Introduction:When Mayday’s Ashin and illustrator Arai Atsuko’s stayreal fashion brand art exhibition sparked a check-in craze in Shanghai, the nearby Starbucks unexpectedly stole the spotlight thanks to the creative support of its staff. From Mayday lyric banners to fun beverage pick-up services, how did these employees use a cup of coffee to bring smiles to fans? This article takes you behind the scenes of the heartwarming interactions and reveals the thoughtful service ideas that had fans raving, “So on point!”
Shanghai’s art scene has recently witnessed a wave of fan enthusiasm — an exclusive art exhibition by stayreal, co-created by Mayday’s lead vocalist Ashin and Taiwanese illustrator Arai Atsuko, has drawn hordes of music lovers to the Mingzhu commercial district. What’s lesser known is that the Starbucks store right next to the exhibition has quietly stolen the show with an even warmer, more touching storyline, all thanks to a special group of employees.
Photos shared by netizens at the scene show several Starbucks staff standing at the entrance holding creative signs with phrases like “This cup is enough to make me content” and “Those who are sad should drink a cup of STARBUCKS.” At first glance, they seem like popular internet catchphrases, but fans familiar with Mayday quickly noticed the clues: these slogans are clever adaptations of classic lyrics from songs like “Enough” and “I Don’t Want to Let You Be Alone,” sparking speculation that a collaboration might be on the horizon.
In fact, this heartwarming interaction happened by chance — and touched the heart. The stayreal pop-up was located right next to this long-running Starbucks by coincidence. When the staff noticed that most of the queuers were Mayday fans, a few employees who were also Ashin fans had a lightbulb moment and decided to use their professional service to add warmth to the neighboring exhibition.
According to participants on-site, the store introduced two special services during the exhibition period: customers whose drink order numbers ended in “5” received a limited-edition sticker made and paid for by the staff, and some orders even came with hand-drawn mini merchandise. Though these little gifts weren’t official collabs, the stickers featuring the years of Mayday’s tours and paper bags adorned with musical note designs were so loved by fans that they couldn’t bear to part with them.
Most talked about was the “Call Someone Service” segment. To liven up the often-long queues, staff would call out pick-up names based on the fun nicknames customers filled in when placing their orders. From “Ms. ‘Work My Ass Off for Chen Xinghong’ of Table XX” to “Mr. Long-Haired Female Pipa Player,” these amusing and slightly embarrassing nicknames instantly turned the once quiet pick-up area into a sea of laughter.Some fans specifically advised that if you prefer not to reveal your identity, it’s best to use initials or neutral terms when placing your order.
This clever integration of music elements into coffee service unexpectedly created a win-win situation.Observations showed that during the exhibition’s peak visiting hours between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., the Starbucks store’s average daily takeout volume increased by about 40% compared to usual days.More passersby were drawn into the store by the joyful atmosphere, simply to experience this unique “Mayday-themed café.”
Industry insiders analyzed that this case demonstrates the potential for brands to resonate with fan culture. When employees proactively understand customers' emotional needs and convey a sense of connection through small, creative actions, the impact is often more heartfelt than large-scale marketing campaigns. As one netizen commented: “No need for an official collab — this kind of Starbucks is already my own limited edition.”
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
