Free Publicity - Starbucks

"Has anyone calculated the amount of free advertising Starbucks is getting from all the photos that make the rounds of today's hottest A-List celebrities holding tight to their cups?..."

It has to be over a 100 millions bucks as they're getting both free endorsements from the most expensive stars AND free placement as the photos make the rounds in the thousands of media outlets, from TV to magazines to websites. We spent a short time collecting photos from the past few months, and found more than we could possibly post... Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Mary-Kate Olsen, Drew and Fabrizio, Jessica and Nick, Nicole and her DJ, Pamela Anderson, Macaulay, Jessica Alba, Renee Zellweger, Madonna!

It is possible they're paying for the exposure, but couldn't find any "official" endorsements, and it seems unlikely (just in terms of the tremendous money it would cost to get all these top stars.)

It's true: there are truly endless celebrity paparazzi shots with Madonna, Britney, and the Olsen twins clutching a Starbuck cup close to their chests as if their lives depended on the coffee inside (we know the feeling). But one explanantion could come from David Duchovny, who in a recent interview explained the phenomenon. He and wife Tea Leoni were asked by friends if all they do is go to Starbucks, because in every photo of them they are clutching a Starbucks beverage. Duchovny says that all the smart papparazzi stake out the Malibu Starbucks -- and presumably the ones in Beverly Hills -- and just wait for the stars to come in for their daily coffee fix. In an interview in the new Bergdorf-Goodman catalogue, PR genius Ken Sunshine (who now reps Ben Affleck and other A-listers), bemoaned the fact that stars who go to Starbucks looking schlubby always get photographed. Moral of the story: It's better to fix one's hair and slap on a bit of makeup when heading to the paparazzi-infested coffee joints.

But anyway, back to the idea of subliminal advertising....boy, we could sure use an iced venti Americano with lots of ice, no room, right about now....

http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/69053