1-800-Flowers
Encyclopedia
1-800-Flowers is a floral
and gift retailer and distribution company in the United States. It was one of the first retailers to use a 24 x 7 toll-free telephone number
and the Internet for direct sales to consumers.
The concept of using 1-800-Flowers as a mnemonic
phone number was originated by Carl Westcott, who later sold his business to Jim Poage and John Davis
in 1982. Their failed business , along with the rights to the toll-free number, were acquired in 1986 by Jim McCann, an owner of several flower shops in the New York City area since 1976.
In the early 1990s, two events helped bring 1-800-Flowers to national prominence. First, AT&T created an advertising campaign featuring the company that aired repeatedly during the 1992 Summer Olympics . Second, at the time of the first Persian Gulf War
, many advertisers were pulling out of CNN
, unaware that CNN's war coverage would draw additional viewers. 1-800-Flowers agreed to remain as an advertiser at founder Ted Turner
's request .
The company was among the first retailers to partner with CompuServe
and AOL
, in 1992 and 1994 respectively. In April 1995, the company was one of the first retailers to establish its own Internet sales site . In 1999, the company went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol FLWS and changed its name to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, to match its web site address.
The company fills its orders in two ways: through a network of florists and through drop shipments. It established a florist-to-florist network called BloomNet
, and is one of several floral wire service
s in the country today.
The company has merged with or acquired a number of other gift and retailing companies. In September 2007 the company announced a partnership with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
to produce a line of floral products inspired by Martha Stewart
. In August 2011, the company acquired Flowerama, a Waterloo-based floral retailer with 100 locations in 28 states.
The company is headquartered in Carle Place, New York
, on Long Island
.
- a chocolate and confectionery company based in Chicago, IL. Also owns the brands Harry London Candies and Fannie Farmer Chocolate
Cheryl&Co.
- a multi-channel company based in Westerville, OH, selling gourmet cookies
WineTasting Network - a distributor for California wineries, based in Napa Valley, CA
Ambrosia Wine - the WineTasting Network's direct-to-consumer wine club business
The Popcorn Factory - a catalog retailer of popcorn tins and snacks based in Lake Forest, IL
Bloomnet - an international floral wire service
DesignPac Gifts LLC - a designer and maker of gourmet gift baskets
Napco Marketing Corporation - wholesale distributor of floral and plant containers and related supplies for the florist and mass market channels.
On April 30, 2008, 1-800-Flowers purchased DesignPac Gifts LLC, a gourmet gift basket maker for $36 million USD in cash.
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
and gift retailer and distribution company in the United States. It was one of the first retailers to use a 24 x 7 toll-free telephone number
Toll-free telephone number
A toll-free, Freecall, Freephone, 800, 0800 or 1-800 number is a special telephone number which is free to the calling party, and instead the telephone carrier charges the called party the cost of the call...
and the Internet for direct sales to consumers.
The concept of using 1-800-Flowers as a mnemonic
Mnemonic
A mnemonic , or mnemonic device, is any learning technique that aids memory. To improve long term memory, mnemonic systems are used to make memorization easier. Commonly encountered mnemonics are often verbal, such as a very short poem or a special word used to help a person remember something,...
phone number was originated by Carl Westcott, who later sold his business to Jim Poage and John Davis
John Davis (entrepreneur)
John F. Davis III is a millionaire entrepreneur and is the former chairman and CEO of Pegasus Solutions Inc. Davis is considered a visionary of hotel technology by many. He is currently CEO of BirchStreet Systems, Inc...
in 1982. Their failed business , along with the rights to the toll-free number, were acquired in 1986 by Jim McCann, an owner of several flower shops in the New York City area since 1976.
In the early 1990s, two events helped bring 1-800-Flowers to national prominence. First, AT&T created an advertising campaign featuring the company that aired repeatedly during the 1992 Summer Olympics . Second, at the time of the first Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, many advertisers were pulling out of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, unaware that CNN's war coverage would draw additional viewers. 1-800-Flowers agreed to remain as an advertiser at founder Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
's request .
The company was among the first retailers to partner with CompuServe
CompuServe
CompuServe was the first major commercial online service in the United States. It dominated the field during the 1980s and remained a major player through the mid-1990s, when it was sidelined by the rise of services such as AOL with monthly subscriptions rather than hourly rates...
and AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
, in 1992 and 1994 respectively. In April 1995, the company was one of the first retailers to establish its own Internet sales site . In 1999, the company went public on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol FLWS and changed its name to 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, to match its web site address.
The company fills its orders in two ways: through a network of florists and through drop shipments. It established a florist-to-florist network called BloomNet
BloomNet
BloomNet, a wholly owned subsidiary of 1-800-Flowers, is an international floral wire service provider offering products and resources to a select network of professional retail florists....
, and is one of several floral wire service
Floral wire service
A floral wire service, also known as a flower relay service is a company established primarily to facilitate order exchange and fulfillment between local florists and/or third-party sales agents of floral products...
s in the country today.
The company has merged with or acquired a number of other gift and retailing companies. In September 2007 the company announced a partnership with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. is a diversified media and merchandising company founded by Martha Stewart. It is organized into four business segments: Publishing, Internet, Broadcasting media platforms and Merchandising product lines....
to produce a line of floral products inspired by Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart is an American business magnate, author, magazine publisher, and television personality. As founder of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, she has gained success through a variety of business ventures, encompassing publishing, broadcasting, and merchandising...
. In August 2011, the company acquired Flowerama, a Waterloo-based floral retailer with 100 locations in 28 states.
The company is headquartered in Carle Place, New York
Carle Place, New York
Carle Place is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. As of 2010 the CDP population was 4,981...
, on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
Companies Owned
Fannie May Confections, Inc.Fannie May Confections, Inc.
Fannie May is a brand of chocolates owned by 1-800-Flowers. Prior to 2006, the brand was run by Fannie May Confections, Inc., a confectioner based in Chicago.-History:...
- a chocolate and confectionery company based in Chicago, IL. Also owns the brands Harry London Candies and Fannie Farmer Chocolate
Cheryl&Co.
Cheryl&Co.
Cheryl&Co. is a cookie company based in Columbus, Ohio.-History:In 1981, Cheryl Krueger and her college roommate, Caryl Walker, opened the very first Cheryl’s Cookies in Columbus, Ohio. Both are graduates of Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. The modest storefront sold six...
- a multi-channel company based in Westerville, OH, selling gourmet cookies
WineTasting Network - a distributor for California wineries, based in Napa Valley, CA
Ambrosia Wine - the WineTasting Network's direct-to-consumer wine club business
The Popcorn Factory - a catalog retailer of popcorn tins and snacks based in Lake Forest, IL
Bloomnet - an international floral wire service
DesignPac Gifts LLC - a designer and maker of gourmet gift baskets
Napco Marketing Corporation - wholesale distributor of floral and plant containers and related supplies for the florist and mass market channels.
Acquisitions
On July 21, 2008, 1-800-Flowers purchased Napco Marketing Corporation, a wholesale distributor of floral and plant containers and related supplies for the florist and mass market channels.On April 30, 2008, 1-800-Flowers purchased DesignPac Gifts LLC, a gourmet gift basket maker for $36 million USD in cash.