Top Starbucks ads that boosted the company's brand

We all know that Starbucks is the leader when it comes to specialty coffee having activity in almost 80 countries. The company first started to spread in the United States and then around the globe. They managed to create a successful global brand in what we can consider record time.

This also means that the Starbucks ads have been some of the best that we have seen. This is because they focus on the importance of togetherness and how coffee acts in society.

If you didn’t know the company was actually created by three partners. We are talking about Gordon Bowker, Zev Siegl and Jerry Baldwin. They met together at the University of San Francisco and started to work.

Compared with other brands, Starbucks focused a lot on the idea of building a community of happy and satisfied customers. In order to do this, they created values that made employees and customers feel great together.

You can imagine that to show this, the Starbucks ads had to be done creatively and serious at the same time. They really have great creatives in their team because what they managed to do is impressive. So, let’s have a lot at some of the Starbucks advertisements that got a buzz started!

Starbucks Ads examples

Starbucks TV Commercial, ‘NBC: Never Offer’ Featuring Lilly Singh

Anybody that works at NBC in the production team gets ready for the “A Little Late” featuring Lilly Singh premier. In a morning everything changes when Lilly goes to grab her drink from Starbucks. However, until she exits the office a coworker asks if she can get something for him.

She accepts but she is just about to realize why you never offer to grab a Starbucks for someone else. Soon enough she is being bombarded with a request from all people around here. Until she gets back with all of the orders the show is ready to start. It’s not like they can go without her.

Starbucks: A Year of Good

Starbucks Ads always have something that makes them stand out. This is also true for this one when they created their original content series. The goal behind it was to inspire Americans to be more engaged in social acts. “Upstanders” features 10 stories that are told in different form. We are talking about video and podcasts that show normal people doing extraordinary things.

So, we really consider they brought some positive energy in the communities using this campaign.

RedCupContest

Each December Starbucks brings the #RedCupContest. It’s one of those Starbucks ads that involved fans and photos. What they get if they sign up? The answer is a gift card. So far this Starbucks advertisement has gathered more than 30,000 photos of red cups and the number is getting higher.

Starbucks Tripleshot Energy TV Commercial, ‘Volunteers Needed’

They introduced this concept by saying that 225 milligrams of caffeine is going to be provided. Having this you will be able to do all that matters for you. Did you like this one?

Starbucks TV Commercial, ‘Flavored Coffee’

Let’s check another off the Starbucks ads that ran on TV. In this one, we see that a woman is brewing a cup of Starbucks flavored coffee for herself. She is moving around the house and relaxes near the window that seems to be always opened. The children are dressing in costumes and are playing around the hallway.

As she is watching her children play she also says that her favorite spot is also great for people watching. So, it’s quite a nice idea because she invites people to join.

Meet me at Starbucks

When you want a place good for first dates or meetups, Starbucks can be a good choice. Being aware of this the company launched the Meet me at Starbucks social campaign. This Starbucks ad was being done back in 2014.

The idea was that customers had the chance to win one of the free coffee for a year if they gave their relationship story. IT went worldwide and it seems that it got some attention as stories were coming from all ages.

Pumpkin Latte

Another Starbucks ads idea that we enjoy was this one. What they did was to promote the return of its pumpkin spice latte. The key here was that it was only available in towns one week before the rest of the US.

In order to win the prize fans had to get points on a Facebook app. After that by solving a daily challenge they could raise more points and try to win!

Starbucks Plus TV Commercial, ‘At-Home Coffee’

What is cool about the Starbucks print ads is that they focus a lot on their products. The Starbucks pods have double the amount of caffeine regular Starbucks.

So, this add was focused on the idea of energy. If you have double caffeine you can get double the amount of work done at the same time.

Starbucks Peppermint Mocha TV Commercial, ‘Holidays: Magic in the Night’

Have a look at another idea showed through Starbucks ads that got some attention. Leah goes out in the snow streets together with her Starbucks Peppetermint MOchas.

She seems to really enjoy the night and walks around her neighborhood. Many pedestrians start to feel the holiday lights and the entire action is focused around the community vibes.

Frappuccino Happy Hour

Because they have a Frappuccino Happy Hour, Starbucks developed the Unicorn Frappuccino for one week in April 2017.

What were the results of this Starbucks advertisement? Well as it focused on limited-time scarcity people really went for it. The hashtag generated around 150.000 Instagram posts in that period.

