This summer was full of learning, skill-building, and many smiles and laughs for the more than 30 interns who joined our teams across the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. family of brands.
We chatted with a few interns back in June to learn more about their roles and what they were most looking forward to. Now that we’re approaching the end of the summer, we spoke to another group of interns to learn about their experiences and what they’ll take with them in the future:
Prare, Research & Development, Medford, OR.
A Bit About Prare: I was born in Ashland, Oregon and was raised in Thailand. In 2021, I graduated from Southern Oregon University with a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. I have been passionate about food my entire life. My family owned a local restaurant, so I was fortunate enough to always be surrounded by, and working with, amazing foods. Even outside of work, I love exploring the best local food spots of whatever town I find myself in, and of course, taking a couple of pictures for Instagram! When I’m not eating, I try to stay active by going to the gym, rock climbing, or learning new skills like coding.
Something Surprising She Learned: During my internship, I have realized how important it is for the company and office to work as a unit. As a member of the R&D department, I work heavily with other departments such as Merchandise and Purchasing Administration. I have learned that strong communication and teamwork is vital for our day-to-day functions. No one singular department can thrive without the help of the others.
Highlight of the Program: The highlight of my internship so far has definitely been the opportunity to work in the test kitchen. Working side-by-side with professional chefs and food scientists in a commercial kitchen is such a treat. I love being able to create fun projects in the kitchen, and of course, getting to sample our delicious products is a great perk.
Advice for Prospective Interns: I would tell a prospective intern to apply for the position, even if they don't think they qualify, and to not be afraid to ask questions. Make as many connections as you can and try to learn more about other departments.
Dan, Customer Service, Jericho, NY.
A Bit About Dan: I grew up in Rockville Centre, NY and am going into my second semester of sophomore year at Hofstra University as a business major. I love music. I sing and I know how to play seven instruments.
Something Surprising He Learned: Something surprising I learned about my department is the amount of data analytics they do daily. We are constantly tracking orders to ensure the very best experience for our customers.
Highlight of the Program: A highlight of the summer internship program so far has been the great environment of the workplace. Everyone is so kind and friendly – and I have made so many connections. I love getting to know the people in my department and the other interns.
Advice for Prospective Interns: Some advice I would give to a prospective intern is to get started on projects as soon as you can, especially the group intern project. This way you can pace yourself throughout the summer and not feel overwhelmed toward the end of the program.
Ashrita, Graphic Design, Medford, OR.
A Bit About Ashrita: I was born in the Fiji Islands and moved to California in 2012. In 2021, I graduated with my bachelor's degree in Emerging Media and Digital Arts. In my spare time, I enjoy making illustrations, hiking, gaming, exploring new areas, and hanging out with my cat on the weekends.
Something Surprising She Learned: I am very impressed by my team’s patience and dedication to help me learn. The creative services department at Harry & David is beyond friendly and willing to help me learn new skills. The comfortable and encouraging atmosphere has made me unafraid to ask questions and helped me become confident in my work.
Highlight of the Program: Working on projects that are going to be printed in the future has been the biggest highlight for my summer internship! It makes me proud to know that the projects I have been helping with are actually going to be used by the company and that my time here is being appreciated by my department. It makes me feel like a part of the team.
Advice for Prospective Interns: My advice to prospective interns is to ask as many questions as you can. You are there to learn and expand your existing knowledge, so it doesn’t hurt to ask questions, even if you might think they are “dumb.” These questions will help you in the long run and make you a more knowledgeable employee. Another piece of advice I have is to exchange knowledge with other interns and learn about the other departments. Explore what interests you and discover everything the company has to offer.
Jacob, Engineering, Medford, OR.
A Bit About Jacob: I go to Oregon State University and am majoring in mechanical engineering. I have lived in Medford for a couple of years now, and I love its tight-knit community, including Harry & David. Outside of work, I love swimming and have been competing in races for years. I also love hiking. Oregon has such beautiful trails and parks, so I like to get outdoors and see all that the state has to offer.
Something Surprising He Learned: Since starting my internship, I have been surprised by just how much the engineering department is involved with Harry & David as a whole. From design projects to management to actual implementation, teamwork is crucial, and everyone needs to do their part to make sure a project sees completion. Our department has tremendous responsibilities that I have been able to take on, and I am proud to be doing my part for the company.
Highlight of the Program: A highlight of the program for me has been learning about the machinery we have in the office. From learning how a conveyor works, to systems that cool the freezers, and equipment designed by the engineers here, I have really enjoyed getting to know this new technology and the in-depth tours and explanations on how our machines work.
Advice for Prospective Interns: My best advice for a prospective intern is to just go for it. Even if you're not sure about what you want your future career to look like, all the employees at Harry & David want the interns to ask questions to help them on their career path. It may seem intimidating at first, but the Harry & David team is there for the interns to help them find their passion and their happiness.
Meganne, Product Design, Medford, OR.
A Bit About Meganne: I graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho in July of 2020 with a bachelor’s in Graphic Design. In my free time, I enjoy doing anything that involves creating and learning new things. I have a deep love for music, typography, and cute house plants. I also enjoy the outdoors, exploring the Pacific Northwest with my husband and embracing the little joys that happen every day.
Something Surprising She Learned: A common misconception about the Package Design Department is that we invent the actual packaging for our products. However, my department is responsible for designing the artwork that goes on the packages themselves. Whether it be nutrition labels, ingredient lists, new patterns, or holiday designs, we are always brainstorming new ideas for future seasons and testing our creativity.
Highlight of the Program: The highlight of my internship has been being able to work with other designers and having them show me the ins and outs of this position. Their passion for what they do is inspiring, and it’s been amazing to have opportunities for hands-on experience. I love knowing that what I work on and create has the possibility of going live in the future.
Advice for Prospective Interns: You determine what you take away from your internship experience. The people you work with really do want to hear your opinion. I am incredibly impressed with the welcoming, safe environment that is here to allow opinions to be shared, especially when it comes to design. Another piece of advice is that there is more than one way to solve a visual problem, so take the time to ask questions and get clarification. There are no foolish questions and asking questions shows that you are processing and trying to learn. Take a deep breath and learn from the whole experience. You will be changed for the better in the end.
Teddy, Strategy & Business Development, Jericho, NY.
A Bit About Teddy: I am from Port Washington, NY, and I am a rising senior at Indiana University. I am majoring in finance and was able to study abroad this past year. Outside of work, I love to play lacrosse and snowboard.
Something Surprising He Learned: Over the course of my internship, I have been extremely impressed with the flexibility of everyone I worked with and their dedication to the company. The employees have so much to teach about every facet of the business and I am thankful to have been able to learn from such talented professionals.
Highlight of the Program: One of my favorite parts of the summer internship was being able to volunteer at the Smile Farms Saddle Rock Ranch Opening. Smile Farms is the company’s signature philanthropic partner focused on providing developmentally disabled adults with meaningful work opportunities at farms, urban gardens, greenhouses, and farm stands. It was amazing to see the joy that Smile Farms brings to the people who work there while giving back to a great cause.
Advice for Prospective Interns: Don’t be afraid to ask questions. This is a great opportunity to learn about whatever department you may be working in, and it is also a great time to grow.
It certainly has been an eventful summer! Our interns have excelled in their individual roles, learned valuable skills, engaged with team members at all levels, and built meaningful relationships.
We wish our interns the very best as they finish out the summer and get ready for their next adventure.
That’s a wrap!
Visit the Career section of our website to learn more about our internship and career opportunities.
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