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On Wednesday, Starbucks announced My Starbucks Idea. It’s basically an online suggestion box (with the trappings of Dell’s Ideastorm), and allows visitors to submit, rate and vote on their fav’s.

This is a true, grassroots outreach effort. I wonder if last month’s sabatical had anything to do with it…hmmm. I’m liking the idea that Starbucks is going to the source and directly involving the customer in “where we go from here.” I’m also impressed with the direct interchange that is happening. Some of the top ideas are pulling 50+ comments. There is also a section that will show some of the ideas in action, which currently displays some candid responses from Chirs and Howard.

Big Kudos to the effort.

Now it’s a wait and see. I’m sure there will continue to be some great ideas…and I’m sure there will be much conversation and interchange. With it’s track-record of customer service and innovation, I’m confident Starbucks will put these ideas in motion and build an even stronger Brand Experience that will garnish even more champions than ever.

Starbucks will do well to remember the key component to the Brand Experience. Start with the product. If the product isn’t cutting the mustard, then any amount of brilliant outreach is for not. It would be well worth the effort to step back and look at the latte…concentrate on the coffee…mend the mocha. I’m not sure a 3-hour training session will accomplish this…but I applaud the efforts in tapping the public for guidance. This transparent conversation is another fundamental factor in creating a solid Brand Experience. I trust it will bode well in the pursuit of building a better brand. I’m looking forward to the coming months.

UPDATE

Chrysler is also “joining the conversation” at chryslerlistens.com. Here is a great article from our friends at AdAge for reference. I’m really liking what I’m seeing…companies opening up in a big way.

Bold Moves.

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