[1] Their use of "coyly self-descriptive telephone numbers" is part of founder James McCann's business model.

The phone number, 1-800-356-9377, had been randomly assigned to a trucking brokerage in Wisconsin owned by Curtis Jahn and was used for that company until 1981.

[4] Their business struggled and that company was dissolved, with its assets going to investors James Poage and John Davis of Texas.

[4] Its assets were acquired in 1986 by McCann, an owner of several flower shops in the New York City area since 1976, under whom the business saw success and growth.

[9] According to the Consumerist in 2008, customers reported unknowingly being subscribed to a "membership" called LiveWell after receiving rebate checks from 1-800-Flowers.