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There’s no doubt that if you’re a human being alive today it is a near 100% guarantee that you’ve heard of, seen or even tasted a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Some of us are fans, others are indifferent, while a few are outright haters, but when it comes to business and marketing the fact remains that the Pumpkin Spice Latte is a case study on how strong marketing’s influence can actually be.

In this article we are going to take a look at what Pumpkin Spice is, how the Latte came to be and how the PSL or Pumpkin Spice Latte generated such a buzz and how it continues to dominate the fall beverage space every single year. The PSL Effect is strong and PSL Season is here!

Who Created the Pumpkin Spice Latte?

While we know the cool thing to say would be that Starbucks invented the PSL, but the truth is that it’s something that was being done intermittently for decades prior to the Starbuck Pumpkin Spice Latte and there was actually trend of creating different versions of them in the 1980’s and 1990’s. 

But it is without question that Starbucks is the reason everyone knows about it, popularizing and making it a cultural phenomenon.

Over 20 years ago (in 2003), a Starbucks employee by the name of Peter Duke’s that led the Starbucks Espresso Beverage team, also led to the creation of their PSL.

It took about 3 months to refine and create the flavor, which was then brought to test markets in Washing D.C. and Vancouver, Canada. Duke’s stated that within a week they knew the flavor was going to be a hit.

What is Pumpkin Spice?

Pumpkin Spice is actually originally referred to as Pumpkin Pie Spice.

In most cases it’s a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Sometimes allspice gets added into the mix to diversify the flavor.

It was originally created as a blend in 1933 by Thompson & Taylor Spice Co, but quickly adopted by the McCormick & Company in 1934 who was able to more widely distribute and sell the product.

So sadly for all the Starbucks fans out there, they did not “invent” pumpkin spice. Only the pumpkin spice latte as you know it.

How Starbucks Made the Pumpkin Spice Latte a Cultural Icon

Even back in 2003 Starbucks had a very large footprint so they had the advantage of being able to easily market and distribute the PSL easily. So we do understand that they were big, they had the capital and resources to pull it off. But that alone does not guarantee success.

As we mentioned earlier the biggest part of the success was the market testing they did to ensure that once launched it would at least do okay. So understanding your customer, getting feedback, and alpha / beta testing is important in the road to success.

Here’s a quick fact… Starbucks sells over 20 Million PSL’s each year which results in hundreds of millions of dollars in Pumpkin Spice Lattes alone. That’s crazy!!!

Starbucks sticks to their customer “know how” and after finding a product that resonated with their audience they did what every proper consumer goods company should do and that is fan the flames of promoting the product in ways that connect with the customers and get them to spread the word. We’re talking a barrage of marketing, paid media, earned media and organic promotion by customers declaring it PSL Season and sharing PSLefies online.

With the proliferation of Instagram and TikTok over the decades old beverage there continues to be even more growth in the exposure the drink obtains.

So while Starbucks had and has the resources the real secret lies in their knowledge of the customer and capitalizing on finding winning products by pushing it relentlessly until it finally dies culturally, which won’t likely happen for the Pumpkin Spice Latte any time soon.

The PSL Effect

Interestingly the PSL Effect isn’t solely related to Starbucks, but rather the impact of Starbucks success marketing and selling the Pumpkin Spice Latte. The PSL Effect is the overall influence that the Starbucks PSL has on the general food & beverage market. Starbucks has been so successful in growing the PSL popularity that consumers have come to expect similar pumpkin spice offerings virtually everywhere they go during the fall months.

Additionally Pumpkin Spice has proliferated across all food and beverage categories including ice cream, beer, baked goods, ham, yogurt and even pet food! Not to mention non food products such as candles, crayons and scented mailers.

This is a testament to how strong the Pumpkin Spice Latte Marketing has been for Starbucks.

For example a study in 2023 showed that brands who introduced Pumpkin Spice beverages during the fall months received up to 26% more visibility. And when introduced to markets that typically have not had much PSL related marketing they saw up to a 23% lift across all brands who did that marketing.

This results in a massive boom in revenue for companies and markets that have not ever or have typically marketed Pumpkin Spice food and beverage products.

So regardless of the industry you are in, the PSL Marketing case study serves as a testament to how learning more about your customer and catering to their wants, needs and desires can result in a windfall for your brand.

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If you use Google Drive for your business, you understand the importance of maintaining a clean and organized folder structure to manage your documents efficiently. However, you may have found yourself wondering if there’s a way to automate the process of copying entire folders and subfolders within Google Drive. Unfortunately, Google Drive doesn’t offer a native solution for this task. But don’t worry—we have a solution that can streamline this process for you.

How To Copy Google Drive Folders

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the easiest solution for copying Google Drive folders.

The easiest and most effective way of doing this is using a tool called Copy Folder

• Open the URL linked above, you’ll need to grant the tool permissions to access your Google Drive. 
• Once you have granted permissions, you are ready to copy a Google Drive Folder and/or Subfolders. 
• Either paste the URL of the folder you want to copy OR you can search your connected Google Drive for the folder you want to copy

• Once you’ve pasted the folder URL, it will resolve then click Next. 
• From there, you can name your COPY of the folder. It will default to being named Copy Of *Name of Folder* but you can rename it to be whatever you want. Then click Next

• Then you can choose your Copying Options. If you’d like the new folder you’re creating to have the same sharing permissions (people who can access the folder and it’s contents) then you want to be sure to Check the box that says Copy Permissions. Then you select where the folder will live on your drive whether that’s in the same place as the original, the Root of your Google Drive or a custom location. If you want it to live in a custom location, copy and paste the URL of the drive folder you want it to live in the Paste Folder URL section. 

