How does a flower company become your best friend and your lover? Easy. By donating proceeds to local charities, by staying faithful to their brand, and by occasionally posting pictures of Harry Styles on their Instagram. The Glossier-esque floral-delivery company, Fresh Sends, has planted stems in Denver and are sending newspaper-wrapped bouquets nationwide.

Two years ago, Fresh Sends was operating under founder, Ty Hiss’ wedding and event planning as a side gig to her day job at a local startup in Boulder. After the collapse of the startup, Hiss leaned into the floral delivery service, realizing there was a perfect niche for modern bouquets among the oversaturated commercialized delivery services. Inspired by the ease of farmer’s market florals, the bouquets are hand wrapped in newspapers featuring handwritten notes. Instead of sending bouquets as only romantic gestures, Hiss created a floral delivery company meant for every type of love, whether that be a brother, best friend, or grandmother. Putting thousands of miles on her car and listening to every entrepreneurial podcast ever created, Hiss began hand-delivering her bouquets across Denver.

But that was two years ago. In November of 2018, Hiss laid her car to rest, outsourced delivery, and brought on her husband, Jesse, as a full-time ‘Sender’ (I did just make that up). They transformed their duplex in the Highlands to an assembly line featuring flowers in the master bedroom and boxes in the guest. They’ve been creating bouquets ever since; however, now have plans to expand their business into a brick-and-mortar warehouse space.

Branding is often the most important concept when launching a company, and Fresh Send’s social marketing is genuinely everything good in this world. When asked what mastermind runs Fresh Send’s Instagram, Hiss said it’s a mashup of herself, her husband Jesse, and their Chief Creative Officer (and college BFF), Kearby Milliner. Hiss recognizes that in the age of social media while we’re all so connected, the younger generations are statistically the loneliest. It’s important to Ty for their social media to feel like a community — just like her company. Each post and every bouquet is explicitly created to remain consistent with their brand. Bouquets include cards with a wide range of phrases, all the way from “go best friend, that’s my best friend,” “don’t stop, get it, get it,” and “let’s make out.” Hiss said that when people order flowers or visit their Instagram, she wants it to feel like you’re visiting your best friend. And I think we all want our best friend to be a lovely modern bouquet (or Joey Tribbiani, who also has made several IG appearances).

While their bouquets wrapped in newspapers are heavenly, and their social media is killer, one of the most admirable things about Fresh Sends is their Valentine’s Day Campaign, Love For All. Fresh Sends offers a “Love for All” bouquet that they will hand deliver to any of their three nonprofit partners focusing on women this Valentine’s Day (stay tuned for delivery photos). Hope House Colorado supports teen moms pushed into adulthood a little too fast, while Ace Scholarship supports low-income single mothers juggling an endless full plate. Potentially a forgotten demographic, Meals on Wheels supports elderly women living on their own. Emphasizing that love comes in all shapes and sizes, Fresh Sends places a focus on those often overlooked on Valentine’s Day. The unsung heroes and the over-nighters — the ones most worthy of love.

Written by Jenna McGoldrick

Pictures and Interview by Ty Hiss and Kearby Milliner

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