In response to a challenge to 12 branding bloggers, we are all blogging about how to brand a regional coffee shop that wants to go National. My approach is to find a way not to compete head-on with Starbucks. Instead, find a position in a new category by combining the company’s coffee making with a social component that’s at least equal to the coffee as a drawing card. I’d begin by defining what a good meeting place should consist of.

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