We started the same as usual by convening in the hotel lobby prior to taking on the day. Our first stop was at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. This was a really neat experience where we got to evaluate an American brand thrive and prosper in Italy while using a new business model. The addition of a Starbucks in Italy was a really bold move considering how important coffee is in the Italian culture, making it more of an “experience” for coffee drinkers . In order to be successful the company had to rethink their entire model and create a new plan that would allow for the success of this brand here.
During our time there we given a short tour which included an explanation of how the coffee is actually roasted and what was available to order. One thing I noticed was the size of the bakery and the intricate treats behind the glass. Something else unique we came across was the bar, and not the typical coffee bar that is found here in Italy, but a bar with alcohol. This is something that you definitely won’t find in a Starbucks back at home or in any coffee shop for that matter. We were also given a private coffee tasting in which it was brewed right in front of us. I was never a big coffee drinker so I wasn’t surprised when my opinions on coffee hadn’t changed after the taste test. I found it to be somewhat watery but the taste of coffee remained too strong for me in the end.
During our free time we wandered off to enjoy shopping near the Duomo, yet again, and then ate lunch at the Piz. This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend who had studied abroad here this past semester and it really impressed us all even down to the music and artwork on the walls. Our last stop was another one of my favorites on our itinerary, the Armani Museum. Armani is a famous designer who is still creating fashion masterpieces at the age of 84 years old. One of my favorite celebrities he is known to design for is Kim Kardashian as well as the rest of her sisters and family at times. This experience honestly left me speechless and in awe. One of the most unique things about his work falls into the designing process behind each piece. He was always trying to use inspiration from other areas that were supposed to be considered wrong or unaccepted and turning it into something that would wow his audience. Some of his outside inspirations included creating a top that resembled how a man wears his tie open and using the arm of a man’s suit sleeve to create a dress! This type of fearlessness and outside of the box thinking is what intrigues me about this designer and leads him to his success. I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity today and am looking forward to many more tomorrow. Ciao for now!