Starbucks was started in 1971 by three academicians in seattle. Ten years later, howard Schultz joined the company. During his trip to Italy, he realized that the coffee house could be much more than that of a simple place where you drink coffee. However, his ideas were not accepted by the owners of the company. Being frustrated, howard Schultz looked for investors and eventually bought the company. From 1987 until 1992, Starbucks remained a privately – held company. When the company ventured outside the pacific northwest, the company first experienced disappointments which were followed by mixed to moderate successes.