Connectivity Archives

The Positive Effects of Nature on Your Well-Being

Our Sunday letters are direct from our Chairman and CEO and aim to provide a message of hope and inspiration. We share the best stories that show how others aim to express, connect and celebrate the people most important to them during these trying times.

The role of business leaders is changing, and, frankly, has been for a while. Often we are asked to opine, and have a point of view on, the issues of the day. We were recently asked by Juliet Scott-Croxford, CEO of Worth, about how we feel about the pandemic and where things are heading for the world, business and everyday life as we once knew it.

Six months after COVID-19 erupted, we feel very differently about the virus and its impact on us, our businesses, our societies, our culture and our families. In the very beginning, many of our fears and concerns were primal. We wondered: Would our loved ones, friends, and family have access to food and medical care? Today, healthcare access and the treatment modality are better, and there are vaccine options on the horizon. There have been recent discoveries about what the virus does to our body and how we can avoid exposure with simple and effective methods like hand washing and wearing masks. By this time next year, we hope this pandemic will be in the rear view mirror. Having this timeline will help us to better understand, and cope with, the unknown.

In the meantime, many of us are adjusting, and then readjusting, to an ever-changing new reality. Developing new routines, combined with the normal stressors of everyday life, can cause challenges for one’s physical and mental well-being.

Clear your head

Self-care is especially important when so much of our lives, which were once held together by specific routines, are so significantly changed. As fall continues, there is no better way to rejuvenate your mind and body than by taking a trip outside. But don’t just take our word for it, listen to others too.

There is no better prescription than getting families into the wilderness to combat the anxieties of our present time.

Dr. Sarah Crocke, co-director at Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Emergency Medicine Student Education in New Hampshire

Clearing one’s head while being outside in fresh air can do wonders for your well-being. It also allows you to spend some quality time with family and friends.

But don’t be frightened if you’re not the most seasoned hiker. Easy-to-moderate hikes or walks around the neighborhood are always a great idea. We like to listen to podcasts on our walks. Some of our favorites include NYU Stern School of Business Professor Scott Galloway’s The Prof G Show and our friend and Board Member Adam Hanft’s podcast, Jolty, which is put on with another friend, Faith Popcorn.

Reaping the benefits of plants

If you cannot easily get somewhere outside, why not bring the outdoors to you? Filling your home or apartment with plants is not only aesthetically pleasing but healthy as well. We recently created a series of articles that reinforce these attributes, including one called Rooted in Happiness and another called Plant Parenting 101 that focuses on the physical, emotional, and mental benefits of plants. The health benefits of plants are truly remarkable. From reducing carbon dioxide levels to increasing productivity levels, plants can dramatically improve your well-being. Many of you are continuing to make efforts to improve your home and space with plants.

This week, we expanded The Plant Shop at 1-800-Flowers.com with new products, resources, and tips for our plant parents.

Care for your mental well-being

Finally, we’d like to acknowledge that World Mental Health Day is October 10th. The World Federation of Mental Health created the day to advocate for mental health as a whole and to eradicate the stigmas surrounding mental health. This is a topic we place a great emphasis on, and we hope this day can serve as a reminder to actively check in on your mental health and to reach out to family and loved ones to make sure they’re doing alright.

Whether you choose to take a walk in the woods, bring the outdoors in with plants, or simply talk to a close friend, we all must be sure to care for the mental well-being of ourselves, and those in our lives, during these particularly turbulent times.

All the best,
Jim and Chris

P.S. We partnered with Wisdo to build Connection Communities for those who would like to share their thoughts or experiences with people who have gone through similar events. We hope you find connecting to others by sharing and receiving guidance to be beneficial.

Preparing For A Different Kind Of Holiday Season

It’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the air is getting crisper, and our layers are getting thicker. Fall is upon us, officially beginning with the fall solstice this Tuesday, September 22.

Each year as summer comes to an end, we tend to get a little melancholy. But this time around, those feelings are magnified. This past summer never felt like it truly started as many of us missed our traditions of family BBQs, reunions, and days at the beach. We typically have lots to keep us occupied each September — work often amps up, the kids head back to school, and many of us shuffle between activities from sports practices to dance recitals. As we all know, our day-to-day schedules are different this season.

It is hard to nail down a routine with so much uncertainty which causes angst and upset for many of us. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out, “the prevalence of symptoms of an anxiety disorder was three times as high and symptoms of depression were four times as high in June 2020 than in the second quarter of 2019”. We would encourage you to be aware of your own feelings and those of the people around you. Sometimes just an open discussion can help press the reset button.

Adapting to changes this holiday season

As we mentioned, the emotional headwinds are steep – this is a stressful time. We believe it’s important to double down on ways to find joy in our daily lives. For us, this means staying closely connected to our families and friends. The fall always allows for lots of quality time with our loved ones due to all the holidays. So, how do we keep those traditions alive?

Some people within our community faced this dilemma while celebrating the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah, last weekend. Rosh Hashanah, literally meaning “head [of] the year,” is the Jewish New Year. Those of you observing this holiday likely had to make some changes this year. What if you weren’t able to go in person to your synagogue, to the shop you usually buy food from, or to the friends’ house you usually gather at? We know many of our friends and family missed their big holiday dinners filled with honey cake and brisket.

One positive we see is that there are no boundaries to the size of your dinner table in a virtual setting. Expand your guest list! Through Zoom or other video chatting services, you can invite your cousins from across the country or your neighbors who moved away. This will bring new groups of people together and make the day feel special.

We extend our well wishes to everyone observing the Jewish High Holidays and to our entire community, we wish you a good week ahead.

All the best,
Jim and Chris

P.S. Last week we wrote about the devastating fires that plagued Oregon and the entire western U.S. Folks in our Harry & David community – as well as their neighbors, loved ones, and friends – have been directly impacted. If you are able, we hope you consider donating to help these families and their loved ones get back on their feet

For our part, we have partnered with the Teresa McCormick Center, an I.R.C. Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity organization that serves the needs of the community in Medford, Oregon.

P.P.S. Our good friend Jason Heller, President of @Persado, hosted Jim on their #ChoiceWords podcast. Tune in to hear Jim’s journey as an “accidental entrepreneur” guiding 1-800-Flowers.com from a single NY flower shop to one of the world’s leading gourmet food and floral gift providers. You might want to listen, especially if you’re interested in learning what it takes to be truly customer-centric and how to foster customer relationships. You can listen here.

* Teresa McCormick Center is a public charitable organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, donations to Teresa McCormick Center are considered tax deductible to the extent that IRS rules permit. If you have questions regarding the deductibility of your contribution, please consult with your personal tax advisor.

Celebrating Grandparents

In anticipation of celebrating Grandparents’ day today, we asked our customers to share some of their favorite memories. We were blown away by the touching stories we received about the connections and importance of expression. As grandfathers ourselves, it warmed our hearts to see the impact and significance of grandparents on their families.

We’re strong believers in relationships and in the value of expressing and connecting with family and friends. Whether making something by hand, calling someone directly, writing a personal note or an impactful song, what’s most important is communicating your feelings. Try saying what you’ve wanted to say but never did. However you choose to share your feelings, what’s important is that you express yourself. SHARE YOUR STORY

The Power Of Stories We Heard

With that in mind, we wanted to share a few responses we received. First, Hannah, who told us that she is most grateful for her grandparents who taught her about true love. Hannah was fortunate enough to travel from Ohio to North Carolina to celebrate her grandparents’ 60th wedding anniversary. Despite their poor health and the loss of a son, her Ma and Papa show the strength of their marriage, which also bonds their entire family.

Maria told us the story of her grandmother, Jeanette, who she described as “a one-of-a-kind soul” and her best friend. Jeanette would cook every night and bake every week. And she did this not to feed, but to love and ensure that her family was together and would always remind Maria around the importance of a loving family.

Maria cherishes the memories of playing card games with Jeanette (who would always let her win) as well as their monthly lunches, where they would discuss life and Jeanette would share advice. Above all, though, Maria fondly remembers her grandmother for her non-judgmental advice that helped make her the woman she is today.

This week the fast-moving Glendower/Almeda fire has swept through the Rogue Valley of Oregon, where our Harry & David campus is located. There has been terrible devastation and loss to the community and many of our employees have suffered loss to their property. We are grateful that our operations weren’t significantly impacted. Our thoughts, prayers and response efforts are with our team, their families and this wonderful community in the Rogue Valley. In light of such loss, a wonderful story emerged from Nicole and her grandmother, both Harry & David team members.

Nicole told us the story of her grandmother Joanne, who helped her single father raise her. Gram, as Nicole knows her, began working in the packing house at Harry & David, back in 1972. She stayed at Harry & David, working in several different roles, until she retired in 2005. Retirement apparently didn’t suit her, though, because Gram began working again part time at the Harry & David Country Village Flagship store.

Thanks to all of you who sent in stories and cherished memories. Please keep sharing here: SHARE YOUR STORY

Thank Your Grandparents, They’ll Appreciate It

Remember to use your personal power to influence how people feel. In this case, any grandparents in your life. Tell them how much they mean to you and how you admire what a good grandparent they are. Even if it’s asking them about their own grandparents or a tale from their childhood, on this Grandparents’ Day make sure to foster those relationships so they grow for years to come. And if a grandparent has passed on, share your special memories of them with your friends and family as a way to remember them.

However you choose to celebrate the grandparents in your life, it’s worth remembering to continuously express our love and appreciation for the special people in your life. No gesture is too small; it’s truly the thought that counts.

All the best,
Jim and Chris

Happy Grandparents Day

As we celebrate Labor Day this weekend and think of our letter last weekend on how different plans are this year versus the past, our thoughts turn to Grandparents Day next Sunday, Sept. 13.

There is a beautiful saying about the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. Grandchildren are a grandparent’s link to the future, while grandparents are child’s link to the past. As proud grandfathers, this rings true.

We were chatting with Juliet Scott-Croxford, CEO of Worth. She and her husband, both from England, are delighted to be buying a house in the New York City suburbs because they’ll have more room for their 3-year-old son. The downside was telling their parents because it confirms that their residence in New York is more permanent — and means much less time with their grandson, whom they haven’t seen now in nine months.

That’s a similar case for a friend of ours whose family normally visits grandparents in Michigan each summer. Because they couldn’t make the trip this year, those grandparents have missed a quarter of their 4-year-old grandchild’s life. As grandparents, we worry we’ll never be able to make up that lost time.

You also might have missed a visit and may be looking for ways you can still connect on this special day.

Celebrate Grandparents Day, However You Can

This is a great time to share a special message with your loved ones — that you love and appreciate how much they enrich your life. In some cases, grandparents, children, and grandchildren won’t be able to spend the day together in person, but there are still ways to connect on this special day.

Our gifting experts recently shared a blog post detailing nine ways to celebrate Grandparents’ Day, with some things you can do and ways you can celebrate. These are suggestions, and we share others.

Instead of buying a card, ask each grandchild to recount their five greatest memories of their grandparents in a hand-written note directly to, grandparents, as well as an email to the entire family. Memories and appreciation are what make grandparents feel special.

Another idea is to use those memories as the launch of a letter-writing campaign. Write a hard-copy letter and mail it to grandparents. Ask them to respond in writing, and then keep it going. It’s so personal to keep a card written in a treasured person’s handwriting, and it creates a regular correspondence that can strengthen the relationship. Ask them to share stories about their lives, and, in return, tell them in detail about yours.

It’s incredible how you can know someone so well but not know much about their past. This is especially true with grandparents. So, make Grandparents Day extra special by learning more about your family history by creating a memory journal, with instructions on how to get started here.

You could do this in several different formats:

Record a video
Through an interview or a personal story, videos can capture your grandparents’ stories for generations to come.

Complete a shared journal together
Purchase memory journals that already have prompts, or you can create your own journal with your own questions. Pass the journal back and forth with your grandparents over the years to share favorite memories together.

Create a photo scrapbook
Gather old pictures of your grandparents and create a photo album for them. You may also add photos of your memories side by side with your grandparents for comparison!

Display images to show real-time content
We hope that you’ll get started on these soon and share with us some of your favorite memories of your grandparents or tales of their adventures. Please visit to share your stories.

And for all the fellow grandparents out there, it’s true that we hold their tiny hands for a while, but they hold our hearts forever.

All the best,
Jim and Chris

P.S. Chris joined Yahoo! Finance’s “The Final Round” to speak about consumer trends and how 1-800-FLOWERS.COM has responded to the ongoing pandemic by doubling down on our vision to inspire connection, expression, and celebration. Watch here

The upcoming holiday season is sure to be unlike any other we have ever seen.  Jim joined @FaithPopcorn, @adamhanft and @Maggy Wilkinson on their new podcast #Jolty to discuss the jolts sure to be faced by all during the holidays. Take a listen

Jim has recently launched a new series on Worth – entitled “Aftershocks,” Jim delves into the unintended consequences that various sectors and industries will experience in a post-pandemic world. The inaugural column is here.

Happy Labor Day

Paying Tribute to our Unsung Heroes

On Labor Day, we pay tribute to the people who work to make the products we use every day and who provide the goods and services that make our way of life possible.

The holiday was begun as part of the labor movement in the late 19th century as it wrought reforms for working conditions and hours. We all pay homage to their successes — moving from standard seven-day work weeks to five, limiting shifts to eight hours, making child labor illegal and improving working conditions and safety protocols.

Labor Day today is unlike those in the past

We also want to salute our unsung local heroes who probably don’t get the recognition for their contributions that they deserve — such as the people who stock shelves, check out our groceries, drive taxis and buses, work in the hardware store and those who painstakingly clean and sanitize virtually everywhere we go. We invite you to say a special thanks to those heroes on Labor Day, especially those who may spend the holiday working and who we consider a #LocalHero

In past years, we’d celebrate the holiday with a long weekend of cookouts, parades, picnics, fireworks and other public gatherings. Like so many things, it will be different this year, but we have the obligation to ourselves, our friends, families and communities to make the best of it.

Yet one thing will be familiar. In addition to a day set aside for workers, Labor Day also has become known as the official end of summer. We all recognize only too well that this has been a peculiar and trying summer for many. We’ve missed our normal vacations and traditions, and we’ve worked hard to try to wring something special out of the summer months. It’s not too late to knock off another item or two from that list of summer activities you created back on Memorial Day.

A new reality for education is right around the corner

With the mornings becoming a bit cooler and the sun setting a bit earlier, we now turn our attention to back to school. This is a tough time for parents and children alike, whether they’re learning in person or remotely, and whether your kids are starting kindergarten or heading to college. You also might consider reaching out to others in a similar boat as you. You can join our Connection Communities, powered by Wisdo where you can meet others and discuss topics like COVID-19 anxiety and self care. The community is free, it is our gift to you.

If back to school doesn’t affect you directly, consider dropping a note or calling a struggling parent to let them know you care or even offer to help if you can.

Whether you have kids or not, work is also changing. Many people are still working remotely, and, for some, their jobs may never be in a large open-office setting again.

How we respond is more important than the situation we are in

Others have lost their jobs and are looking now for new placements or even new career paths. Some of their organizations are pivoting to new business strategies, so their jobs may be different.

Many people are responding by joining the burgeoning gig economy, where they don’t have a single, steady job but take on serial assignments from multiple employers. In short, the future of work is changing for many people, organizations and industries.

Everything is a bit different this year for everyone. We’ll just continue to face challenges and hope they’ll turn into new opportunities, to make new traditions, to rekindle relationships and make new connections, to accept the changes we can’t control and to look for whatever silver linings we might find.

