Starbucks To Open First U.S. Signing Store
July 19 2018 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Starbucks® Signing Store in Washington, D.C.
will provide employment opportunities for Deaf and hard of hearing
people as a part of the company’s ongoing commitment to inclusion,
accessibility and diversity
All Signing Store partners will be fluent in
American Sign Language (ASL) to drive greater connection with the
Deaf and hard of hearing community
Starbucks drew inspiration from its first-ever
Signing Store which opened in Malaysia in 2016
Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) will open its first Signing Store in
the U.S. in Washington, D.C. this October, building upon ongoing
efforts to connect with the diverse communities it serves. A team
of Deaf Starbucks partners (employees) and allies led the effort to
launch this unique store model in the U.S., which will be located
at 6th & H Street near Gallaudet University, a bustling
hub that is Deaf-friendly. The store will create a distinctive
retail experience for all customers, while offering a unique store
format that promotes accessibility and offers employment and career
advancement opportunities for Deaf and hard of hearing people.
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"The National Association of the Deaf applauds Starbucks for
opening a Signing Store that employs Deaf and hard of hearing
people,” said Howard A. Rosenblum, CEO of the National
Association of the Deaf. “Starbucks has taken an innovative
approach to incorporating Deaf Culture that will increase
employment opportunities as well as accessibility for Deaf and hard
of hearing people, while at the same time educating and
enlightening society."
Creating Opportunities with the Deaf Community
Starbucks will hire 20-25 Deaf, hard of hearing and hearing
partners from across the country to work at the Signing Store with
a requirement that all be proficient in American Sign Language
(ASL). This team of partners with a shared language of ASL and
diverse experiences with the Deaf and hard of hearing community
will help to attract and develop talent, as well as raise awareness
and understanding of the Deaf experience in the workforce,
including career opportunities at Starbucks and beyond.
“This is a historic moment in Starbucks ongoing journey to
connect with the Deaf and hard of hearing community, hire and
engage Deaf and hard of hearing partners, and continue to find ways
to be more inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all,” said
Rossann Williams, Starbucks executive vice president of U.S.
Retail. “This store is truly from partners, for partners, and
we couldn’t have gotten here without the team of Deaf partners and
allies from our Accessibility office and the Access Alliance
partner network who came together to bring this vision to life. I
look forward to the team welcoming the community to this store in
October.”
Designing the First U.S. Signing Store
The idea to open a Signing Store in the U.S. was inspired by a
similar Starbucks Signing Store which opened in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia in 2016 with nine Deaf partners. Starbucks partners in the
U.S. voiced the opportunity to create a similar third-place
experience for the Deaf and hard of hearing community in the U.S.,
and traveled to Malaysia last July for the first-year anniversary
to understand design modifications and gain knowledge to create the
best possible store experience for Deaf and hard of hearing
customers in the U.S. An internal team made up of Starbucks Deaf
Leadership, Accessibility office and Access Alliance is playing a
critical role to support this historic store opening.
The store will feature exclusive artwork and a custom mug
designed by a Deaf artist, and a variety of enhancements to support
the Deaf and hard of hearing partner and customer
experience. Deaf baristas will have ASL aprons embroidered by
a Deaf supplier, and hearing partners who sign will have an “I
Sign” pin. These initiatives were created and sponsored by the Deaf
Leadership of the Starbucks Access Alliance. The store will also
incorporate aspects of Deaf Space, including an open environment
for communication and low glare reflective surfaces. For customers
new to sign language, the store will offer communication options
for ordering and receiving beverages at the hand-off counter.
Starbucks has a long history of engaging and creating
opportunities for Deaf and hard of hearing people as part of its
ongoing commitment to disability inclusion and accessibility. To
learn more, visit:
https://news.starbucks.com/views/Starbucks-Commitment-to-Access-and-Disability-Inclusion
“Starbucks is to be commended for their affirmative approach to
employing people with disabilities, in this case persons who are
Deaf and hard of hearing,” said Former U.S. Senator Tom
Harkin from Iowa who was instrumental in introducing the
Americans with Disabilities Act. “I know Starbucks will find Deaf
and hard of hearing persons to be their most loyal, competent and
reliable employees. Customers will enjoy interacting with these
partners and perhaps learning a few good signs with their
coffee!”
The Signing Store will be located at 6th and H and is
scheduled to open in early October. To learn more,
visit news.starbucks.com.
About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to
ethically sourcing and roasting
high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around
the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of
specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to
excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the
unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer
through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in
our stores or online
at http://news.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
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