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Flying Blooms is a vibrant new retail venture developed by Hudson, designed to bring an innovative floral boutique experience to airports.

This venture builds on the firm’s extensive experience in enhancing airport retail spaces by introducing a unique concept that combines the allure of fresh flowers with the convenience and accessibility demanded by modern travelers.

Mission: To enrich every traveler’s journey with the beauty and tranquility of fresh, locally sourced flowers, presented in a way that’s both convenient and inspiring.

Vision: To redefine airport retail by establishing Flying Blooms as a must-visit destination for travelers seeking thoughtful, beautiful, and environmentally responsible floral products.

Overview

The Flying Blooms Team believes that floral products in airports are not just purchases; they’re emotional expressions, often tied to the reasons people travel:

• Gift Purchases: Flowers are universally appreciated and are a popular choice for welcoming or bidding farewell to someone. Availability at the airport adds a layer of convenience for travelers looking to make a thoughtful gesture.
• Seasonal and Cultural Demand: Flowers can be particularly popular during holidays or special occasions like Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries to convey what words alone cannot capture.
 
Each unique high-quality arrangement is artistically created to appeal to each customers specifications and aesthetic.

Flying Blooms operates using the following core values:

 

  • Excellence: Delivering unparal-leled quality and customer ser-vice in every bouquet.
  • Integrity: Conducting business with transparency, responsibility, and respect for our customers and the environment.
  •  Innovation: Continually seeking ways to improve the traveler experience through creative and effective solutions
  • Sustainability: Committing to eco-friendly practices in sourc-ing, packaging, and selling our products.

Operations

Positioned in the heart of Charleston International Terminal, Flying Blooms, a premier Flower Boutique Concessions pop-up operation, offers a refreshing and unexpected airport retail experience, providing travelers with fresh-cut flowers, elegant bouquets, and artisanal floral arrangements and merchandise. This unique experience reflects the growing demand for travelers who are looking for more than just convenience – bringing them warmth, connection, and a touch of nature to their journey.

Flying Blooms introduces a vibrant, green oasis to the bustling corridors of airports. This innovative retail offering leverages innovative practices in both the curation of its offerings and its operational strategies. Flying Blooms sources its flowers from local growers whenever possible, reducing transportation emissions and supporting the local economies.

Our commitment to the environment extends to our packaging choices—biodegradable and made from recycled materials, ensuring that we minimize our ecological footprint. The RMU is equipped with state-of -the-art hydration technology to keep flowers fresh longer, enhancing product quality and reducing waste. Furthermore, our staff are trained in quick-service floral arrangements, enabling them to create custom bouquets within minutes, a perfect service for busy travelers.

Leadership 

As Founder and CEO of Hudson and Associates, Shelia A. Hudson provides leadership and oversight for daily operations. Highly regarded as a thought leader in the transportation and infrastructure industries, her dossier includes ownership of diverse companies in parking management, planning, food and beverage concessions, retail, and customer service industries. Ms. Hudson is known for her innovation and excellence that inspire women and minority entrepreneurs. She holds over 25 years of professional experience in program and project management in the transportation, airport, and infrastructure industries. A proud Tennessee State University alum, Ms. Hudson holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology and Transportation Service Management. She was also a Fellow at the Rutgers University National Transportation Institute. Her career began at Randolph Construction, the firm her father owned and operated for 45 years in Nashville, where she would eventually serve as president for 10 years upon his retirement. Additionally, Ms. Hudson gained a wealth of experience from her time working with the Metropolitan Atlanta Transportation Authority (MARTA), the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA), and HTNB.

Shelia Hudson is a stalwart supporter and volunteer with charities and organizations that focus on education, mentorship, and second chance programs that benefit the local communities where she does business, such as the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC). Ms. Hudson serves on the AMAC Trade Board of Directors and is the inaugural chair, for the organizations Supplier Diversity Initiative (SDI). Ms. Hudson is a passionate community leader who is committed to helping young Black leaders to find careers in the promising aviation and aerospace industry. She is committed to helping her team, who are like her family, to explore and develop rewarding careers as she builds her legacy as a compassionate leader.

Ms. Hudson is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., City of St. Louis Zoo & Museum District Board (ZMD), the State of Missouri Supreme Court Disciplinary Board of Commission, and more.

Ms. Hudson leads a team of highly awarded team of 80+ employees that serve clients in the St. Louis, MO; Nashville, TN; Atlanta, GA; New Orleans, LA; Southern Illinois; and Charleston, SC markets.

Hudson is currently a concessionaire JV partner on two existing VINO Volo wine bars in terminals 1 & 2 and the new Kingside Diner that opened in St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) Concourse C, in the Spring of 2023.

For Valentine’s Day of 2025, Ms. Hudson successfully activated her newest venture, Flying Blooms, a pop up floral boutique at Charleston International Airport (CHS) that elicited great enthusiasm from travelers and visitors.