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Reactions to the Red Starbucks Coffee Cup Choice (This Season’s Controversy)

December 24, 2015 by Deborah Anderson

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As the holiday season is approaching its final days, it gives us time to ponder this past 2015 season. Companies everywhere were looking for ways that they could help customers celebrate the festive season and enjoy it even more. To some, this is “old news,” but for those of us who have been wrapped up (pun intended) in all of the holiday festivities, parties, and planning, we may have missed some of these 2015 controversies. So, let’s get caught up, shall we?

In the last few years, mega-giant retailer coffee seller Starbucks has chosen to participate in the annual holiday celebration by offering customers cups that help convey the holiday mood. Company officials have chosen various kinds of colors and images in recent years.

The Red Cup

This year, officials at Starbucks revealed their latest effort: a red coffee cup with the Starbucks logo. Some groups have reacted negatively to the choice of the design. They think it suggests that no one should wish anyone a merry Christmas. Certain religious groups have chosen to argue that the cup is a symbol of attempts to remove the celebration of Christmas altogether and prohibit Christians from engaging in their religious celebrations in public. Officials at such groups have suggested that the new cup is too neutral and entirely too bland. They insist that the company has responded inappropriately to pressure groups seeking to force others to avoid Christmas celebrations of any kind.

Drink your coffee while reading a #UBCO prof's explanation about the plain red cup campaign #starbucks #itsjustacup https://t.co/BNd9r0pSOJ

— Innovation Library (@Innovation_Lib) December 23, 2015

More Recently…

Other groups have asserted that the cup is just a cup and not a political statement of any kind. To that end, and to show support for the company’s decision, they have begun a new campaign of support for the company. Using the hashtag #itsjustacup, they made posts on social media and other places asserting that some people are completely overreacting to the company’s decision in this matter. They point out that the cup is not meant to do anything but convey the change of seasons. Many customers have chosen to write this message on their coffee orders. Others have chosen to write “Merry Christmas” as their name on the cup to force company staffers to say the greeting out loud.

Politicians Weighed In On the Topic

The alleged controversy has attracted so much attention that at least one presidential candidate has decided to comment. Republican candidate Donald Trump stated his opinion on this topic and his support for those choosing to boycott Starbucks. Other elected officials have not said anything but the issue continues to attract attention as the race for president heads into the coming election year. Observers expect the Starbucks cup to continue to attract attention for what remains of the holiday season.

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Deborah Anderson

Deborah Anderson

Deborah is the "secret" SEO ninja and internet marketer from the very beginning (and sought after by the legendary Corey Rudl and other industry pioneering greats).
Deborah Anderson

@socialwebcafe

Join #SocialCafe Tues 9p EDT | Deborah is finishing her Doctorate in Psychology... Thanks for your patience!
Figured it out lol When I set up the site, I uploaded my images to flickr and it is flickr that is asking for the… https://t.co/AeEJYvhmrK - 7 days ago
Deborah Anderson
Deborah Anderson
Deborah Anderson

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Deborah Anderson

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37 comments… add one
  1. Sunday William

    January 5, 2016, 1:14 pm

    Its interesting that Starbucks is getting a lot of reaction for its simple decision to change its cups color for the festive season. I think the reactions to this decision have been excessive.

    What really is the connection with this company and politicians? I personally think the controversy is unnecessary. I strongly support those promoting the hashtag #itsjustacup

    Reply
  2. sonam kumari

    January 8, 2016, 4:30 am

    The alleged controversy has attracted so much attention that at least one presidential candidate has decided to comment . thanks to great advice..

    Reply
  3. Rama Krishna

    January 16, 2016, 2:04 am

    I really like Starbucks coffee and i love it.

    Reply
  4. Aashish

    January 17, 2016, 8:44 pm

    Its just a cup and I think there would be no religious feelings involved into it.
    The earlier design of the cup was more interesting than the current one.

    Reply
  5. Hemant Kumar Arya

    January 22, 2016, 10:29 pm

    Wooww great post..btw I love coffee and and I’m drinking coffee with reading this article….
    Thank you soo much for this one 🙂

    Reply
  6. Eva R.

    January 31, 2016, 7:24 am

    Hey Deborah, very interesting topic. Personally, I think this new red color is too aggressive. However, I have to say it really does reminiscent of the holidays and Christmas

    Reply
  7. Luciano

    February 22, 2016, 5:48 pm

    Congratulations for the post, many techniques are used by companies to increase their profits, including follow the culture !!!

    Reply
  8. Android

    February 27, 2016, 6:42 pm

    Surely, it’s just a cup. They are changing it every year. There is no point giving any other agenda behind this. I love starbucks and red looks cool.

    Reply
  9. Gautham Nekkanti

    February 28, 2016, 10:05 pm

    These people find controversies in every thing. But i really like the concept of the read cup.

