| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Floral industry |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Headquarters | Downers Grove, Illinois, United States |
| Key people |
Robert Apatoff, President |
| Revenue | $613 million (2007)[1] |
| Operating income | $78 million (2007)[1] |
| Net income | $32 million (2007)[1] |
| Total assets | $749 million [1][2] |
| Total equity | $262 million [1][2] |
| Employees | 984 (2007) [1][2] |
| Parent | United Online |
| Subsidiaries |
FTD.COM (direct sales) |
| Website | FTD.COM www.ftdi.com |
FTD Group, Inc. (FTD), also trading as Florists' Transworld Delivery is a floral wire service, retailer and wholesaler based in Downers Grove, Illinois, in the United States. FTD was founded as Florists' Telegraph Delivery in 1910, to help customers send flowers remotely on the same day by using florists in the FTD network who are near the intended recipient. It originated as a retailers' cooperative and began a process of demutualization in 1994. It operates two main businesses: The Consumer Business sells flowers and gift items through its websites and The Floral Business sells computer services, software and even fresh cut flowers to FTD and Interflora affiliated florists.
Retail Florist Association (formerly Extra Touch Florist Association and FTD Association) is a trade association that originated as the member education, advocacy and quality assurance arm of FTD, breaking formal ties with FTD in 2001.
FTD processes orders through the Mercury Network, its international telecommunications service.
In 2008, United Online (NASDAQ: UNTD) announced a merger agreement with FTD Group, valued at $800 million.[3] The acquisition was completed and shares of FTD ceased to trade on the NYSE August 26, 2008.
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On August 18, 1910, fifteen American florists led by John Valentine, a Denver lawyer and floral company owner[4] , agreed to serve each others' out-of-town customers by exchanging orders via telegraph, and was called Florists' Telegraph Delivery. In 1914, the company adopted Mercury Man as its logo, to emphasize the speed of delivery. In 1965, it began offering international order, and took the name of Florists' Transworld Delivery.[5]
Demutualization of co-operatives
In 1994, FTD began a process of demutualization. On December 19, 1994, a precursor to the FTD Corporation, a private, for-profit company, acquired FTD, which then divided FTD into two organizations: FTD Incorporated, a for profit corporation, and FTD Association, a non-profit trade association.
FTD Incorporated retained FTD's businesses, including the Mercury Network and the clearinghouse, and controlled FTD Association's rules, regulations, and bylaws. The FTD Association retained member education, advocacy and quality assurance.
In 2000, FTD Incorporated held an initial public offering of FTD.com on the NASDAQ. FTD Group was listed on the NYSE in 2005. The company is based in Downers Grove, Illinois.
In 2001, the FTD Association separated from FTD Incorporated, terminated all contracts, and, in exchange for $14 million, renamed itself Extra Touch Floral Association, and later, Retail Florist Association. It is based in Livonia, Michigan.[7][8]
On July 31, 2006, FTD, Inc. announced its acquisition of Interflora Holdings, a UK-based sister co-operative that offered the FTD network in Britain and Ireland under the Interflora brand. “The acquisition, first announced on July 7th, 2006, was made for a purchase price of GBP 66 million, or approximately [US]$122 million, excluding transaction costs.” [9]
Fiscal year 2006 revenues grew 6.2% to $465.1 million, compared with revenues of $437.8 million for fiscal 2005. This revenue growth was driven by an 11.6% increase in revenue in the Consumer Segment.[10]
The Mercury Network, the electronic network used by FTD, processes about fifteen million orders annually, through about 50,000 FTD affiliates in 154 countries, of which about 20,000 are in the United States and Canada.
FTD had obtained a near-monopoly position in its market. It has been sued several times by the United States Department of Justice to ensure it does not engage in non-competitive behavior, namely prohibiting members from affiliating with competing flowers-by-wire services. FTD entered into consent decrees with the Department of Justice after 1956, 1969, and 1990 suits.[11][12]
Florists' Transworld Delivery (FTD), sued its competitor ProFlowers for false advertising in August 2005. The suit focused on ProFlowers' claim to ship "direct from the fields" with "no middlemen". Stating that the lawsuit was "without merit", ProFlowers brought counterclaims against FTD. The lawsuit was settled a year later out of court.