My loyalty to a well known "Love Mark" aka brand

                One of our assignments in the 3d Game lab for my Humanities 101 course is to evaluate the so called lovemarks in advertising and to choose a lovemark which is a part of our own personal lives and to decide what “emotional branding” that lovemark has played in our life.

                According to the 3d Game lab, a lovemark is defined as a brand that is sold as much by its emotional connection with consumers as it is for any practical reason. Uniquely enough, the lovemark which I have chosen to focus on and that probably has the largest impact in my life out of all brands which I am routinely exposed to, happened to be one of the companies which were mentioned in a PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) video documentary which we had to watch in order to complete this assignment.

                

              The lovemark which is probably dearest to me is the, Starbucks Coffee Company. I was first introduced to this internationally acclaimed coffee company and coffee house chain in the year 2002 at one of its locations in the downtown business district of the beautiful and fast paced city where it was founded in March of 1971, Seattle, Washington.

                

               Prior to experiencing my first delightful cup of what many people around the world consider to be one of the best coffee and tea products available to the general public, I had heard many people both praise and criticize what is today according to http://www.USAtoday.com to be the largest coffee company in the world.  So during the spring of 2002, when on leave from the military between two of my deployments, I decided to visit this world class city which is probably almost as well known around the world as the famous coffee company which was founded there some 31 years prior to my first visit at one of its locations.

                

              While walking the downtown streets of this metropolis, I spotted a Starbucks Coffee retail location on a busy street corner near the Pike Place Market. I don’t know if it was the strong and sweet odor of the coffee, the cool drizzle in the crisp morning air or just my curiosity of what all of the hype was about when it came to company; but I was somehow drawn to enter the store almost as if being magically dragged by an invisible force.

                

              Well, it turned out that ever since my first taste of one of the many flavors of drinks which one can purchase from this company, I have been hooked on both the company image and its products. I have never really put much thought into why I am so devoted to the Starbucks Coffee Company almost to the point where I will not even consider trying other coffee shops although I am without a doubt sure that many of them are also delicious and unique in their own ways.

               I do not know if it is the quality of the products, the friendliness of most of its employees, the aroma of the coffee beans as they are being roasted, the new age music which is played over the store audio speakers, the environment inside of the store or if it’s the fond memory which I have of being in such a wonderful and beautiful city for my first personal experience with this company that keeps me devoted to it so greatly. Maybe it is a combination of all of these principles that makes me crave my favorite “Vanilla Chai” or “Pumpkin Chai” drinks and makes me return to visit a Starbucks Coffee location several times a week.

               

               According to the Starbucks Coffee Company website, the company’s Mission Value is: To Inspire and nurture the human spirit-one person, one cup and on neighborhood at a time.http://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information/mission-statement  I routinely joke with my family and close friends that an "Iced Vanilla Chai" tea from Starbucks Coffee is like my rock cocaine, in the meaning that I would almost consider myself to be addicted to it. I don't believe that this "magical drink from my favorite coffee house truely cures a physical craving of my as much as it does an emotional need that I have grown to have over the past 10 years. 

               It is almost as if stepping into a Starbucks Coffee shop and consuming my favorite beverage from there, removes me from reality and the stresses of life, much like the feeling which I get when stepping into the wilderness to climb the shear rock face of a mountain or to hike the beautiful and peaceful trail through the forest.