effort to save money - I have moved from purchasing coffee to drinking brewed filter coffee here at work most days.
Obviously I am not the only one.
Well... The Australian public have spoken with their wallets and Starbucks will be closing a vast majority of its stores throughout the country.
There is much discussion locally about why they did not flourish in Australia. Pressures from international chain such as Gloria Jeans, McCafe and Hudson's are being blamed. Personally I think it has a lot more to do with a huge resurgence in small independent, local, coffee companies that are much, much more popular with the people I work with. Merlo, Di Bella, MAP and small coffee shops (Black Star, 5 senses, Jasper, etc) are much more popular around town.
Read on...
I recall visiting Seattle about 10 years ago - before Starbuck's arrived in Australia and was amazed at the coffee culture. It is very different to Australia. Australia is - mostly - about sitting and drinking rather than grabbing and go. I was in Bellingham discussing the coffee phenomena with my taxi driver - Turbo Terry - amazed at the drive through coffee booths. Turbo told us to avoid the Starbuck's locust plague when it arrived in Australia. I am happy to advise that - in line with Australia's strong quarantine stance - we were able to avoid the plague.
It is really interesting to see the failure of a multi-national and incredibly strong brand.
__________________________
Announcement to Customers - 29 July 2008.
Starbucks Coffee International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Starbucks Coffee Company today announced plans to restructure its business in Australia through a geographical refocus on three core cities and surrounding areas: Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
This decision will result in the closure of 61 locations throughout the country by August 3, 2008.
We would like to thank all of our customers for your continued patronage and support during the past eight years.
Starbucks has been a part of the Australian market since 2000. There are currently 84 Starbucks locations throughout the country, including Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, South Australia, Sydney, and Tasmania. 23 stores will remain open in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and surrounding areas to serve customers in those communities.
The list of stores that are scheduled for closure will appear on this site by 5pm July 31st after all affected stores partners (employees) have been personally notified.
Other articles
Union response
Bloomberg
Starbucks won't be the only one
Starbucks tastes defeat in Australia
Why Starbuck's lost its mojo... (interesting article from the Christian Science Monitor)
Extracted from today's edition of the Nia Everybody Newsletter. I loved this piece so much... It is written by Regena Thomashaeur - the creatrix of The School of Womanly Arts.
"Pleasure gives you clarity. It refreshes and rejuvenates. It keeps you ahead of the curve. In my experience, dedicating yourself to pleasure doesn't cause a lightening bolt to change you overnight. It gradually aligns your thoughts and actions with what you desire. It's a journey that requires paying attention to what you want and making mistakes that you learn from.
"Pleasure encourages you to notice what lights you up, and what doesn't. Building your life around personal fulfillment requires that you choose what lights you up again and again, each and every day. And for each woman, it might be a different thing.
"For one woman it could be dating multiple men while living in a big city. For another woman it could be getting married and having lots of babies to raise. For another, it may be writing for a living in a cabin in the woods. For another, it may be working for the Peace Corps and living overseas.
"Since you are the only one who can identify what your deepest desires are, it requires real independence, self-knowledge, courage, and determination to attain your true, deep cravings."
Mama Gena-Regena Thomashauer
Regena Thomashaeur is the creatrix of The School of Womanly Arts. She is an icon, a movement, a revolution rolled into the body of one woman and is the author of Mama Gena's Owner's and Operator's Guide to Men, Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts, Using the Power of Pleasure to Have Your Way with the World, and Mama Gena's Marriage Manual. She lives in Manhattan where she teaches women the womanly arts in an ecstatically fun and enlightening experience!
I had the BEST Nia class last night. I went to the class dragging my heels, really not wanting to be there, dog tired and quite cranky really.
I got there, found a space on the floor and read a book for 15 mins before the students arrived. All the time ticking through my head "I really don't want to be here". Students arrived and the class commenced. By the second bar into the first track I felt all my worries and cares float away and a release through my body.
At the end of the class I spoke to the students, thanking them for the energy they gave me and helping me to get over a small slump in mood.
It always amazes me the strength of power that combined energy and sense of community brings with it. Without community you are just one single solitary body. With community you sense the transfer of energy and the combined force it brings with it.
I walked home with a spring in my step and a song in my heart.
Jump Because is a great blog... Take a look.
It makes me happy just looking at all the folks jumping for joy from all around the planet.
www.jumpbecause.com
PS: They posted a picture of me jumping for joy!
