The rise and fall

Currently Playing: The rise and fall of Starbucks

Thanks to Monarch for partnering with me! Start your free trial and get 50% off your first year of total money clarity using my link https://monarchmoney.yt.link/A8hvuWO or code girdley50. Starbucks is one of the greatest business success stories of the modern era — a company that turned coffee into a lifestyle and created trillions in wealth along the way. But today, the brand that once defined “the third place” is struggling with declining sales, store closures, fierce competition, and an identity crisis. Looking to become a channel member to support our production and receive exclusive content? Sign up here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-mfn4ibOC5ewLcpmgl0C4g/join Get the 2-minute cheat sheet for this video → https://girdley.com/youtube 👇 SUBSCRIBE for more business breakdowns https://www.youtube.com/@Michael-Girdley?sub_confirmation=1 ------------------------------------------------------------------ ► Get my weekly letter to business owners: essential insights to run, grow, and stay ahead in your business → https://links.girdley.com/newsletter-yt ► For sponsorships or inquiries please reach out to: Contact@girdley.com ► Do you have a hat I should wear in a video? Send it to us: Contact@girdley.com ► Free events on all things small business: https://links.girdley.com/lectures-yt ► Deep dives on businesses for sale: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast ► Follow me on Twitter/X: https://x.com/girdley ------------------------------------------------------------------ In this video, we break down the full rise and fall of Starbucks — from Howard Schultz’s original vision, to hypergrowth, to the moment the company lost sight of what made it special. We’ll look at how drive-thrus, mobile ordering, political controversies, China competition, unionization, and management missteps all collided at once. This isn’t a hit piece — it’s a data-driven story about how even the strongest brands can drift away from their core customer and pay the price. If you care about investing, business strategy, or brand economics, Starbucks is a case study you can’t ignore. Subscribe for more deep dives on companies and business breakdowns.