When people walk through the doors of Sip Studio in Freeport, Florida, they may come looking for a protein smoothie, an energy tea, or advice on improving their health. What they often find instead is something much deeper: a place where they feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for.
For owner Elsie Miles, that has always been the mission.
“This place doesn’t belong to me,” she says. “It belongs to the Lord. I want every person who walks in here to know that they matter.”
Located in the heart of the community, the wellness-focused business serves nutritional smoothies, teas, supplements, and wellness coaching. Yet the real product being offered is connection—a rare commodity in today’s fast-paced world.
Elsie’s journey to entrepreneurship has been anything but conventional. Long before opening her wellness club, she spent decades in the fitness industry. A competitive bodybuilder, gym owner, and personal trainer, Elsie has dedicated much of her life to helping people improve their physical health.
But her perspective changed dramatically after coming to faith later in life. “At 40 years old, God completely changed my life,” Elsie recalls. “I had dysfunctional relationships and a lot of brokenness. The Lord got hold of my heart and began restoring things.”
For a time, she stepped away from the fitness world, believing she had become too focused on appearance and vanity. Then came a realization that would shape the next chapter of her life. “I felt like God was saying, ‘Take what you’re passionate about and put it in My hands. Let’s use it for the right reasons.’”
Instead of helping people pursue outward perfection, she began helping them pursue wellness from the inside out.
A few years later, life brought another significant turning point. After retiring from the gym business, Elsie devoted four years to caring for her mother, who was battling Alzheimer’s disease. The experience was both exhausting and deeply meaningful. When her mother passed away, Elsie found herself searching for purpose amid grief.
“My mom had a heart for serving people,” she says. “She loved bringing people into her home and making them feel welcome. This business has become my stone of remembrance for her.”
That spirit of hospitality is woven into every corner of the shop. Customers quickly discover that the atmosphere feels different. Conversations matter. Names are remembered. Struggles are acknowledged. Some visitors come for nutritional support. Others arrive carrying burdens that have little to do with physical health.
One customer in particular left a lasting impression. “She walked in one morning and said, ‘I don’t know if I want to live anymore,’” Elsie remembers.
The conversation that followed changed both of their lives. Elsie stopped what she was doing, listened to the woman’s story, prayed with her, and spoke words of encouragement and hope.
More than two years later, the woman still visits regularly. “She’s never mentioned wanting to take her life again,” Elsie says. “That was the moment I realized this place could make a real difference.”
Stories like that reinforce the vision behind the business. While customers often arrive seeking energy or nutrition, many are looking for something more fundamental: a sense of belonging.
“There’s such a need for people to feel connected,” Elsie explains. “People want to be part of something bigger than themselves.”
The wellness connection offers health assessments, nutritional education, supplementation guidance, and coaching designed to help people understand where they are in their health journey and where they want to go. “You can’t know where you’re going until you know where you are,” Elsie says.
Her approach is practical and balanced. While she encourages whole foods whenever possible, she also understands the realities of modern life.
“We live in a world where people are constantly on the go,” she says. “Sometimes they need a healthier alternative to fast food. We’re here to provide that option.”
Caregivers hold a special place in Elsie’s heart because she understands the physical and emotional demands they face. She frequently sees people who are looking after aging parents while neglecting their own health. “They’re so busy caring for someone else that they forget to take care of themselves,” she says. “I always remind them that their health matters, too.”
That same philosophy extends to her employees. In an era when many businesses struggle with turnover, Elsie has built a team that stays. She credits that success to creating a culture centered on purpose rather than profit. “We make it fun. We make it about people,” she emphasizes. “Yes, we have a business to run, but we want this to feel like a ministry.”
Several members of her team have experienced personal growth through their work there, including family members she has mentored and trained. For Elsie, investing in people is simply part of the mission.
Looking ahead, Elsie hopes to expand the concept into additional locations throughout the county. But growth, she insists, isn’t about building a larger business.
“It’s about expanding the presence,” she states.
She envisions future locations carrying the same spirit of hospitality and purpose that defines the original shop—a place where people can gather, find encouragement, improve their health, and experience genuine community.
At the end of the day, Elsie measures success differently than most entrepreneurs. “For me, it’s never about income,” she says. “It’s always about impact.”
And in a world where many people feel overlooked, that impact may be the most valuable thing Elsie has to offer.
Connect with Elsie and Sip Studio on Facebook and Instagram.
