Luckin Coffee recently launched a co-branded campaign with the China Open, only to unexpectedly get caught up in a plagiarism controversy. An original designer posted on social media, accusing Luckin's co-branded phone case stand of being highly similar to their own work from last year, with details from the color scheme and the tennis-spin concept to the font on the base being almost identical. Meanwhile, another sports brand also discovered that its promotional image for a tennis pillow was strikingly similar to Luckin's merchandise, and after comparison, netizens pointed out that the tag position, plush texture, and even the stitching were exactly the same. As the incident continued to escalate, a wave of questioning flooded Luckin's official comment section, but as of press time the brand had yet to respond. This is not the first time Luckin has faced such accusations, and this controversy has dealt a blow to its co-branded marketing image. [more…]

In recent years, the "China Chic" trend has swept across all industries, with traditional patterns and fonts being repackaged and integrated into modern design, becoming a popular direction for brand marketing. The Lunar New Year is a key moment for major brands to showcase their "China Chic" creativity. This year, Starbucks collaborated with calligraphy artist Zhu Jingyi to launch Spring Festival couplets, attempting to interpret traditional Spring Festival elements in a trendy way, but it sparked widespread questioning from netizens due to the writing style and content expression. This is not Starbucks' first attempt at "China Chic"; from the "Three Good Star Youth" in 2020 to the 2022 Chinese New Year series, its strategy has gradually escalated. However, as an important carrier of traditional culture, Spring Festival couplets carry auspicious meanings, and this controversy also prompts reflection on how foreign brands can appropriately use "China Chic" elements. [more…]

A milk tea shop in Hunan has sparked heated discussions online due to controversial slogans posted inside the store. The slogan, in white text on a red background, reads "This shop does not serve idiots," and suggests customers go to milk tea shops that haven't been open for "a few days" to drink self-produced milk. This way of expressing things not only left many netizens confused, but was also seen as "taking passive-aggressive jabs at peers and insulting consumers." It is worth noting that this shop previously imitated Mixue Bingcheng, recently shifted to the pearl milk tea track, and its promotional slogan has also been accused of being similar to Baozhu Gong. Is this kind of marketing strategy clever, or is it shooting itself in the foot? Let's take a closer look. [more…]

Manner launched a Year of the Dragon promotion offering a vintage mug with the purchase of a two-cup light cheesecake latte set, limited to 120,000 nationwide, which sparked a buying frenzy among fans. However, after the promotion went live, some netizens noticed that the mug bore a strong resemblance to IKEA's Gärdell mug and questioned its claimed market value of 75 yuan. At the same time, many consumers reported that the mugs they received had obvious flaws such as color discrepancies, dents, chips, and uneven spray coating. Despite the controversy, some users still praised the mug's texture and logo design. This article summarizes the promotion rules, netizen feedback, and after-sales advice, and reminds readers to promptly communicate with the store when encountering issues with their consumption experience at a coffee shop. [more…]

Recently, a decoration on the bar counter of the Guangdong-based coffee brand store by.jpg has sparked widespread discussion. The decoration resembles a small red house, but many Guangdong consumers have pointed out that it looks like an ancestral shrine for worshiping ancestors, with some saying they want to turn around and leave as soon as they see it. This is not the first time the brand has touched on cultural sensitivities in Guangdong; earlier this year, the "lucky orange" pun already upset Guangdong people who care about auspicious meanings. Why do local brands repeatedly step on regional cultural landmines? Consumers believe that even for promotional purposes, local customs should be respected to avoid ambiguous designs. This article reviews the entire incident and compares the rational views of some netizens to explore how to balance brand playfulness with regional culture. [more…]

Mstand has collaborated with streetwear brand AMAZING PANDA to launch a bamboo latte and panda-themed limited-edition merchandise, among which a "Panda Hug Cup" has sparked heated discussion due to its design. Many consumers said after receiving the actual product that it differs noticeably from the promotional images, with the all-black version described as looking like a "black-skinned muscular man," while the light-colored version was jokingly said to look like "feet holding up a cup." Besides the appearance controversy, practical complaints were also frequently mentioned, such as the arms on the cup being positioned too low and hard to grip, and the cup opening being too small, which is unfriendly to latte art beginners. At the same time, a cup enthusiast posted a handmade ceramic cup from another online shop, suspecting it was the inspiration source for Mstand's collaborative design, triggering discussion about "creative plagiarism." Fans, however, believe the details of the two cups are clearly different, and given that Mstand's previous "vegetable basket" woven bag also had precedent of borrowing from luxury brands, it can only be considered similar creativity. [more…]

