The Starbucks red holiday cup designs are here, and they are gorgeous
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Just what we need today — some holiday cheer. Starbucks is bringing back its red holiday cups, and they're unlike any we've seen in past years. The mega coffee chain debuted not just one of the 2016 holiday cups today, but 13 brand new red cups designs.
Starbucks has been bringing in the holidays with special red cups since 1997. Throughout the years, designs have ranged from "modern, using whimsical brushstrokes in bold colors, to the nostalgic, featuring mistletoe and ornaments," Starbucks noted in a press release.
Last year, the company faced major backlash when it came out with classic red cups that many complained weren't "Christmas-y" enough. People protested in outrage on social media about the basic cup. But ultimately, they either dealt with the red cups or they bought their coffee elsewhere. Shrug.
We’re pretty sure Starbucks didn’t feel that loss.
During the reveal of the new cups today in New York City, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz joked about the controversy.
"Should we just go back to last year and come out with a great red cup... and perhaps start another firestorm?" Schultz said. "We didn't think that was such a good idea."
Instead, they decided to use inspiration from customers! The 13 new cups are all inspired from actual photos that customers posted of designs they drew on the blank red cups last year (see, the red cups DID have a purpose).
Starbucks
"We were surprised and inspired by the amount of incredible art submitted by our customers. The designs were beautiful, expressive and engaging," said Dena Blevins, creative director of Starbucks Global Creative Studio. "We quickly realized there was potential to use the customer-created art for our holiday cups."
Starbucks
So they rounded up their favorite designs and asked those customers to mail in their cups to be evaluated for possible use. They chose the 13 designs from six countries to represent the spirit of the holidays around the world. Their designs will be showcased on the holiday cups served in the more than 25,000 Starbucks stores in 75 countries.
Starbucks
"People will be walking around the street in Shanghai, New York and London carrying these cups," Blevins said. "We love that this year our customers' artistry can play a part in brightening someone's day."
Starbucks will start serving beverages in the holiday cups starting Thursday, and that means the HOLIDAYS ARE BASICALLY HERE!
