1) Starbucks faced declining sales and profits in 2008 due to the financial crisis as customers cut back on spending. CEO Howard Schultz returned to revitalize the brand by focusing on improving customer experience and coffee quality. 2) Schultz closed Starbucks stores for retraining to reinforce the coffee culture. New espresso machines and coffee blends were introduced to enhance the in-store experience. 3) Additional initiatives included a loyalty program, online customer feedback platform, and slower store expansion to strengthen financial performance during the economic downturn.