I Bought the Viral Starbucks Bear Cup After Camping Outside the Store at 1 a.m.
Paden Ferguson and his partner secured the only two viral Bearista cups at their local Starbucks. Customers were upset that so few bear cups were available.
Anticipation and Social Media Buzz
In October, Starbucks announced its new holiday drinks and desserts, including a festive bear cup wearing a green beanie and a straw. For weeks, Paden and his partner planned to get the cup on its release day, November 6th, expecting them to be easy to obtain.
But as the day approached, they realized many others had the same idea. The cups were going viral across social media, sparking widespread excitement.
Preparation for Launch Day
On the evening before the release, they mapped out five nearby Starbucks locations. They visited the busiest store to ask a barista about the stock, discovering there were only seven cups available.
"We asked the barista how many they had — seven," Paden said.
Camping Out to Secure the Cups
Knowing the limited quantity, Paden and his partner camped outside the store from 1 a.m. to make sure they got the coveted cups.
"We only managed to get the two bear cups they had in stock," Paden shared.
Customer Reactions
- Many customers were frustrated by the scarcity of the cups.
- The viral demand made the cups quickly sell out.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Paden Ferguson, CEO of Padiano's Kitchen, edited for length and clarity.
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