Jim McCann

Biography

Jim McCann is a highly successful entrepreneur, public speaker and author whose passion is helping people create smiles. Jim`s belief in the universal need for social connections and interaction led to his founding of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, which he has grown into the world`s leading Florist and Gift Shop and Celebrations.com, the leading website for expert party planning content and advice.

McCann`s willingness to embrace new technologies that help people connect and express themselves, such as 800 phone numbers, the Internet, Mobile Commerce and Social Networking, often long before others, has enabled him to stay at the forefront of consumer and social trends. As a result, McCann has become an award winning public speaker, a published author and a frequent guest on radio and television programs nationwide.

McCann`s strategy for growth includes an effective combination of birthing new businesses and making acquisitions of businesses and brands that resonate with customers as great sources for exceptional gifts. McCann has expanded his company`s gift offerings to become a leading player in the Gourmet Food and Gift Baskets business, including such iconic brands as: Fannie May Fine Chocolates; Cheryl`s, fresh baked cookies and brownies; The Popcorn Factory, gourmet popcorn and other snacks in exclusively designed collectible tins; wine gift offerings from Winetasting.com, and the Company`s newest brand, 1-800-Baskets.com, featuring great gift baskets, towers and collections for all occasions.

McCann attributes much of his success to the lessons he learned in his first career, in the social services. At St. John`s Home for Boys in Rockaway, New York, McCann recalls, he helped underprivileged youths learn how to overcome the many challenges of their environment. His experiences greatly influenced his management style and prepared him to lead 1-800-FLOWERS.COM toward becoming one of the world`s most successful multi-channel retailers.

In addition to serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors for 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, McCann is a member of the Board of Directors of Willis Group Holdings Limited and a variety of private and not-for-profit boards.

Publications

Stop and Sell the Roses:
Lessons From Business and Life

In Stop and Sell the Roses, Jim McCann shares the secrets he learned along his unique road to success, a journey that began in one of New York`s toughest neighborhoods and resulted in a multimillion-dollar business.

Learn from McCann how to build invaluable loyalty through emotional bonds; pick the technology that frees up your creative time; harness the awesome power of the brand; prepare for crunch times and stay tough when business is slow; make money on the Internet by reaching beyond the computer screen; hire passionate people; leapfrog from job to job with an eye to your long-term success; and much more.