Recently, a job seeker on a recruitment platform questioned a Cotti Coffee store manager about the requirement to buy their own work uniform, only to be hit back with "Has your family fallen on hard times?" — sparking widespread discussion online. Cotti's customer service responded that its operating stores are all partner stores, and uniform requirements are decided by the store manager. So, is it legal for employees to pay out of pocket for work uniforms? Article 9 of the Labor Contract Law has clear provisions on this, but the specifics depend on the situation. This article sorts through the course of events, the legal boundaries, and netizens' views, and includes Front Street Coffee's professional communication channels. [more…]

Manner has once again launched a mug gift set, this time featuring a navy blue ceramic cup with a colored rim paired with a brown leather sleeve, attracting a large number of fans to stay up late waiting to snap it up. However, after receiving the actual product, many people found that the leather sleeve fits tightly against the cup body, making it time-consuming and laborious to remove. Users who successfully removed it were surprised to find that the originally exquisite cup instantly became plain and was even jokingly compared to a spittoon. Meanwhile, another hidden style—white with a red rim—also sparked speculation. This article will fully present the design details, the buying frenzy, and user feedback for this merchandise drop. [more…]

As the "cup giant" of the coffee world, Starbucks launches so many new cups every year that many people joke its pace of new releases is faster than its main business of coffee. Recently, however, a netizen exposed that while waiting for coffee in a store, they knocked over two cups in one go: one stainless steel travel tumbler was dented, and the other glass cup shattered completely, ultimately forcing them to buy them at the employee discount price. The incident quickly sparked heated discussion: with fragile cups displayed on low shelves close to the aisle, was it the customer's carelessness, or is there a suspicion of a store design "trap"? Starbucks locations at home and abroad also handle broken cups very differently. Some people are asked with concern whether they were cut, while others can only pay the full price. Who exactly should be responsible for these accidents? [more…]

After the renovation of Heytea's Ganzhou Market store in Zhangye, Gansu was completed, the sign was quietly changed to "Yicha," and the QR code for Heytea's mini-program was still posted at the entrance, but the store's information could no longer be found through official channels. From the buzz of check-in photos sparked by the opening of the first store, to the second store remaining unopened for a long time after hoarding was put up, and then to both stores disappearing from the official mini-program, this series of changes was actually related to the rules for distributing city-limited fridge magnets. Now the "Yicha" reopened at the original site has no connection to Heytea officially, and its font has even been questioned by netizens as infringing. Local consumers' expectations were dashed, and they still hope the brand can re-enter Zhangye. [more…]

The co-branding campaign between Chagee and "Ne Zha 2" had not yet been officially announced, but a large number of leaked merchandise images had already surfaced on social media, sparking heated discussion among fans. However, as more images were exposed, merchandise enthusiasts who had been full of anticipation discovered that the square badges in this design bore a striking resemblance to competitor Cotti's fridge magnets, and the quality also fell short of expectations, with disappointment written all over their faces. Facing the growing public discourse, Chagee's official account appeared in the comments section to debunk rumors and try to soothe fans' emotions. Meanwhile, Cotti, which was the first to launch its co-branded campaign, won praise for its sincerity and after-sales service, invisibly putting comparative pressure on Chagee. How will this co-branding controversy unfold? And what gaps exist between fans' expectations and the brand's preparations? [more…]

Recently, a milk tea brand in Tianjin trended on Weibo and sparked widespread discussion because the sealing film on its drinks featured the rare character "嬲 (niǎo)." Many netizens pointed out that in the Tianjin dialect, this character carries an indecent or even insulting meaning, making some consumers uncomfortable. Although the brand's original intention may have been to promote awareness of rare characters, the note on the packaging that it is "mostly used as a dirty word" further fueled the controversy. On May 4, the merchant publicly apologized and said it had uniformly destroyed the sealing films printed with the character and would no longer use them. As coffee lovers, Front Street Coffee also took note of this incident, reminding the beverage industry to be more cautious in packaging design to avoid misunderstandings caused by cultural differences or dialect ambiguity. [more…]

The high-speed rail milk tea "That Girl" launched by China Railway Guangzhou Group has sparked widespread discussion since its debut, with its 26-yuan price tag, taste, and packaging design all becoming focal points of criticism among netizens. In response to the controversy, the head of Guangzhou EMU Catering Co., Ltd. responded on November 16, stating that the pricing takes into account production costs, transportation, and the special operating environment of high-speed rail, in line with relevant department standards, and promised to continuously optimize product quality based on passenger feedback. Whether this high-speed rail milk tea, which sells 3,000 cups daily and is often out of stock, can turn its reputation around is worth watching. [more…]