All the best,
Jim & Chris

P.S. This week @Mark Cuban mentioned on @GMA the power of partnering with virtual event companies to meet customer’s changing needs for entertaining and gathering. At @1-800-Flowers.com, we are thrilled to partner with @Alice’s Table to provide virtual floral classes to our customers. #virtualclasses #sharktank #floralarranging

Getting Organized

Many people are spending more time at home than they typically would during the warm summer months. Some have even taken this extra time to “nest.” The term, typically associated with expectant parents, describes the process of getting a home ready for a new child; however, in the context of our current pandemic, it has taken on an entirely new meaning. Families are working to make their spaces more special.

Make Your Space Work for You

At the beginning of summer, we wrote about our suggestion to use this time at home to turn your attention to home-improvement projects you just couldn’t get to before. We shared examples like focusing on your interior space by trying some new decorating touches that make your space work for you or turning your backyard into a paradise by taking up gardening. According to a survey by Scott’s Miracle-Gro, because of COVID-19, over half of the country has turned to gardening, while another 20 percent indicated they plan to test their green thumb.

The recent surge of those looking to try their hand in gardening extends to people bringing nature indoors through houseplants. We are proud that last fall, Jim’s son James and team member Melissa Owen led the launch of our new brand, plants.com, which has seen success, due in part to people spending more time at home. Using plants as home décor also has functional benefits. Plants naturally help purify the air and have been proven to provide a calming effect, something we can all use in these more stressful times.

Whether through greenery or renovations, if you haven’t spruced up your space yet, now may be the time. How can you make your home feel more special or suited to your current needs? Small changes, such as purchasing a desk organizer or rearranging furniture, can make a difference. We share below a few articles with great home-project ideas and stories that struck a chord:

The great decluttering of 2020: The pandemic has inspired a cleanout of American homes.

21 easy home projects to tackle while you’re hunkered down

Stuck at Home, and Seeing Home With New Clarity

That ‘Home Office’ of Yours? It Needs an Upgrade

Enjoy the Comfort of Your Own Home

It’s always a good idea to try to turn lemons into lemonade, especially during these times, so we are considering how we use our time, efforts or how we evaluate customer needs and experiences. Worth features a story on how our team and Alice’s Table partnered to quickly pivot floral arranging events from in-person to virtual during these unprecedented times. We’re looking forward to further developing this relationship and using this platform to help you connect with experiences around Smile Farms and some of our other brands.

This is a great reminder that this extended time at home is the perfect opportunity to learn new skills or take part in fun activities. In addition to our interactive floral arranging workshops with Alice’s Table, Business Insider also recommends other virtual options for food and travel experiences, including online tours, workshops, tastings and cooking classes, all of which you can enjoy from home. These are a fun way to enjoy some virtual time with friends and family.

We hope you’ve been able to stay close with your family and friends during this time — whether safely in person, by phone, or online — and that you have been able to make your house feel a bit more like a home, through cooking, gardening, or exploring other interests and projects around the house.

All the best,
Jim & Chris

Celebrate the Young People on International Youth Day

Thoughts by Founder Jim McCann

They say you’re never too young to change the world. Sometimes our best work is done when we don’t know all the reasons why it will not work.

The United Nation’s (UN) annually marks International Youth Day (Wednesday, August 12, this year) to “celebrate the young people, youth-led organizations, governments and others who are working to transform education and uplift young people everywhere.”

We’ll celebrate this day by reflecting on our firsthand observations of how dedicated and passionate young people are making a difference.

Amazing Insight

At 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and the rest of the Celebrations Family of Brands, we have an annual internship program for college and graduate students which runs for about 10 weeks every summer. Normally we have about a hundred interns across the country, but this year it was less than a quarter of that, with about ten working out of our headquarters, unfortunately not in the building due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each year the interns work on a project for the duration of the summer, which focuses on strategic initiatives of the company. At the end of the summer the interns present their findings to senior leaders and we award a prize to the group that presented the best idea. We deeply value our interns and the perspective that they bring.

We invited this year’s interns to participate in a fundraiser for Smile Farms, a non-profit my family and I started which is dedicated to employing adults with developmental disabilities. The organization, founded in 2015, currently employs nearly 150 individuals with developmental disabilities. The interns led a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign to enable Smile Farms to provide at-home plant grow kits for their differently abled farmers, since the pandemic prevents them from working their usual jobs in person. The interns created fundraising pages, shared them with their social media networks, their friends and families, and their 1-800-FLOWERS.COM colleagues and supervisors. They raised thousands of dollars for Smile Farms.

