Starbucks mural sparks protest from small traders
IT’S clearly not everyone’s cup of coffee, for a giant Starbucks mural in Birmingham has sparked much anger.
The artwork, at the Custard Factory in Digbeth, portrays one of the chain’s takeaway cups.
But locals said it sends out the wrong message and that more should be done to support independent businesses rather than corporate giants.
It comes as a number of small businesses in the area have closed.
John Bryan, editor-in-chief of local lifestyle magazine Bab Mag, said: “Sadly, a 70ft mural advertising the corporate juggernaut Starbucks now adorns the walls of the Custard Factory, yet it’s impossible to find a plaque or website link listing the current shops.
“They say that most small businesses will fail in their first year of business and that they can forget about profit for a few years if they do make it, so why demonise these businesses further by providing minimal marketing support in favour of corporate giants?”
Mr Bryan used to run a pop-up shop in Mr Bird’s Emporium at the Custard Factory four years ago but it has since closed down. In the last 12 months, rare record shop Milque & Muhle and vintage clothing shop Gingermegs have left the Custard Factory. Popular music venue Alfie Bird’s also closed.
But Tara Newman, of the Custard Factory, said: “There are some great new businesses setting up, like Clink, Fix My Broken Mac and The Mockingbird Cinema. We sympathise with those who are upset at having failed, but think it is important not to let negative sentiment be dominant – there are many successes that have come out of Digbeth since the Custard Factory started.”