Grounds for Greatness ~ Brewing Bold Growth in Shifting Times

When a household name like Starbucks announces sweeping changes, it’s easy for small business owners to wonder, What does this mean for us?

Starbucks recently announced a $1 billion restructuring plan, which includes cutting nearly 900 non-retail jobs and closing hundreds of stores across North America and Europe. The company framed this move as a step toward long-term health; focusing on its most promising markets, improving customer experiences, and tightening operations.

For small business leaders scaling in today’s climate, it's best to pause and reflect on how growth decisions are made, and how they align with your vision and values.

Why Big Moves Matter to Small Businesses

Even if you’re not in the coffee business, these kinds of corporate shifts send important signals. They highlight three realities for anyone scaling a company.

1. Growth Isn’t Linear

   • Even the largest brands have to pivot and reassess.

   • Scaling isn’t about “more, more, more.” It’s about staying flexible and focused as conditions change.

     
     

2. People Decisions Are Strategy Decisions

   • Job cuts, hiring freezes, or restructuring aren’t just operational choices.

   • They shape culture, morale, and your ability to retain top talent, especially in smaller teams.

     
     

3. Data Drives Direction

   • Whether it’s sales metrics, customer feedback, or performance dashboards, the numbers you track influence the moves you make.

   • The key is making sure the story behind the numbers is accurate and inclusive.

Three Scaling Practices to Apply Now

1. Clarify Your Core Priorities

Starbucks is closing locations that no longer fit its long-term vision. For small businesses, this might mean pausing a product line, shifting marketing spend, or slowing hiring in one area to invest in another.

Ask yourself, Which parts of my business are mission-critical right now?

2. Build Resilience Before You Need It

Scaling exposes gaps in systems, leadership, and resources.

• Invest in strong people practices now such as clear communication, employee well-being, and leadership development.

• A resilient team can weather storms better than a brittle one.

  
  

3. Lead with Transparency

Your team may already feel uncertainty from external headlines. Be proactive in sharing:

• Why you’re making decisions.

• How those decisions reflect your company’s values.

• Where the team fits into the bigger picture.

  
  

When trust is high, your people are more likely to adapt and innovate, even when change feels hard.

The Four Pillars of Scaling Well

As your business grows, the VISNary Leadership Framework™ provides a roadmap.

• Validate ~ Align every decision with your core values and long-term vision.

• Inspire ~ Show your team where you’re headed and why it matters.

• Strengthen ~ Build internal capacity, not just in systems, but in people.

• Nurture ~ Create an environment where your team feels seen, safe, and supported.

Reflection

When big brands retrench, it’s tempting to react out of fear. But scaling small businesses have an advantage. Agility. You can adapt faster, stay closer to your customers, and make values-based decisions without the weight of bureaucracy.

Starbucks’ move is a reminder that growth is both expanding your footprint and revenue. But. more than anything, it’s about growing wisely, with clarity, courage, and care for the people who make it all possible.