EXHIBIT 99.8

                             1-800-FLOWERS.COM, INC.
                    NOTICE OF GRANT OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
                             AUTOMATIC STOCK OPTION

            Notice is hereby given of the following option grant (the "Option")
to purchase shares of the Common Stock of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (the
"Corporation"):

            Optionee: __________________________________________________________

            Grant Date: ________________________________________________________

            Exercise Price: $__________________________________________per share

            Number of Option Shares: 10,000 shares

            Expiration Date: ___________________________________________________

            Type of Option: Non-Statutory Stock Option

            Date Exercisable: Immediately Exercisable

            Vesting Schedule: The Option Shares shall initially be unvested and
            subject to repurchase by the Corporation at the Exercise Price paid
            per share. Optionee shall acquire a vested interest in, and the
            Corporation's repurchase right shall accordingly lapse with respect
            to, the Option Shares in two (2) equal, successive, annual
            installments upon Optionee's completion of each year of service as a
            member of the Corporation's Board of Directors (the "Board") over
            the two (2)-year period measured from the Grant Date. In no event
            shall any additional Option Shares vest after Optionee's cessation
            of Board service.

            Optionee understands and agrees that the Option is granted subject
to and in accordance with the terms of the automatic option grant program under
the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). Optionee
further agrees to be bound by the terms of the Plan and the terms of the Option
as set forth in the Automatic Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit
A. A copy of the Plan is available upon request made to the Corporate Secretary
at the Corporation's principal offices.

            REPURCHASE RIGHT. OPTIONEE HEREBY AGREES THAT ALL UNVESTED OPTION
SHARES ACQUIRED UPON THE EXERCISE OF THE OPTION SHALL NOT BE TRANSFERABLE AND
SHALL BE SUBJECT TO REPURCHASE BY THE CORPORATION, AT THE EXERCISE PRICE PAID
PER SHARE, UPON OPTIONEE'S TERMINATION OF SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE
CORPORATION'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRIOR TO VESTING IN THOSE SHARES. THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS OF SUCH REPURCHASE RIGHT SHALL


BE SPECIFIED IN A STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, IN FORM AND SUBSTANCE SATISFACTORY
TO THE CORPORATION, EXECUTED BY OPTIONEE AT THE TIME OF THE OPTION EXERCISE.

            No Impairment of Rights. Nothing in this Notice or in the attached
Automatic Stock Option Agreement or the Plan shall interfere with or otherwise
restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation or the Corporation's
stockholders to remove Optionee from the Board at any time in accordance with
the provisions of applicable law.

            Definitions. All capitalized terms in this Notice shall have the
meaning assigned to them in this Notice or in the attached Automatic Stock
Option Agreement.

DATED: _____________________, 199_

                                        1-800-FLOWERS.COM, INC.


                                        By:
                                               ---------------------------------

                                        Title:
                                               ---------------------------------



                                               ---------------------------------
                                                         OPTIONEE

                                        Address:
                                                 -------------------------------

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ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A - Automatic Stock Option Agreement


                                    EXHIBIT A

                        AUTOMATIC STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT