Starbucks closes 7,100 stores for training

Starbucks closes 7,100 stores for training
Tags: Customer Service, Employee Training, Specialty Stores
February 26, 2008

Wall Street Journal: Starbucks Corp. retaught baristas how to make espresso shots, steam milk and hand drinks to customers while it shut down nearly 7,100 stores in the United States on Tuesday evening. Starbucks shut down the majority of its U.S. locations from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time for the training session.

"Over the years we kind of lost our way," Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz told workers in a video that started the training. He urged workers to "really embrace this moment" and make a more genuine connection with the company's customers.