STARBUCKS KICKS OFF CHARITY AUCTIONS ON EBAY IN THREE COUNTRIES BY OFFERING ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIPS TO SEATLE, THE HOME OF STARBUCKS
Bidders in North America Also Have the Chance to Own the First Starbucks Barista Utopia TM Machines, Starbucks' Latest and Most Revolutionary Coffee Maker
Bidders in North America Also Have the Chance to Own the First Starbucks Barista Utopia TM Machines, Starbucks' Latest and Most Revolutionary Coffee Maker SEATTLE, Sept. 7 -- Starbucks Coffee Company (Nasdaq: SBUX), the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world, has teamed up with eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) (http://www.ebay.com) to give coffee lovers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom once-in-a-lifetime trips to Seattle, Washington, to share an exclusive coffee tasting experience and lunch with Howard Schultz, chairman and chief global strategist of Starbucks Coffee Company. The trips, which will be featured in separate auctions in the three countries, also include the rare opportunity to tour the Starbucks Worldwide Headquarters and its state-of-the-art roasting plant in Washington State. eBay, the world's leading online trading community, is hosting the special online charity events to benefit the Starbucks Foundation, a non-profit foundation founded by Schultz that expands the historical connection between coffee and books by focusing its efforts on literacy. Starbucks is also offering bidders in the United States and Canada a unique opportunity to be among the first in their countries to own the Starbucks Barista UtopiaTM vacuum coffee brewer, specially autographed by Schultz, before it is available at the retail stores. The Starbucks Barista Utopia TM vacuum coffee brewer features fully automatic vacuum brewing technology and state-of-the-art translucent materials. The coffee brewer will only be available in Starbucks coffeehouses in North America starting October 18, 2000. The items will be available for bidding in separate auctions on eBay (http://www.ebay.com), eBay Canada (http://www.ebaycanada.com) and eBay UK (http://www.ebay.co.uk) starting on September 8 and continuing for 10 days. A portion of the net proceeds from the sales will go to the Starbucks Foundation. Earlier this summer, the first two auctions were successfully hosted on eBay's Japanese and Australian web sites. "We were very impressed by the generosity of the online bidders at our special online charity auctions in Japan and Australia," said Schultz. "It is very inspiring to see the commitment of the online community in supporting a very worthy cause, which is the Starbucks Foundation and its support of literacy. By holding the charity auctions in another three countries, we want to provide the same opportunity for our millions of customers in those countries to come to our home in Seattle and join us in tasting the highest quality coffee in the world, which is Starbucks coffee." The items for auction include: Trip for two to meet Howard Schultz, chairman and chief global strategist of Starbucks Coffee Company, at the Starbucks Worldwide Headquarters in Seattle, Washington, on October 16. The trip includes: two airline tickets to Seattle; hotel accommodations in Seattle for three nights generously provided by W Hotel, Seattle's leading hotel for style and substance; coffee tasting and lunch with Howard Schultz (and the other successful bidders from the other countries); followed by a tour of Starbucks Worldwide Headquarters and the state-of-the-art roasting plant in Kent, Washington. The successful bidders of this auction will also have time to take in the sights of Seattle. One pound of whole bean coffee per month for a year. (Successful bidders can redeem the pound of coffee only from Starbucks stores in the country where the charity auction event was held.) A coffee drink every day for a year. Starbucks will supply the successful bidder with 365 drink coupons so he or she can sample every one of Starbucks great coffee offerings -- again and again. (Successful bidders can use the coupons only at Starbucks stores in the country where the charity auction event was held.) A gift basket of Starbucks goodies comprising coffee and an exciting selection of Starbucks merchandise.
The chance to bid on one of ten signed copies of Howard Schultz's best-selling book: Pour Your Heart Into it: How Starbucks Built A Company One Cup At A Time. A set of six unique Starbucks international market identity tumblers, which are collector's items, commemorating Starbucks market launches all around the world. A Starbucks Barista UtopiaTM vacuum coffee brewer, Starbucks new translucent coffee brewer (only for the United States and Canada). To bid on these items people should visit their local eBay sites: eBay (http://www.ebay.com), eBay Canada (http://www.ebaycanada.com) or eBay UK (http://www.ebay.co.uk). About Starbucks Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of specialty coffee in the world. In addition to its retail locations in North America, the United Kingdom, the Pacific Rim and the Middle East, Starbucks sells coffee and tea products through its specialty operations, including its online store at Starbucks.com. Additionally Starbucks produces and sells bottled Frappuccino® coffee drink and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venture partnerships and offers a line of innovative premium teas produced by its wholly owned subsidiary, Tazo Tea Company. The Starbucks Foundation was launched in 1997 with an initial contribution of $500,000 from Howard Schultz, chairman and chief global strategist of Starbucks Coffee Company. Today, it is supported in part by donations from Starbucks Coffee Company, donations from the general public and Schultz's earnings from his book, Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built A Company One Cup At A Time. Understanding the essential role reading skills play in our daily lives -- and mindful of the historical connections between drinking coffee and enjoying a good read -- The Starbucks Foundation has chosen literacy as its first area of service. About eBay eBay is the world's largest on-line trading community. Founded in 1995, eBay created a powerful marketplace for the sale of goods and services by a passionate community of individuals and small businesses. On any given day, there are millions of items for sale on the site across thousands of categories. eBay enables trade on a local, national and international basis with local sites in 53 markets in the U.S. and country specific sites in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Japan and Australia. With the acquisition of Half.com in July 2000, eBay's community now benefits from a marketplace combining traditional auction and fixed-price trading. SOURCE Starbucks Coffee Company