CARLE PLACE, N.Y., July 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., the world's leading florist and gift shop, today reported that it will begin accepting bitcoin, the world's most widely used digital currency. Beginning this fall, bitcoin will join familiar payment options, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and PayPal, that are available to the company's customers across its extensive family of gifting sites, including 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, FannieMay.com, Cheryls.com, ThePopcornFactory.com, 1-800-Baskets.com, FruitBouquets.com, and Stockyards.com.

"As a customer centric company, we are always looking for new ways to engage with our customers and enhance their shopping experience for all of their celebratory occasions," said Jim McCann, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM CEO and Founder. "Bitcoin, together with our other payment options, offers our customers another highly convenient way to help them deliver smiles to the important people in their lives."

Throughout its history, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM has been a leading retail and ecommerce innovator in adopting the use of new technologies that enhance customer engagement.  Among its many pioneering firsts, the company was the first merchant to conduct a transaction on America Online and the floral industry's first company to introduce a mobile gift center. In addition, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM was the first ecommerce company to enable customers to complete a transaction without leaving their Facebook Page.

1-800-FLOWERS.COM has selected leading bitcoin platform Coinbase to process its bitcoin payments. "We are excited to partner with 1-800-FLOWERS.COM," said Fred Ehrsam, co-founder of Coinbase. "Bitcoin is becoming an increasingly popular method to make ecommerce purchases and we're glad to be helping 1-800-FLOWERS.COM customers make these purchases in an easy and secure way."

About 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. is the world's leading florist and gift shop. For more than 38 years, 1-800-FLOWERS® (1-800-356-9377 or www.1800flowers.com) has been helping deliver smiles for our customers with gifts for every occasion, including fresh flowers and the finest selection of plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections, candles, balloons and plush stuffed animals. As always, our 100% Smile Guarantee backs every gift. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM was awarded the 2014 Silver Stevie Award, recognizing the organization's outstanding Customer Service and commitment to our 100% Smile Guarantee. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM has been honored in Internet Retailer's "Top 500 Guide" for 2014.  Of Internet Retailer's "2013 Top 100 E-Retailers," 1-800-FLOWERS.COM was named one of 12 e-retailers that LightningBuy mobile analysts deemed "exceptional user interface for consumers using guest checkout." 1-800-FLOWERS.COM received a Gold Award for Best User Experience on a Mobile Optimized Site for the 2013 Horizon Interactive Awards. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM is rated EXCELLENT by StellaService which represents a general high quality of service for its customer service performance. The Company's BloomNet® international floral wire service (www.mybloomnet.net) provides a broad range of quality products and value-added services designed to help professional florists grow their businesses profitably. The 1-800-FLOWERS.COM "Gift Shop" also includes gourmet gifts such as popcorn and specialty treats from: The Popcorn Factory® (1-800-541-2676 or www.thepopcornfactory.com); cookies and baked gifts from Cheryl's® (1-800-443-8124 or www.cheryls.com); premium chocolates and confections from Fannie May® confections brands (www.fanniemay.com and www.harrylondon.com); gift baskets and towers from 1-800-Baskets.com®  (www.1800baskets.com); incredible, carved fresh fruit arrangements from FruitBouquets.com ( www.fruitbouquets.com); top quality steaks and chops from Stock Yards® (www.stockyards.com); as well as premium branded customizable invitations and personal stationery from FineStationery.com® (www.finestationery.com). The Company's Celebrations® brand (www.celebrations.com) is a source for creative party ideas, must-read articles, online invitations and ecards, all created to help people celebrate holidays and the everyday. Shares in 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, ticker symbol: FLWS.

SOURCE 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc.

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