1-800-Flowers stock price taking a beating

[CHR]

Wow. Goldman Sachs downgraded FLWS from 'neutral' to 'sell' and cut the company's target price per share from $9 to $6 this morning.

The stock is currently trading at around $5/share.

FTD dropped, too and is trading in the $13 range. (Again, remember that United Online's offer to purchase FTD is at $15.08/share.)

The numbers for both these companies' 4th quarters should be out in a couple weeks.

For shops who fill for either of the .coms, are you seeing noticeable volume changes from June/July '07?

 

[LJVF]

For shops who fill for either of the .coms, are you seeing noticeable volume changes from June/July '07?

Decrease in FTD.com orders, heavy increase in 1800 orders (I did not join premier either).

I think the drastic increase in 1800 orders is due to the main fulfillment center in San Diego closing down. A wise person on this board once told me, "If the fulfillment center can't stay in business, that should tell you something...think about it".

 

[BOSS]

FTD dropped, too and is trading in the $13 range. (Again, remember that United Online's offer to purchase FTD is at $15.08/share.)

Let's see here....

FTD is bought by Leonard Green for $400million with $200million in debt, then just 4-5 short years later LG sells FTD to United Online for $800million with about $400million in debt, all the while the inside guys get fat bonus's and stock options making them very wealthy...all paid for by stooooooooopid florists...(yes, I'm one)(for now)....and The Street does not even seem to notice or care???

 

[Flowerchatter03]

I had considered purchasing some 800flowers stock 2 years ago. The stock fell below $5 a share. According to the history at that time, their shares had been upwards of $11 in the prior years. 800flowers spend huge amounts of money to roll out their web-site building for florists as well as their POS system at that time.

However, I did not purchase any and then in the next year, the stock went back up to (I think) around the $9-10 share.

If their shares continue to drop, I might just go ahead any purchase some. Their shares will probably go up when the holiday season rolls around.

I did notice a drop in incoming orders for June but so far this month, it has increased.

 

[MANORVILLE]

FTD Orders

Quality, ( said lightly ), FTD orders have plummeted, in favor of discounted recipe orders .
800 was up, but is sagging in the last two weeks.
Teleflora orders, good, bad or indifferent SUCK for quite some time !

Hey BOSS, heard from Jack yet ?

 

[Joe Mioux]

Let's see here....

FTD is bought by Leonard Green for $400million with $200million in debt, then just 4-5 short years later LG sells FTD to United Online for $800million with about $400million in debt, all the while the inside guys get fat bonus's and stock options making them very wealthy...all paid for by stooooooooopid florists...(yes, I'm one)(for now)....and The Street does not even seem to notice or care???

Mark, the florists are not the ones generating the dough, its the consumer market via the FTds .coms. isn't it?

joe

 

[Carrington]

Maybe they shouldn't have let Monica go.

 

[BOSS]

Hey BOSS, heard from Jack yet ?

Nope, not yet...glad I was not holding my breath...Jack, just like the others in charge have little interest talking to a loose cannon like me....heck...I'm nuts you know!

Mark, the florists are not the ones generating the dough, its the consumer market via the FTds .coms. isn't it?

joe

Joe, true enough, however florists too are generating funds... directory cash cows for example are money makers...stoopid florists...and even though 800F went the green route allowing an "opt out" for their directory, I don't think they stopped charging for it...

IMO...the 7% should be enough, and there should be no monthly "membership TAX".....they should stop taking the "marketing advance" and let me keep that money to advertise locally...and more...

BWTFDIK?

I have some time today, and I'm going to look at a 1 year stretch and compare wire outs+ rebates- membership and all the associated charges- incoming discounts- lost delivery revenue and what ever else is on the statement and post it up. I'm not sure what I'll find as yet, but my guess is that even with my volume, I'm probably not making enough **cash I keep** to make my ongoing relationship with any WS worth my time...

(oh...and I'm working on a letter to my customers showing them how to find you directly...a recent look at our complaints revealed that 99% of them were on wire outs...I don't think I need that headache)

 

[CHR]

Mark, the florists are not the ones generating the dough, its the consumer market via the FTds .coms. isn't it?

joe

Joe - According to FTDs Q3 financial statment release, florists services still generate the most income. Dollars shown in thousands.

Consumer segment - Q3/ 4,743 - 9 months 14,508
Florist segment - Q3/ 14,471 - 9 months 42,364
International Segment - Q3/ 7,341 - 9 months 14,429

Of course, incoming orders sold by FTD.com help drive florists' continued participation in FTD.