{"id":9969,"date":"2023-12-28T17:53:23","date_gmt":"2023-12-28T17:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=9969"},"modified":"2024-01-03T16:41:56","modified_gmt":"2024-01-03T16:41:56","slug":"army-air-force-exchange-service-helps-veteran-owned-freedom-frames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2023\/12\/28\/army-air-force-exchange-service-helps-veteran-owned-freedom-frames\/","title":{"rendered":"Army & Air Force Exchange Service Helps Veteran-Owned Freedom Frames"},"content":{"rendered":"

DALLAS<\/strong> \u2013 Working with the motto \u201cKeeping Traditions Alive,\u201d Veteran-owned Freedom Frames brings an invaluable service of custom engraving, woodworking, awards and more to service members throughout Alaska.<\/p>\n

Owned by retired Army 1st Sgt. Michael Bradley, Nicole Bradley and retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Dean Phillips Jr., Freedom Frames operates from its flagship store, founded in 2018, at the Fort Wainwright Exchange. The team has since opened Exchange storefronts at Eielson Air Force Base in June 2022 and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in July 2023.<\/p>\n

Michael Bradley and Phillips both learned throughout their military careers how difficult and expensive procuring high-quality plaques, flashes and other awards could be. Bradley was inspired to join the Army after the Sept. 11 attacks, serving in the 82nd Airborne, while Phillips enlisted straight out of high school as a track vehicle mechanic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was a paratrooper, I was always the awards or plaque guy for the platoon, company or battalion,\u201d Bradley said. \u201cI found out early on that these awards were expensive on the open market.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father had taught me some wood crafting when I was younger, and I honed my own skills so that we could offer these to service members at an exceptional quality and at the lowest possible price that we can make them.\u201d<\/p>\n

That ability to craft products that are both more affordable and more customizable than what service members might be able to find off base is key to Freedom Frames\u2019 success.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started getting into woodworking through my grandfather and have find that many times in the civilian community, there are just simple flat plaques,\u201d Phillips said. \u201cWe offer service members much more customized products that are more closely geared toward their specific unit and geared toward being stationed in Alaska.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Freedom
Freedom Frames store interior at the Eielson Air Force Base Exchange<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Being able to bring their creativity to a variety of meaningful pieces has brought them no shortage of memorable moments.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are so many important projects we have worked on,\u201d Bradley said. \u201cWe\u2019ve always helped with creating guidons, and seeing the commanders pick them up is very meaningful to us, having been on both sides of that exchange.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s one of the motivators for us\u2014people can come to us with vague ideas, and we can be creative and craft a product that\u2019s worthy of their wall space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Freedom Frames\u2019 home with the Exchange has connected them with service members while harnessing Exchange\u2019s business guidance.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince opening our first location at Fort Wainwright, the Exchange has supported and encouraged us to expand our footprint across the state of Alaska,\u201d Nicole Bradley said. The services business managers we work with day to day are constantly working to help us grow and get better.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey give us options for marketing, sales initiatives, space utilization, customer understanding, everything. We rely on them very heavily and the team helps us follow the Exchange\u2019s lead and continue to serve those who serve us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Dean
Phillips Jr., Nicole Bradley and Michael Bradley present JBER Exchange Services Business Manager Dahlia Haliburton (second from left) with custom framed gift.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crafting unique and memorable products that will last for generations is a driving motivator for the Bradleys and Phillips.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur motto of \u2018Keeping Traditions Alive\u2019 is a bedrock to us,\u201d Michael Bradley said. \u201cAs we served in the military, our leaders took care of us\u2014not only by promotions, awards, ribbons.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat thing that we can hang on the wall and tell our kids and grandkids about 20 years from now is that one step further. We can keep that history and tradition alive by passing something like that along from generation to generation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JBER
JBER Freedom Frames Managers Miles Bradley and Marcia Bradley with Brig. Gen. Louis M. Lapointe (center), deputy commanding general for operations, 11th Airborne Division at the store’s grand opening, July 19, 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Exchange is the country\u2019s 54th-largest retailer with a customer base of 33.4 million shoppers, which includes active-duty Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians, Reservists, Guard members, Veterans, retirees, military dependents, qualified caregivers and DoD\/Coast Guard civilians.<\/p>\n

A variety of businesses work with the Exchange, including small concessionaires, name brand retailers, mall storefronts, kiosks, unmanned markets, and nationally or regionally recognized food brands. Partners also include health & wellness services such as dentists, optometrists and chiropractors, and personal services such as barbershops, dry cleaners and more.<\/p>\n

Partnering with the Exchange offers business owners many benefits, including:<\/p>\n