Pinkberry frozen yogurt Santana Row San Jose: First store in Northern California

Campusfork host Rayfil Wong interviews Pinkberry Vice President Todd Putman
Tip: Click High Quality

Santana Row
3055 Olin Ave
San Jose, CA 95128
(408) 551-4611
www.pinkberry.com

“My name is Rayfil, and I’m a Pinkberry addict.” (in a deadpan expression)

Making a swift right turn to Olin street entering Santana Row, my eyes widen and jaw drops simultaneously. After a long anticipated opening, frozen yogurt leader Pinkberry has arrived. Firmly planted, Pinkberry anchors itself between high end shops right on center stage.

If only the walls could talk, Pinkberry seemingly stating, “We have arrived, and we are here to stay.”

On a leafy street on Santana Row, a high-end shopping complex, Pinkberry excites the eye with its modern exterior. Large window panel complimented the vibrant interior. Pop music blasts as patrons hip hop through the doors.

While in line, a shelf filled with remarkable industrial design gadgets keep the eyes entertained.

A simple menu welcomes the customers.

The green tea flavor is a pop of refreshing tones, while the pomegranate provides a berry-like taste. The original with a perfect balance of tartness and creaminess is my home run choice.

Once the dessert hits my palate, I know I have arrived in sweet comfort food heaven. Immediately, my taste buds gravitate towards the slight tartness with a touch of creaminess. The taste is simply refreshing. In culinary terms, it just excites the palate.

There is something reassuring about the swirly goodness on Santana Row. Fresh cut fruits enhance but do not detract from the experience. Mango adds a bit of sweet crunch and mochi adds a gentle chewy nudge.

Clearly, this review is about Pinkberry frozen yogurt, but there is more. It is also about design, customer experience, and the growth of an entrepreneurs dream. These details alone are what separate Pinkberry from the amounting mom ‘n pop shops.

In 2005, Korean American Shelly Hwang and Young Lee opened the first Pinkberry stores. This is a testimony that any entrepreneurial dream starts with small steps. (Pinkberry Fortune article)

Keeping the menu to simply to just three flavors (original, green tea, promegranate) generates an easy to order system.

Well trained staff would ask for your name and greet you with a smile. Customer experience is definitely enhanced and pairs well with the Santana Row audience.

While trying to find a great frozen yogurt shop, customers will miss the mark if they focus solely on the dessert as oppose to a great overall experience. There are few things better to end a day than with Pinkberry in hand gathered with friends on yuppie Santana Row.

In terms of the business aspect, just like a Ferrari blazing down the Autobahn, Pinkberry will be able to scale with a strong brand. Customers can no longer be bought with glowing billboard adds or annoying web pop ups. Instead, customers crave both authenticity and community.

With a “groupie” and “cult-like” following even from Hollywood celebrities, Pinkberry is on a blazing path. Surely, American Express Plum Card (credit card for small business) commercials featuring Pinkberry will help bring exposure but at the end, the winner of the frozen yogurt war is a company that creates something remarkable.

Pinkberry features in American Express Plum Card commercial

Remarkable = something worth talking about (wow factor, jaw dropping)

Formula
(remarkable product) + (design) + (service) + (community) = winner yogurt war

Red Mango, a frozen yogurt from South Korea, is their closest competitor. Last year, I interviewed one of their franchisee Yul Kwon(Survivor winner). Just across the street from Santana Row at Valley Fair, Red Mango just opened a location. Red Mango delivers on point but with a hint (more) creaminess.

Hint to mom ‘n pops, focus on customer experience and on entering a price war.

As the food writer for now AsianWeek last year in San Francisco, often I was asked “what is the best frozen yogurt and can you really tell the difference?”

Clearly, the answer is a firm “Yes!”

But I did more research so I requested an interview with Pinkberry Vice President Todd Putman.

I discovered that Pinkberry does not serve water. Putman claims that Pinkberry has been formulated so that it does not leave a creamy after taste that makes a consumer thirsty. After our interview, I entered their RSVP party and ate over four cups of Pinkberry frozen yogurt and found the point to be true.

Pinkberry delivers a great product and a great costumer experience.

Prices for Original Flavor

(s) $2.50 (m) 3.50 (l) 5.50
w/ topping (2 included)
(s) $3.95 (m) 4.95 (l) 6.96

Disclosure: Pinkberry invited Campusfork to their grand opening event as a food blogger. We do not claim accurate pricing.

Pinkberry in SNL skit