• The final page will show all of the copy settings from the selections you made. If it looks good click on Copy Folder and the copying will begin.

**Note: Depending on the size of the folder you are copying, it may take some time for the copying to complete so be patient. Once it is complete, there will be a Copy Sheet in the new folder that shows what was copied. 

With this tool, you can effortlessly duplicate your Google Drive folders, making it easier to manage and organize your business documents.

Upcoming private debt and equity conferences, where you will have the opportunity to meet with leading investors and industry experts. These events are designed to provide you with valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the private capital markets, as well as to facilitate networking and deal-making.

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When we first started going to Private Equity conferences and events ourselves it was difficult to find a full list of those annual conferences located in the United States. We had to scour numerous websites to find all the different conferences. So after having that painful experience we decided we needed to put together a giant list of all the annual private equity conferences that are based in the United States so it would be easier for people like yourself to find them quickly.

Listed below are those Annual U.S. Based Private Equity Conferences & Private Equity Events

DEALMAX

https://dealmax.org/

DEALMAX is a premier conference for professionals in the deal-making industry, providing a platform to connect with top investors, advisors, and service providers. Attendees can expect a comprehensive agenda featuring keynote speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and innovation within the industry.

Markets Group Private Equity Forums

https://www.marketsgroup.org/private-equity

Markets Group Private Equity Forums bring together leading private equity investors, fund managers, and service providers from around the world. These forums offer in-depth discussions on market trends, investment strategies, and networking opportunities that are crucial for industry professionals looking to stay ahead.

SuperReturn Energy

https://informaconnect.com/superreturn-energy/

SuperReturn Energy is a prominent conference focused on the intersection of private equity and the energy sector. It provides a platform for industry leaders to discuss investment opportunities, market dynamics, and the future of energy investments, making it a must-attend event for energy-focused investors and fund managers.

Opal Group Private Equity Conferences

https://opalgroup.net/conferences/

Opal Group hosts a series of private equity conferences that cater to industry professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and networks. These events cover a wide range of topics, including investment strategies, market trends, and regulatory changes, providing valuable insights and opportunities for collaboration.

Private Equity US Leadership Summit

https://live.privateequitywire.co.uk/private-equity-us-leadership-summit

The Private Equity US Leadership Summit is a key event for senior private equity professionals, offering a platform for discussing strategic issues, sharing insights, and networking. The summit features high-profile speakers and interactive sessions designed to address the challenges and opportunities facing the private equity industry.

Global Alternatives Summit

https://iconnections.io/events/

The Global Alternatives Summit by iConnections is a premier event that brings together alternative investment professionals from around the world. It focuses on cutting-edge strategies, market trends, and networking opportunities, making it an essential gathering for those looking to navigate the complex world of alternative investments.

Real Estate Private Equity Summit

https://events.iglobalforum.com/real-estate-private-equity-summit

The Real Estate Private Equity Summit by iGlobal Forum is a leading event for professionals in the real estate investment sector. It offers insights into market trends, investment strategies, and networking opportunities with top industry players, providing a comprehensive overview of the current real estate landscape.

PEI Events (Private Equity International)

https://www.peievents.com/en/pei-media-global-events-calendar/private-equity-international-events-calendar/

PEI specializes in hosting industry-leading events for global private and public markets professionals. Covering private equity, responsible investment, real estate, infrastructure, and debt asset classes, the conferences connect decision-makers virtually and in-person across global financial hubs. View the PEI events calendar below to see the full list of conferences coming up.

Private Credit US Summit

https://live.privateequitywire.co.uk/private-credit-us-summit

The Private Credit US Summit is a significant event for professionals involved in private credit markets. It features discussions on market developments, investment strategies, and regulatory updates, offering attendees valuable insights and networking opportunities with key industry stakeholders.

2024 Southern Private Equity Conference

https://members.sbia.org/events

Conference focused on insight into U.S. economic trends, updates about potential policy changes affecting your fund’s bottom line, and strategic, high-level networking opportunities in a convenient location for lower middle market colleagues from both coasts and across the South.

Women’s Private Equity Summit

https://events.withintelligence.com/womensprivateequitysummit/home

The Women’s Private Equity Summit is a unique event that brings together female leaders in the private equity industry. It provides a platform for discussing industry trends, sharing success stories, and fostering networking opportunities, aiming to empower women and promote diversity in the private equity sector.

EMex Americas (The Emerging Manager Exchange)

https://informaconnect.com/emex-americas/

Network with allocators, emerging managers and service providers at the definitive forum for the next generation of top performing fund managers in the Americas.

LP / GP Connect Events

https://lpgpconnect.com/events

Upcoming private debt and equity conferences, where you will have the opportunity to meet with leading investors and industry experts. These events are designed to provide you with valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the private capital markets, as well as to facilitate networking and deal-making.

Cooley Private Equity Events

https://www.cooley.com/events

Cooley LLP is a leading law firm known for its expertise in private equity and venture capital. Their private equity events provide insights into legal trends, regulatory changes, and best practices in the industry. These events are invaluable for legal professionals and private equity stakeholders looking to stay informed and connected.

If you see we are missing any other critical PE Conferences or Private Equity Events that are held annually here in the United States, please let us know so we can get them added!

If You Are Looking to Focus on Getting More Visibility, Traffic, Leads, Sales or Have Questions, Call Us at 866-357-7422

Or Submit your information below