Customers await this time of the year for the return of their favorite Starbucks Christmas products and to start collecting stickers to redeem their favorite Starbucks Planner 2012. But before I reveal the 2012 Starbucks Shared Planet Planner, let’s take a look at the old Starbucks Planners of the past 8 years. 🙂

2012 Starbucks Planners

Thanks to Starbucks, I was privileged to join a group of bloggers at the recent unveiling of the 2012 Starbucks Planners! Everyone was excited to see how the 2012 planner would look like!

Now, on its 9^th year, and for the first time, this year, your favorite Starbucks Planner will be available in five (5) unique covers (Polar, Cherry, Spruce, Bamboo and Oak).

Starbucks Shared Planet

The design and materials used reflect this year’s Starbucks Shared Planet theme.

Starbucks Shared Planet is the company’s commitment in doing business in ways that are good to each other and the planet. This year’s planner supports these pillars through the Ethical Sourcing, Environmental Stewardship and Community Involvement.

The planner was produced in a facility that is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. This is an organization established to promote responsible management of the world’s forest. How cool is that? 🙂

Features and Designs

This year’s planners are made from recycled paper and engineered wood cover.

Starbucks Planner is Hard bound and has Strap

It is hard bound, light and handy. The size is small enough to fit in your bag. It also has a strap to hold your planner.

Moreover, each planner comes with a pouch – you can place a pen, money or even your mobile phone inside. It is available from light to dark color.

Aside from the sleeve, it comes with a cute bookmark and a freebie – nine (9) different coupons that can be redeemed at all Starbucks stores in the Philippines in 2012.

Starbucks Planner Coupons

At the back is a pocket to keep your coupons.

Starbucks Planner Pages

Starbucks Planner for a Cause

The Starbucks Planner 2012 was made for a cause! For every planner redeemed, a donation will be made to Spark Hope, a program for early childhood care and development in partnership with UNICEF.

Exactly three days from now, you can avail of a Starbucks Christmas traditional  promo card and collect stickers! From November 3, 2011 to January 8, 2012. One sticker is awarded for each Starbucks beverage purchase.

How To Get A Starbucks Planner and Coupon Redemption

Customers have two (2) options in collecting stickers to redeem one (1) Limited Edition Starbucks Coffee 2012 Planner.

• Option 1.  Collect stickers by purchasing nine (9) Christmas beverages plus eight (8) core beverages except bottled drinks.

• Option 2.  Purchase 23 core beverages aside from bottled drinks

Starbucks Planner 2012

* Words and photos by Marjorie Pineda, Contributor

The Starbucks Planner tradition begins on November 3! Support the cause, buy a drink, collect stickers and have your Merry Christmas and a Planned New Year with the 5 Starbucks 2012 Planners! Which one will you choose? 🙂

The Philippines will join Japan as the second country in Asia to offer Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew starting September 15, 2010.  Starbucks Japan launched Starbucks VIA last April and has sold more than 10 million sticks since then.

So What Is Starbucks VIA Ready Brew?

Is it just another instant coffee, perhaps a little more classier?

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew - Columbia Variety

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is said to be made from high-quality 100% natural roasted arabica beans in instant and microground form.

Since it is yet to be available, we can only guess the actual taste. But based on the description, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew sets a high expectation of the product being made with “100 percent natural roasted arabica coffee.” We know for a fact that arabica coffee holds much flavor than most other specie of coffee beans.

The Starbucks VIA Ready Brew varieties that will be available in all Starbucks Philippines coffee shops are Colombia, Italian Roast and Decaffeinated Italian Roast.

“Other instant coffees taste flat and lifeless. Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew is different – it’s full-bodied and flavorful, just like the Starbucks® coffee you know and love… We microgrind the coffee in a way that preserves all of their essential oils and flavor.” – starbucks.com

How To Prepare Your Starbucks Instant Coffee (Photo from Starbucks.com)

On Market Opportunities

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew - Italian Roast Variety

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) announced that the Philippines will be the fourth market to offer Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew.

“We know there is a significant opportunity in the Philippines marketplace for Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew since nearly 100 percent of retail coffee sales come from instant coffee*,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo, Starbucks Coffee Company.  “We know rapid innovation for Starbucks VIA® and creating opportunities to further increase awareness and trial of Starbucks VIA® broadens our overall customer base both in the U.S. and in international markets.”

Just like a fresh-brewed cup of Starbucks® coffee, Starbucks VIA® is made with a proprietary, U.S. patent-pending technology to preserve the coffee’s flavor. We can expect more varieties in the future as Starbucks pursue innovation around the Starbucks VIA® platform.

Judgement

Surely, Starbucks Coffee fans and patrons in the Philippines will flock Starbucks coffee stores on September 15 in anticipation of the arrival of Starbucks VIA Ready Brew. What do you think? Will Colombia, Italian Roast or the Decaffeinated Italian Roast variety capture the Filipino Starbucks lover’s taste? 🙂