1-800-Flowers is a floral and gift retailer and distribution company in the United States. It was one of the first retailers to use a 24 x 7 toll-free telephone number and the Internet for direct sales to consumers.[citation needed] The concept of using 1-800-Flowers as a mnemonic phone number was originated by Carl Westcott, who later sold his business to Jim Poage and John Davis in 1982.[citation needed] Their failed business[citation needed], along with the rights to the toll-free number, were acquired in 1986 by Jim McCann, an owner of several flower shops in the New York City area since 1976.