How to build a company that stands the test of time is the focus of this episode of FMC Fast Chat featuring Jim McCann, Founder and Executive Chairman of 1800-FLOWERS.COM.  Starting with a single floral shop in 1976, McCann built 1800-FLOWERS.COM into a household name, and today the company includes such notable brands as Harry & David, Cheryl's Cookies and Simply Chocolate under its umbrella. McCann talks about how the pandemic impacted operations, changed marketing and drove innovation at 1800FLOWERS.COM and brought his own career full circle. His insights and advice will prove helpful to all businesses, no matter the size. Of course, we couldn't resist throwing in a few signature Fast Chat questions, too, ranging from what he does all day to the pressure he faces when it comes time to send a gift. Take a listen and be in the know in 30(ish) minutes.   BACKGROUND Jim McCann is a successful entrepreneur, business leader, author, media personality and philanthropist whose passion is helping people deliver smiles. From its roots in 1976 as a single flower shop in Manhattan, NY, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM has become the world’s largest florist with annual revenues that exceed $2 billion. In the process, McCann changed the way flowers and other gifts are marketed for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and special occasions while helping to expand the definition of retailing and ecommerce, positioning his company to help customers express themselves and connect with the important people in their lives. In addition to being the first company to have its 800-telephone number as its name – a marketing insight that helped solidify the brand in consumer’s minds – McCann was a pioneer in ecommerce, being one of the very first to seize upon the enormous reach of the internet as early as 1991. Today, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM is a leading provider of gifts designed to help customers express, celebrate and connect. His company’s ecommerce business features an all-star family of brands including: 1-800-FLOWERS.COM®, 1-800-BASKETS.com®, Cheryl’s Cookies®, Harry & David®, Shari’s Berries®, PersonalizationMall.com®, FruitBouquets.com®, Moose Munch®, The Popcorn Factory®, Wolferman’s Bakery®, Stock Yards®, Simply Chocolate®, Vital Choice Seafoods® Alice’s Table®, BloomNet®, NapcoSM and DesignPac Gifts, LLC. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. was recognized among the top 5 on the National Retail Federation’s 2021 Hot 25 Retailers list, which ranks the nation’s fastest-growing retailers. FMC FAST CHAT This is the podcast of the Fair Media Council, advocating for quality news and working to create a media-savvy society. FMC is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices