Starbucks began in 1971 in Seattle and grew to over 140 stores in the Northwest and Chicago by 1987 when founder Gerald Baldwin sold the company to Schultz. Under Schultz's leadership as Chairman and CEO, Starbucks established itself as the dominant coffee chain in North America, growing to over 6,000 stores by 2002 through focus on quality products, atmosphere, service, and innovative distribution channels. However, surveys found problems with brand image and meeting evolving customer needs and preferences. To improve customer satisfaction, Starbucks conducted more market research, enhanced training, and engaged in corporate social responsibility initiatives.