Coffee titan Starbucks is running a “Free pastry Day” national promotion this morning. All its participating stores will offer customers a free pastry with purchase of a coffee drink from opening until 10:30 a.m. local time—or until the pastry supply runs out.
Customers will need to bring in either a printed coupon downloaded from either http://www.starbucks.com or the chain’s social community site. Coupons are also available through Starbucks’ Twitter feed at @starbucks or through its Facebook page.
The Facebook page also contains a URL for a mobile version of the coupon so users can simply show a barista their cellphone screen and qualify for the free goodie. Pastry selections will vary by location, but will include muffins, bagels, croissants, pound cake, coffeecake, danish, doughnuts and scones.
Starbucks is actively trying to promote its baked goods menu, in the face of morning-daypart competition from other chains ranging from McDonald’s to Dunkin Donuts. The coupon and supporting marketing materials stress the quality of Starbucks’ pastries.
“We’re making a change,” the ad reads. “Your food not only tastes better, it is better. Real food. Simply delicious.” The ad goes on to specify that the chain’s baked goods contain no artificial flavors or dyes, no trans fats, and no high-fructose corn syrups.
Starbucks has recently used social media to distribute coupons for free offers. From July 7 through 19, Facebook users could send coupons for Starbucks’ coffee-flavored grocery-store flavors to their friends on the network. Up to 20,000 free coupons were distributed in batches of about 800 every hour. If all the free pints were given out for a particular hour, Facebook users were asked to return later and try again to send the discount.
Back in August 2006, a Starbucks coffee-drink e-mail coupon intended to be used only by employees and partners in the Atlanta region, who were asked to forward it to their friends and families. Instead, the coupon received virtually national e-mail distribution and was available for purchase on eBay before Starbucks suspended the offer.
The free pastry offer is not available at the Starbucks branded cafes in Barnes & Noble bookstores.
Network
