Starbucks was founded around the experience and the environment

Host: The soft glow of the late afternoon sun spills through the window, casting a warm, golden light across the room. The world outside feels far away, as the steady hum of the city is muffled by the comfort of the quiet space inside. Jeeny sits at the edge of the table, a cup of coffee in hand, her fingers absently tracing the rim. Jack stands near the window, arms crossed, looking out at the city streets, lost in thought. The room feels still, waiting for the conversation to unfold.

Jeeny: (her voice gentle, but filled with curiosity) “You ever think about how certain places can change the way we experience the everyday? Like, how some companies design spaces that make you feel like you’re part of something bigger, not just a customer?”

Jack: (glancing at her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “What do you mean? Like stores and restaurants? I guess everyone’s trying to create a vibe these days. What makes some spaces stand out?”

Jeeny: (smiling slightly, her eyes gleaming with the thought) “I was reading something Simon Sinek said about Starbucks. He mentioned, ‘Starbucks was founded around the experience and the environment of their stores. Starbucks was about a space with comfortable chairs, lots of power outlets, tables and desks at which we could work and the option to spend as much time in their stores as we wanted without any pressure to buy. The coffee was incidental.’ It really made me think about how the environment of a place can shape the way we experience it.”

Jack: (pausing for a moment, his expression thoughtful as he processes her words) “So, you’re saying that Starbucks wasn’t just about coffee—it was about creating a space where people felt comfortable enough to stay, to work, to linger, without feeling rushed or pressured? The coffee was just the excuse to be there?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, her voice gaining confidence as she explains) “Exactly. Starbucks understood that the environment was what drew people in. It wasn’t just the product—it was the experience of being in a space where you could work, meet with others, or simply relax without the pressure to leave after a certain amount of time. The coffee became secondary to the community they were creating in their stores.”

Host: Jeeny’s words seem to fill the room, and Jack stands still, absorbing the idea, the weight of it settling between them. The world outside continues its rhythm, but inside, the conversation deepens, as if the very concept of environment and experience is opening up new perspectives.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful) “So, it wasn’t just about selling coffee—it was about creating a space where people felt like they belonged. And because they felt comfortable, they came back. The product wasn’t the main focus—it was the atmosphere they built.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her voice now gentle, as she reaches for the deeper meaning of it) “Yes. And that’s why Starbucks became a global phenomenon. They weren’t just selling coffee—they were selling a sense of community, a place to connect, to relax, to be yourself. The coffee just happened to be part of that experience.”

Jack: (pausing, his gaze distant as he processes the idea, his voice almost reflective) “That’s interesting. I always thought Starbucks was just a place to get coffee. But it’s more than that. It’s a space to exist, to take time for yourself, to not be rushed, to make your own experience. That’s why people keep coming back.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice soft, filled with understanding) “Exactly. It’s about creating connection—whether it’s to yourself, to others, or to the space around you. Starbucks understood that it wasn’t just the coffee they were selling—it was the feeling of being in a place that welcomed you, that made you want to stay longer, and that made you feel like you had a place in the world, even if just for a few hours.”

Host: The room feels warmer now, the weight of the conversation settling between them like a quiet truth. Jack shifts slightly, his posture more relaxed, as though he’s begun to understand the deeper layers of the Starbucks experience. Jeeny watches him, a soft smile on her lips, knowing that sometimes the greatest innovations don’t come from the product itself—but from the spaces we create and the experiences we offer.

Jack: (his voice softer, almost realizing something for the first time) “I guess we all need spaces like that. Places where we can just be ourselves, where we don’t have to rush. It’s not just about the product, it’s about the experience that comes with it.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her eyes filled with quiet satisfaction) “Exactly. And when you create that experience, you create something people want to come back to. It’s not just about buying coffee—it’s about being a part of something, even if it’s just for a moment.”

Host: The evening deepens around them, the city outside moving steadily as Jeeny and Jack sit in a shared understanding. They’ve come to see that it’s not just the product or the coffee that defines a place—it’s the environment, the experience, and the connections that make people feel welcomed, valued, and part of something bigger. In that understanding, both of them realize that true success comes from creating spaces where people don’t just consume—but where they truly belong.