A positive outlook and the ability to adapt

One of the interns, Emily, had this to say about the campaign: “I loved the idea of Smile Farms and hearing all about everything you all do. I think it’s a really amazing organization, and I was so happy to hear about this fundraiser and help anyway I could!”

We recently had the chance to speak to the intern class both about their Smile Farms project. We were able to take advantage of being with these very bright young folks to talk about these unprecedented times and their effects on mental health. We gained some amazing insight.

Given the promotional ads that pop up on our social media feeds, one young man, Scottie, was on the mark. He predicts that masks will become an industry of their own, “complete with competing fashion styles, and potentially built-in sensors that send data to your phone or other devices.” Brilliant! He notes that making masks trendy and desirable may mitigate some of the stigma around them, which can help new businesses thrive and save lives. Leveraging the “real estate” of the mask is already something we’ve seen in recent times as companies and sports teams have branded them.

Scottie also thinks that fitness will move from gyms into our homes, and personal fitness equipment and virtual reality will see a spike in sales and help people find a way to exercise together while they’re apart.

Our intern Nick has started to question the future of human contact. “Shaking someone’s hand is considered unacceptable in our new world,” he pointed out. He wonders if touching elbows and giving fist bumps will endure as the new handshake.

Nick also offered this sage perspective: “Our conversation today helped me to understand that this is something we all need to adapt to. I realized that one skill I have is the ability to remain positive in such times of uncertainty. It’s hard to know what our future will look like. The best way to approach it is with a positive outlook and the ability to adapt and get ahead.”

We also spoke with a few of the interns working at Harry & David for the summer about their experiences. One young woman, Brooke, shared her thoughts on the E-Commerce industry: “During these times especially, E-Commerce is so important since people are doing most of their shopping online. Being able to be a part of the process to better our site and make it more user friendly and accessible to millions of people is something I never thought I would get the chance to do as an intern.”

We wholeheartedly agreed with Harry & David intern, Skyler, when he said: “In result of ongoing events, the landscape of the world is changing, as is how we do business.”

You never know where a big idea or great thought will come from. Be curious. Every interaction gives you a chance to learn, to adjust your perspective and get a new insight.

We have a positive outlook after spending time with our amazing interns. We’re confident that the world will be safe in the hands of this next generation.

Getting Back to Community

Typically, the Fourth of July is a time of celebration. A time when we all head to the store to stock up on burgers and hot dogs, charcoal and sparklers, and everything in between. It’s a time when we call our families and loved ones, coordinate on who’s bringing what, and double-check that Grandma is making her famous apple pie.

As we continue to navigate reopening measures, we’re entering a new world that will be different from how we’ve lived previously.

Forging a New Set of Traditions

Just as we’re experiencing a different kind of summer, this, too, will be a different kind of Independence Day. While we could choose to focus on what we’ll be missing this year, instead, we plan on embracing a new kind of Fourth of July where we forge a new set of traditions.

While the backyard barbecue will be a little smaller with just our immediate family members, technology can keep us connected to our usual guests.

Additionally, so many of our team members noted how they planned to thank those essential workers that worked – and continue to work – tirelessly throughout this pandemic. Your local grocery store clerk, delivery driver, doctor, nurse, schoolteacher – all of them deserve our gratitude. We join our team in thanking our #localheroes.

We asked some of our team members how they’ll be enjoying this year’s different July Fourth and were delighted to hear how families were at the center of most plans. Shawn from the Digital Marketing team at Harry and David, said he’ll be spending the holiday at the beach with friends, while practicing social distancing, and reflecting on how grateful they are to have each other through these unprecedented times.

