On Thursday, I posted this blog about what Starbucks would look like if it marketed like the church.  The video reminds you of how silly a lot of the methods are that churches use today and, honestly, I felt guilty watching it because I've fallen into some of the same stupid methods in my past.

It really got me thinking….what can the church learn from Starbucks?  Based on some principles that I read in a book called The Starbucks Experience, here are some quick hits about things that churches can learn from Starbucks.

1) Starbucks encourages both employees and customers to "make it your own."  It blows my mind how welcoming the whole Starbucks experience is.  If you are a frequent customer of Starbucks, you know what I'm talking about. I get so pumped up about my favorite drinks and even going through the drive through can be a fulfilling experience.  Maybe I'm crazy, but it seems that Starbucks has created an experience that people buy into.  Starbucks has begun to play an important role in a lot of people's lives.   

Churches need to be the same way.  People want to buy into something that is bigger than them.  They want to have such an incredible experience that they find something they can buy into. 

2) Starbucks knows that everything matters.  Did you see earlier this year that Starbucks closed for a day to train all of their baristas on how to make the perfect drinks?  They wanted to ensure that the Caramel Macchiato that you buy at your favorite Starbucks location will taste the same at any other location.   Let's face it, every single detail of your trip to Starbucks has been thought through by management:  the graphics and images, the taste of your drink, the "treat receipt."  

I'll keep it simple.  Churches have to realize that things seemingly mundane like changing a child's diaper can make just as much of an impact as the worship song on Sunday morning.  For instance, when Patty and I visited New Spring Church recently, two little things really left an incredible impression on us.  One, they put a really nice luggage tag on the diaper bag for us to keep that helped keep bags separate (and give us a great reminder of their church every time I see it).  Also, when I went to change Isaiah's diaper later that day, I noticed he had a sticker on his diaper that said something like "changed with care at 'the Majestic'" (their children's ministry).  It was a small gesture, but it left a lasting impression.

Everything should matter at church.  Those crappy graphics, cheesy church words, and "greeters" that stare at you might be just the thing that keeps people from coming back to your church.  

Part two tomorrow!

I think it’s right on.  It honestly makes you feel guilty about how a church operates in a lot of ways.