Get to Know Kelsey Hughes with Flourish Colorado

This interview is part of the EEDC's Get to Know the Owner Series.

Meet Kelsey Hughes, the creative heart behind Flourish Colorado, a unique Erie-based business that brings joy through beautiful floral designs and holistic health coaching. With thoughtful artistry and a grounded approach to wellness, Kelsey helps clients bloom inside and out.

Get to Know Kelsey

Originally from Tennessee, Kelsey moved to Colorado five years ago after graduating from college and now calls Erie home. She lives here with her fiancé (they’re getting married this December!) and runs Flourish Colorado out of her home, with the dream of one day opening a shop downtown.

Her days are filled with hiking Colorado’s trails, spending time in nature, and tackling her lofty goal of reading 60 books this year. These personal passions—creativity, connection, and growth—shape the way she runs her business and support her mission of helping others flourish.

About Flourish Colorado

The seeds of Flourish Colorado were planted years ago when Kelsey worked in floral design during college while pursuing a degree in teaching. Although she loved teaching, she felt drawn back to flowers, so much so that after discussing it with her fiancé, she decided to turn her side passion into a business. At the same time, her background in health and physical education inspired her to incorporate coaching into her work, combining two of her greatest passions into one.

Today, Flourish Colorado creates floral arrangements, corsages, boutonnieres, bouquets, subscriptions, and everyday arrangements for birthdays, holidays, and sympathy. Kelsey also loves leading workshops, blending her teaching experience with her creative talents. All arrangements are thoughtfully crafted using eco-conscious practices, including thrifted vases, foam-free arrangements, and recycled materials whenever possible.

Beyond floral design, Flourish Colorado also offers health coaching, one-on-one sessions that promote accountability, resilience, and self-care. Kelsey describes her approach as holistic and client-centered, helping people create their own goals rather than prescribing a rigid plan. She especially values supporting educators and creating welcoming spaces for people at every stage of life.

What makes Flourish Colorado unique is the way it blends artistic floral design with compassionate wellness coaching, creating beauty both inside and out. In Kelsey’s words: “Honestly, my ultimate goal is to bring joy and connection to the Front Range, whether through a bouquet that brightens someone’s day, or a coaching session that helps someone find their balance.”

Why Erie?

For Kelsey, Erie’s strong sense of community and family-friendly nature made it the perfect place to grow Flourish. She has found inspiration in connecting with neighbors and fellow business owners, and she loves how celebrations and milestones are such a significant part of Erie life.

Her biggest lesson learned as a small business owner? “Slow down and keep going. There will be hiccups, like even when Google unexpectedly took down my business profile, but resilience and persistence make all the difference.”

Looking Ahead

Kelsey’s favorite part of her work is “hearing the stories behind the floral orders. When I find out the ‘why’ of my orders, it fills me with so much compassion and empathy and reminds me that I really do get to play a part in helping someone experience joy, no matter the circumstance.” Looking forward, she hopes to continue growing Flourish Colorado through more community events and eventually opening a storefront in Erie. “I really want to provide a place of connection, where people can not only buy flowers, but can feel seen!”

Her mission is simple but powerful: to help people feel more vibrant, grounded, and connected—because to flourish is to truly live well.

Connect with Kelsey

Learn more at www.flourish-colorado.com or follow Flourish Colorado on social media, where flowers and wellness meet in Erie.

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Flourish Colorado is a proud Member of the Erie Economic Development Council.