Starbucks Doubleshot TV Commercial, ‘Eager Beaver’

When a meeting takes place outside the CEO gives secret information related to the new technology of the company. The CEO needs somebody to take over the project and this employee, the Eager Beaver is ready to help.

When Andre takes a sip of the Starbucks Doubleshot he interrupts the Eager Beaver. What are the results? His boss is happy with his attitude.

Tweet-a-Coffee campaign

One of our favorite Starbucks ads was the Tweet-a-Coffee campaign. What it did was to let people offer a $5 to their friends. The coffee was not free of course and the users needed to link their Starbucks account to Twitter.

Even so, in just two months almost 27.000 used this tweet. So, the promotion brought around $180,000.

Starbucks TV Commercial, ‘Starbucks College Achievement Plan’

The goal of Starbucks is to graduate 25,000 students by 2025. If you didn’t know, currently student loans raise to $ 1.31 trillion. So, we can see that Starbucks ads really have an impact on education as well. They partnered with Arizona State University and created a plan. That was to let eligible baristas work part-time at the college and get tuition for free.

FAQ about Starbucks ads

What’s up with Starbucks ads on social media?

Well, you see, Starbucks is big on connecting with customers through social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. They create visually appealing and interactive content to grab attention and promote their products, events, and seasonal offers. Their ads are designed to engage the audience, encourage sharing, and inspire conversations around the brand.

Are Starbucks ads really that effective?

Oh, for sure! Starbucks’ advertising strategy is quite effective. They focus on building a loyal customer base by promoting their unique brand identity and values. Their ads often showcase the Starbucks experience, and not just the products they offer. This resonates with customers, leading to increased brand loyalty and, ultimately, higher sales.

How does Starbucks use storytelling in their ads?

Storytelling is a key component of Starbucks’ advertising approach. They cleverly weave stories around their products and the people behind the brand. This helps create an emotional connection with customers, making their ads relatable and memorable. From sharing coffee farmers’ stories to celebrating baristas’ artistry, Starbucks ads evoke feelings of warmth and connection.

What’s the deal with Starbucks holiday ads?

Ah, Starbucks holiday ads are a real treat! They launch seasonal campaigns to celebrate holidays like Christmas, Halloween, and Valentine’s Day. These ads often feature limited edition drinks, festive cups, and seasonal merchandise, creating excitement and anticipation among customers. It’s all about getting into the spirit and giving people something special to look forward to!

Do Starbucks ads target specific demographics?

You bet! Starbucks ads are designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences, but they do tend to focus on certain demographics, like young adults and professionals. They create content that resonates with these groups by showcasing their products in trendy settings, featuring relatable lifestyle elements, and promoting socially responsible initiatives that appeal to their target market.

Why don’t I see many traditional ads from Starbucks?

Well, it’s because Starbucks prefers to invest more in digital marketing and social media campaigns. They find it more effective in reaching their target audience and building brand loyalty. However, they do occasionally run ads on traditional media like print, radio, and TV, but it’s just not as common.

Are Starbucks ads controversial sometimes?

Oh, yes, they’ve had their share of controversies! Some Starbucks ads have been criticized for being too political or for promoting values that some people disagree with. However, these instances are relatively rare, and Starbucks generally maintains a positive image with the majority of its customers.

How does Starbucks use user-generated content in ads?

Smart move by Starbucks! They often encourage customers to share their Starbucks experiences on social media using specific hashtags. This user-generated content can then be curated and featured in their ads, giving customers a sense of ownership and connection with the brand. Plus, it’s a great way to showcase real-life experiences and create authentic, relatable content.

Are Starbucks ads environmentally friendly?

Starbucks is increasingly focusing on sustainability, and this is reflected in their ads. They promote eco-friendly practices, like using reusable cups and reducing waste. While it’s hard to say if their ads are 100% environmentally friendly, it’s clear that they are making an effort to align their marketing efforts with their sustainability goals.

How does Starbucks collaborate with celebrities in their ads?

Starbucks loves partnering with celebrities and influencers for their ads. They create buzzworthy campaigns by featuring popular personalities or collaborating on exclusive product lines. These partnerships help Starbucks tap into new audiences, create fresh content, and drive sales by leveraging the star power of these celebrities.

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Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan Sandu, a seasoned designer with 15 years of diverse experience, has been designing websites since 2008.

Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.

His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.