Ballantine Publishing Group Acquires The Accidental Entrepreneur by Jim McCann, Founder and President of 1-800-FLOWERS

Business Wire, Sept 3, 1997

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 1997--The Ballantine Publishing Group will publish a business book by Jim McCann, founder and President of 1-800-FLOWERS, the world's largest florist, Linda Grey, Group President, announced today. THE ACCIDENTAL ENTREPRENEUR is scheduled for publication in the Spring of 1998.

"Twenty years ago, Jim McCann stumbled into a business he knew nothing about, and with a $10,000 initial investment, created one of the country's fastest-growing companies," said Judith Curr, Senior Vice President and Editor-in-Chief, who acquired the book for Ballantine. "THE ACCIDENTAL ENTREPRENEUR will be Mr. McCann's gritty, humorous life story infused with priceless life and business lessons that everyone can profit from reading."

"My story is unusual," remarked Mr. McCann. "I really learned management along the way, under some very difficult circumstances. I hope that the mistakes and accomplishments I have made over the last two decades will be a useful guide for others on their roads to entrepreneurship and success."

THE ACCIDENTAL ENTREPRENEUR will share the unique insights on management and human relations that Mr. McCann learned by growing up working class in Queens and struggling to make ends meet as a social worker in some of New York City's toughest neighborhoods. A "cyber success story," the book will also be a roadmap for business owners and managers and entrepreneurs in the Information Age. McCann's use of increasingly sophisticated telemarketing techniques and computing and information technology has been key to his success. "Learning which technology tools to pick is essential," noted Mr. McCann. "The best companies use technology to mine time, which is needed to build relationships."

Mr. McCann has received the Entrepreneur of the Year award from Merrill Lynch and Inc. Magazine, been awarded Direct Marketer of the Year by Direct Marketing Day New York, and been honored as one of the Top Business 100 in Irish America Magazine. He is a member of numerous business and community organizations, which include the national boards of Gateway 2000, Office Max, Inc., PETCO, the National Retail Federation, Hofstra University's Board of Trustees, Winthrop University Hospital, the Entrepreneur of the Year Institute, and Very Special Arts. A frequent lecturer and writer, Mr. McCann has discussed business and social issues before AT&T, IBM and Inc. 500 companies, as well as numerous community and national groups. He lives in Manhasset, New York with his wife and three children.

IMG will handle all translation, book club rights, and magazine and newspaper serialization internationally.

The Ballantine Publishing Group's Subsidiary Rights Department will offer all audio, book club, magazine and newspaper serialization rights domestically. Contact Teri Henry, Director of Subsidiary Rights: (212) 572-2147 and e-mail address: thenry@randomhouse.com .

CONTACT: Ellen Archer, V.P., Associate Publisher

(212) 572-2148

e-mail address: earcher@randomhouse.com

or

Teri Henry, Director of Subsidiary Rights

(212) 572- 2147

e-mail address: thenry@randomhouse.com