I bought the viral Starbucks bear cup after camping outside the store at 1 a.m.
Paden Ferguson and his partner managed to get the only two viral Bearista cups available at their local Starbucks. The limited stock left many customers frustrated and confused.
This story is told by Paden Ferguson, CEO of Padiano's Kitchen, based on a conversation that has been edited for clarity and length.
Preparing for the bear cup release
In October, Ferguson saw online that Starbucks would soon launch its new holiday drinks, desserts, and a small festive bear-shaped cup wearing a green beanie and straw. Excited about it, Ferguson and his partner planned for weeks to purchase one on release day, November 6th, believing it would be a simple noon trip.
The growing craze
However, as the date approached, they noticed that the cups were going viral across social media. The excitement was everywhere, and people were determined to get one. Realizing demand was high, they decided to check how many cups might be available locally.
Scouting the stores
On the evening of November 5th, the couple mapped out five nearby Starbucks locations. They visited the busiest one to ask about availability.
“We asked the barista how many they had — seven,” they said.
That answer made them realize just how limited the stock was and how early they’d need to arrive if they wanted a chance at getting one.
Author’s Summary
Paden Ferguson shared how viral demand for Starbucks’ holiday bear cup turned a simple coffee run into a competitive early-morning mission with scarce rewards.