    Reply
  10. anamzara

    February 29, 2016, 12:37 pm

    great thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
  11. run a webinar review

    March 18, 2016, 3:40 am

    Sound really interresting
    Thanks

    Reply
  12. rhhamma

    March 18, 2016, 3:41 am

    I really like the red one more then the other

    Reply
  13. Claire

    March 30, 2016, 3:11 am

    I’ve heard about this controversy and I believe it’s a bit overrated. Though Starbucks is a big, influential company, I don’t think our Christmas celebrations should revolve around what they did or did not do.

    Reply
  14. smatka

    March 30, 2016, 5:07 am

    visit here, this website detail nice………….

    Reply
  15. dissertation help service

    April 4, 2016, 1:42 am

    Really a great supportive advice from online to check the latest comment.

    Reply
  16. Dev Aryan

    April 5, 2016, 3:22 am

    I tried the red star buck coffee cup on Christmas and found it to be the best on that day. I don’t know why. But Thanks for the fun article. Now I have found a website where I can enjoy reading to some fun articles like this.

    Thank You Deborah.

    Reply
  17. Testino

    April 7, 2016, 12:05 am

    Even Donald Trump weighed in on the Starbucks Christmas Cup controversy during a rally in Illinois on Monday.

    “No more ‘Merry Christmas’ at Starbucks. No more,” Trump said, noting that the coffee giant is among his tenants at Trump Tower in Manhattan. “Maybe we should boycott Starbucks. I don’t know. Seriously. I don’t care. By the way: That’s the end of that lease. But who cares? Who cares? Who cares?”

    Reply
  18. Web Development company in Pune

    April 7, 2016, 4:46 am

    Hi, I am a regular visitor of your blog. Your posts are very nice and informative. We are a web design and development company based in pune, India. Here many a time I found inspirational ideas for my work. Keep the good work continue.

    Reply
  19. John Smith

    April 10, 2016, 2:44 am

    Nice Post. Thanks for share

    Reply
  20. b-fast it limited

    April 13, 2016, 5:07 am

    I like it,,,,

    Reply
  21. Elin Karlsson

    April 14, 2016, 5:52 am

    You know I’ve never been to a starbucks in my whole life and that’s really baffling to me, haha. We don’t have those in Norway where I live but you read and see them everywhere in magazines and movies. I’ve heard that they always misspell your name on the cup, haha!

    Reply
  22. طراحی سایت

    April 30, 2016, 11:03 am

    nice post thanks for share

    Reply
  23. Rama Krishna

    May 5, 2016, 4:09 am

    Red starbucks are really better coffee enjoyed to everyone some of guys will find mistakes in every material so don’t look back.

    Reply
  24. nonton movie

    May 25, 2016, 12:56 am

    When someone open your website.. Their know already, this website is really amazing, bcoz you have some nice posting articles in here. . .

    Reply
  25. pooja nain

    June 10, 2016, 4:17 am

    Thanks for sharing. Red cup is good.

    Reply
  26. Deepika

    June 15, 2016, 12:47 am

    Hi.
    Just one word for you. It’s an outstanding post. I have followed almost all of your posts and it’s really one of the most informative ones. Actually I have visited so many sites which are writing about coffee cup but never found anything like this.

    Reply
  27. Deepika

    June 15, 2016, 12:48 am

    Thanks for this article

    Reply
  28. issac paul

    June 16, 2016, 6:53 am

    hey buddy,
    so awesome sounds good thanks a lot ! keep updating information i will be glad to see them
    Thanks.

    Reply
  29. Nawab

    July 4, 2016, 2:05 am

    I don’t fight anything wrong in red cups, i guess it looked more good then the previous once. people just need some reasons to speak themselves out, so that they can create a controversy.

    Reply
  30. Taufeeq Umar

    July 20, 2016, 1:42 am

    Its great controversy about red coffee cup choosing, many perceptions are coming about it. Some are good….

    Reply
  31. Dina

    September 11, 2016, 7:29 am

    I think it looks great. We sure will use the color also for our products http://www.moroccangarden next edition

    Reply
  32. Chiro

    November 17, 2016, 1:22 am

    Hi,
    Thanks for sharing this fabulous and beautiful post. I love to read your articles and please keep writing.

    Reply
  33. Thomas

    November 21, 2016, 6:19 am

    This looks great, I really like the red cup:)

    Reply
  34. David

    April 13, 2017, 12:37 pm

    Hey Deborah, great tips, and it is really helpful if you use the first one with the last one. the coffee shop really doesn’t like it when I show up in my boxers and fuzzy slippers 😀

    Reply
    1. Deborah Anderson

      June 8, 2017, 12:10 am

      You are too funny, David. I think that would be cute 🙂

      Reply
  35. Individual Daily

    January 24, 2019, 12:45 pm

    Starsbucks is a symbol and there green cups as well, so suddenly having starsbucks in red makes me feel. I am not at all enjoying my favorite coffee. They should think about there brand although the red cup has brought them a very hyped anti marketing.

    Reply
    1. Deborah Anderson

      February 8, 2019, 6:07 pm

      Good point. And, I agree that companies should evaluate their brand and in particular, how branding changes will affect their customers. Very good point and thanks for sharing it! 😉 -Deborah

      Reply
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