Jim McCann
Founder, CEO, Chairman
1-800-Flowers.com
Jim McCann is an entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist who transformed a single flower shop into the billion-dollar retailer 1-800-FLOWERS.COM. His mission to foster meaningful connections led to a diverse portfolio of brands, including Harry & David®, Cheryl’s Cookies®, and Scharffen Berger®. Committed to philanthropy, he founded Smile Farms, providing work for individuals with disabilities. Jim also serves as Chairman of Worth Media Group and holds leadership roles across several private and not-for-profit boards.
Speaking in:
Monday Jan 13th
12:30pm - 1:15pm
Expo, Level 1, Expo Stage 2
The tale of 1-800-Flowers’ success is a story of entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and commercial smarts. Join Avanade and Microsoft at NRF 2025 for a unique conversation with 1-800-Flowers Founder James F. "Jim" McCann – alongside CIO Arnold “Arnie” Leap. You’ll hear the fascinating story of how the business began in the 1970s, as retold by Jim – then a social worker and part-time bartender in NYC – who had a dream to build America’s first nationwide florist. And you’ll learn how the business has flourished since, by staying agile and innovative – moving early to thrive in the .com era, and now doing the same in the AI age with the help of Microsoft and Avanade.
