tweet me then "Meet me at Starbucks"

Starbucks is launching its first global brand campaign this fall called “Meet me at Starbucks.” They believe their “digital-saavy” customers could use Starbucks as a way to connect face-to-face again. 

This campaign is sure to create some buzz on the social sphere. It’s not far off from Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign. Both have the vision of bringing people closer together through getting together--àwith their product.

Has this constantly evolving digital world interrupted interactions, or has it made it easier to interact? With so many different ways to communicate now from 10 second videos on SnapChat to 140 character shout outs on Twitter, social media has made ways of connecting more creative. With that, marketers have gotten more creative in using it to not only enhance family and friendships getting closer but promote their product at the same time.

Starbucks has created a mini-documentary shown on YouTube of days in the life of Starbucks with over 59 in-store interactions filmed across the world. They encourage participants using Instagram to post photos with the hashtag “HowWeMet.” Additional content will be posted on Twitter and Tumblr in the following months. 

Recent ads foreshadowing this campaign have pushed the phrase “Sometimes the best way to connect is to get together.” How do we connect nowadays? Through the digital world. I’m convinced social media has not discouraged but encouraged us to get together. We love the ability to share with everyone what we are doing—and that we are doing something—instantly.

So hey friends--- meet me at Starbucks and we’ll share our experience.

Is the Pay worth it?

With the introduction of the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus came a couple additions. These include the Apple Watch and Apple Pay.

Apple Pay lets you use your new iPhone 6 or Apple Watch to pay in stores and within apps in an easy, secure, and private way.

Credit and debit cards are preloaded to your iPhone using the Passbook application. You are able to store multiple cards on this, and when you go to pay, pick whichever.

How it works is it uses a technology called near-field- communication (NFC) and when you’re in range of the device, you can click to pay within seconds. However, most businesses at the moment do not have point-of-sales systems that work with this technology, and it is rather expensive to buy. Starting in October, 220,000 stores will have the technology for Apple Pay. That’s only 2.4% of merchants in the US.

Apple Pay has received a lot of backlash with comments questioning how lazy we have gotten that we cannot even swipe a credit card anymore. It seems like the cost of the equipment might not be worth the removal of one step-- swiping a credit card. Thoughts also include how habitual we are. Are we going to be so quick in changing our method of payment-- something we've done one way for so long?

 A Forbes staffer came up with 7 things Apple Pay needs to succeed, which included:

1.Simpler than a swipe

2. Perks, Perks, Perks

3.Create an Apple Pay platform

4. Give away the gear

5. Have skin in the game

6. Offer the service to everyone

7. Safety First

Descriptions of these can be found at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevenbertoni/2014/09/10/apple-pay-is-doomed-unless-it-can-do-these-7-things/

So what do you all think? Is Apple Pay going to catch on or fade away?

Do It For Truett

The world lost a good one this past week. Chick-Fil-A Founder Truett Cathy passed away, leaving us all to honor and remember him for the legacy he left behind. Truett’s legacy was more than a delicious chicken sandwich, but a love for the Lord and family overflowed into his fast serve restaurant. So many posts recognized this man for his and his company’s servant leadership,

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to be served.” Matthew 20:28

and second mile service that sets the restaurant apart:

“If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” Matthew 5:41

Even competing restaurants stopped to mourn and pay respect to Truett. Moes Southwest Grill tweeted:

“From one ATL brand to another, our hearts go out to the ‪@ChickfilA family.”

Even Zaxbys recognized him:

“He inspired our founders and impacted an entire industry. We salute you, S. Truett Cathy.”

Truett’s life committed to serving God not only impacted his family, restaurant, and workers, but touched each of us and will continue to have a ripple effect as we share his chicken and story.