Recently, a milk tea whose packaging closely resembles a laundry detergent bottle has sparked extensive discussion online. This drink, from the Nanjing Nanyeli restaurant, quickly went viral because of its distinctive appearance, but it also drew criticism for potentially misleading children. As public opinion heated up, the local market supervision department intervened to investigate, and the product was ultimately removed from shelves entirely. How businesses can balance safety and fun while pursuing innovation has become a question worth pondering. [more…]

Hand-shaken lemon tea brand Ningji recently announced a collaboration with the Japanese anime "Detective Conan," but found itself embroiled in controversy over CP-themed posters displayed in its stores. The posters placed Conan alongside Haibara Ai, and Shinichi Kudo alongside Ran Mouri, sparking strong discontent among fans of the original work. Although Ningji quickly issued an apology statement, attributing the incident to unauthorized actions by an individual franchisee, netizens and industry insiders broadly rejected this explanation, believing the brand was clearly derelict in its material review and respect for the IP. Notably, this is already the second time this year that Ningji has publicly apologized over problems with marketing material oversight. For coffee and tea beverage enthusiasts, how collaborative marketing can strike a balance between respecting the original work and consumers has once again become an industry topic worth watching. [more…]

Manner Coffee has always been a "cup powerhouse" in the coffee world, but its previous travel mug drew heavy criticism for its looks and quality control. Recently, the company finally teased a new cup, and its stylish design has netizens eagerly anticipating it. However, the activity rules officially announced this morning have sparked huge controversy: starting November 8, customers must buy a designated 75-yuan set meal in-store to get a randomly colored stainless steel straw cup, and all three drinks in the set must be extra-large hot beverages. Many netizens said outright that "three cups is too much to finish" and "hot drinks are too cloying," arguing the threshold for the promotion is too high. Manner has long attracted customers with its "bring your own cup and get five yuan off" campaign. Can this new cup marketing win back its reputation? Let's keep watching. [more…]

Tea beverage brand Gu Ming recently launched a regional limited-edition new product, "Freshly Stewed Two Pears," made by stewing six ingredients including white fungus, fragrant pears, and red dates, with a focus on the concept of health and wellness, attracting many consumers to try it. However, what drew more attention than the drink itself was the gaiwan-style takeaway cup paired with the new product. Some customers posted on social media, pointing out that after the brown cup lid was inserted with a white straw, the overall appearance closely resembled a toilet plunger, triggering a large amount of onlookers and ridicule. Some netizens believed that the unreasonable color scheme and design were the main cause of the negative association, while others said that brands such as Nayuki had used similar cup shapes before without producing this impression. In addition, some consumers reported that they were unaware of the straw opening design on the cup lid, which caused inconvenience in use. Around this controversy, this article compiles feedback and discussion from various parties. [more…]

In most people's perception, baristas usually present a neat and proper image, but in the U.S. state of Washington, some coffee shops use scantily clad female baristas as a selling point, offering drive-thru service. Since this bikini-style marketing was born in the 1980s, it has brought booming business while also continuously sparking controversy. Local governments have repeatedly introduced regulations restricting employee attire, only to have them ruled by federal courts as carrying a flavor of gender discrimination. After the dress code was abolished in 2021, baristas won the freedom to wear what they want, but not long afterward an attempted kidnapping targeting a store employee occurred, raising concerns about the safety of this kind of work environment. [more…]

At Manner stores, many regulars' reusable cups are covered in layer upon layer of sticker labels, looking just like suitcases covered in baggage tags—full of personality. These labels were originally a tool for staff to distinguish the needs of each cup's owner, but they have unexpectedly become "trophies" collected by some consumers. However, the labels are hard to peel off, leave residue, may damage the cup's coating, and can even breed bacteria and give off odors if left untreated for a long time, raising hygiene concerns. Whether prolonged contact with thermal paper material is healthy has also become a focus of discussion. This article will walk you through the controversy over Manner's reusable cup labels and explore the balance between personal expression and public hygiene. [more…]

Sexy Tea has once again laid out a segmented track, with its brand-new sub-brand Good Lemon opening five stores in Changsha in one go on September 19. Similar to the main brand, Good Lemon does not have independent stores, but is embedded in Sexy Tea's large stores with partitioned operations, leveraging the parent brand's foot traffic to quickly attract check-in crowds. This is not Sexy Tea's first time incubating a side brand; from the early Zhihu Tea to the 2022 Yuanyang Coffee, its multi-brand strategy has been ongoing for many years. The lemon tea market has strong growth momentum, with a Meituan report showing sales in 2022 increased by over 130% year-on-year. Good Lemon clearly aims to grab a share of this pie, with plans to open 15 to 20 stores in Changsha within the year. However, the new brand has barely made its debut when it encountered consumer complaints, with the core controversy still centered on Sexy Tea's signature verification queue model and menu names that are too free-form, making ordering difficult. [more…]