Katie, a senior graphic designer for Cheryl’s Cookies, instead opted to head into nature for Independence Day. She’s excited to spend her social distanced getaway hiking, kayaking, and exploring the great outdoors with her husband. Share Your Story

Embrace the Differences

While relaxing this weekend, we hope you take a moment to read our friend, advisor, and Board Member, Adam Hanft’s new column that explores interesting activities and things that have kept him busy during quarantine.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Len Elmore for speaking to our team this week. Len is our longest standing Board Member and an expert on matters of race relations. We were deeply moved by his words and continue to be inspired working alongside him.

Like so many milestones this year, the Fourth of July will certainly be different than in prior years. We urge everyone to make it memorable and to embrace those differences so that we treasure this quality time with our loved ones and friends. While we might miss crowds and parades, ultimately, the only thing that truly matters through it all are our friends and family.

Wishing you a safe and happy Fourth,
Jim and Chris

The Most Treasured Gifts Cannot be Bought

We have the incredible power to influence how people feel

Father’s Day is a chance to pause and reflect on what a wonderful job our fathers have done. It’s an opportunity for you to do something your dad, grandfather, or a father figure in your life, will remember forever. We can express ourselves in person, make them a handwritten card, send a text or let the whole world know how much we love our dad in a social media post. These calendared events are important because they remind us to take the time to tell the people in our lives that we love and admire them.

From Jim:

Sometimes a gift comes in the forms of words.

My son, James, is the father of a 2-year-old. I told him the other day, “Boy, you really are a good father. I’m proud to see what a great dad you are.” He responded, “Well, I had a great teacher.” I was pleased I was able to tell James how proud I am of him, and I was also quite touched by his response.

At the beginning of this pandemic, my daughter, Erin, sent me a text telling me how much she values the role I play as a dad and the co-leader of the family. She might not have written that if we weren’t in a crisis, but she realized in that moment she didn’t tell me often enough how she feels.

Some years ago, a friend asked my son Matthew, “What comes to mind when you describe your father?” “Awesome,” Matthew responded. The man said, “Jeez, I’ve never heard a son describe his dad that way before, that’s high praise!” Matthew said, “Well, that was the first word that came to mind.” That sentiment was truly a gift that I still treasure.

My youngest brother, Chris is a caring, thoughtful and engaged father and has been the foundation of his wonderful family.

From Chris:

This is a very special Father’s Day for me because it is my first as a grandfather. My daughter Jenna gave my wife the best gift ever for Mother’s Day this year — her first grandchild. We’re grateful to have our other children live nearby so that we can spend time with them.

From Jim & Chris:

We were talking to the team about how often a song, poem, movie or book reminded each of us of our dads. For me, it was personal. My dad died in 1989 at just 62 years old. A song that was popular then was “In the Living Years” by Mike and the Mechanics. I still listen to that song and reflect on its lyrics and wisdom — the singer was lamenting that he didn’t have the time to tell his dad how he really felt. It felt like every time I went to the hospital to visit my dad that song was playing on the radio. I can’t drive past that hospital in Jamaica, Queens, without thinking of my father and that melancholy song. We all have a favorite movie, song, saying or book that remind us of dad. We’d love for you to share yours here: https://www.facebook.com/1800flowers/photos/a.136181644767/10160078588564768/

Why do we share these deeply personal and emotional memories? Even though some of them happened years ago, they help us remember what’s truly important. With Mother’s Day just behind us and Father’s Day approaching, we realize that making someone happy is truly magical.

We are reminded of a quote from Maya Angelou that we repeat a lot in our company: “People will forget what you say, people will forget what you did, but they will never ever forget the way you made them feel.”

Gifts From the Heart

You have the opportunity to tell the dads in your life how proud you are of their hard work and the great job they do.

Whether it’s your father, husband, son, brother, friend or coworker, tell them how you feel about them. We’d also love you to share with us the best Father’s Day gift you’ve ever given, whether it’s a handmade card, breakfast in bed or telling them how much they mean to you. We would love to hear your stories of your dad and all the ways you’ve expressed your appreciation: https://www.1800flowers.com/share-your-story

The most treasured gift you can offer is sharing how you feel, sharing a gift from the heart. Those expressions and moments can change the way someone feels. These memories can be pulled out anytime, like we do — today and many, many days in the future.

All the best,

Jim & Chris