AAU Student Projects - visit Aalborg University's student projects portal
A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


Young adults consumption of Starbucks in Gdansk and Aalborg

Authors

;

Term

4. term

Publication year

2016

Submitted on

Abstract

Denne afhandling undersøger, hvad der motiverer unge voksne til at konsumere Starbucks i to byer med lignende butikskontekst, men forskellige nationale rammer: Gdansk (Polen) og Aalborg (Danmark). Udgangspunktet er en bred forståelse af forbrug som både behovsopfyldelse og oplevelse, samt en indledende iagttagelse af, at en Starbucks-butik i Aalborg fremstod mere besøgt end en tilsvarende i Gdansk. Projektets forskningsspørgsmål er at identificere, definere og analysere de faktorer, der påvirker unges motivation for at besøge Starbucks, herunder hvad der kan afholde dem fra at gå ind, og hvordan disse forhold varierer mellem byerne. Teoretisk trækker studiet på forbrugeradfærd med fokus på brandoplevelse, identitetssøgning og selviscenesættelse. Metodisk anvendes et kombineret design bestående af systematiske, samtidige observationer i to udvalgte butikker (beliggende i centrale shoppingcentre i hver by, gennemført samme dag og tidspunkt), online spørgeskemaer med demografiske, generelle og Starbucks-specifikke spørgsmål samt sekundære data, efterfulgt af separate og komparative analyser. De første observationer viser betydelige ligheder i placering, indretning, serviceproces og en overvægt af unge gæster, samt antyder mulige forskelle i personaleengagement og kundestrøm; endelige resultater præsenteres dog senere i specialet og fremgår ikke af dette uddrag. Afhandlingen sigter mod at tydeliggøre, hvilke konkrete butiks- og brandfaktorer der er vigtigst for at tiltrække unge forbrugere på tværs af markeder.

This thesis examines what motivates young adults to consume Starbucks in two cities with similar in-store contexts but different national settings: Gdansk (Poland) and Aalborg (Denmark). It builds on the notion of consumption as both need fulfillment and experience, and on an initial observation that a Starbucks outlet in Aalborg appeared busier than a comparable outlet in Gdansk. The research question is to identify, define, and analyze the factors that shape young consumers’ motivation to visit Starbucks, including what may discourage entry, and how these differ between the two locations. The study draws on consumer behavior theory with attention to brand experience, identity expression, and self-presentation. Methodologically, it employs a mixed approach: structured, simultaneous observations in two matched stores (central shopping malls in each city, conducted on the same day and time), an online questionnaire covering demographics, general coffee habits, and Starbucks-specific items, and secondary data, followed by separate and comparative analyses. Early observations indicate substantial similarities in location, layout, service process, and a predominance of young patrons, while suggesting possible differences in staff engagement and customer volume; however, definitive findings are presented later in the thesis and are not included in this excerpt. The work aims to clarify which concrete store and brand factors most effectively attract young consumers across markets.

[This summary has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project (PDF)]