EXCLUSIVE: 1-800-Flowers CEO And VP Of IR 'Feeling Pretty Good' About Critical Q4

In an exclusive interview with Benzinga, 1-800-Flowers.Com Inc FLWS CEO Jim McCann and head of Investor Relations Joe Pititto discussed the company's upcoming quarter. The fourth calendar quarter accounts for more than half of annual sales, despite the popularity of valentine's day and mother's day for gifting.

"The next few weeks are quite critical for us. And we're still here, still feeling pretty good about it," said McCann.

Stock Movement

Pititto continued, commenting on recent stock price movement. "It's 65 degrees in New York right now on December 7th. If you're a Macy's or a Nordstrom you've got a store full of down jackets. Our stock got caught in the downsweep of the retail sector. And while we can't comment intra-quarter, but from what we're seeing in the marketplace, we can tell you that we're confident.

Related Link: Benchmark Defends 1-800-Flowers, Sees Buy The Dip Opportunity

"People still need to send gifts, and we are not seasonal in terms of the product. Us being affected by what happens in apparel is really kind of ridiculous. Our outlook is still very strong."

Brand Building

1800-Flowers has been active in buying and launching brands. McCann explained that the fourth quarter will be an important time for the integration of these brands with current customers.

"1800-Flowers sent out an email to some of our customers saying that we have sweet surprises for you this weekend," said McCann.

The email, "showed a collection of half a dozen different savory or sweet snacks from Fannie Mae, Harry & David, The Popcorn Factory, from Cheryl's, that you can send to people on your gift list. I asked this morning, ‘how did that email do?' And the data isn't in yet, but it looks like it did really well."

Shares of 1800-Flowers last traded at $7.69. Read the rest of the interview here.