Buying the Viral Starbucks Bear Cup
Paden Ferguson and his partner managed to buy the only two viral Bearista cups available at their local Starbucks. Many customers were upset about the limited stock of these bear cups.
Background on the Bear Cup Release
In October, Starbucks announced its new holiday drinks and desserts, featuring a special bear cup with a green beanie hat and straw. Excited by the release scheduled for November 6th, Paden and his partner planned to get the cup on launch day, initially thinking it would be easy to just walk in at noon.
Rising Demand and Social Media Buzz
They soon noticed others had the same idea as the bear cups went viral on social media, creating high demand. As the release approached, they checked with their local Starbucks to gauge availability and competition.
Stock Inquiry at Local Starbucks
On the evening before the launch, November 5th, they visited the busiest of their five local Starbucks stores and asked a barista about cup availability. The staff mentioned they had seven bear cups in stock.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Paden Ferguson, CEO of Padiano's Kitchen. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Customer Reactions
There was widespread frustration among customers due to the scarcity of the bear cups, which intensified the excitement and urgency surrounding the release.
Author's summary: The limited release of Starbucks' holiday bear cups sparked social media frenzy and local competition, leading to disappointment over scarce availability.