Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Freeman.
Julie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is Julie Freeman. My company is the Julie Freeman Agency, which is a professional modeling agency that specializes in providing staffing and models for almost any type of event. After college at University of North Texas, I went to work as a flight attendant for Delta Airlines. I started off as a model in the business in college working for other agencies and clients. I continued working as a model while working for Delta.
Having always had an entrepreneurial spirit, in 2007, I began developing Julie Freeman Agency with 150 bookings the first year and by word of mouth, referrals and social media, I have grown my business to 1400 bookings. Working in the modeling industry, enabled me to build my network of clients and began to build my business.
Our primary market is Dallas and Fort Worth. However, we book models nationwide, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina. We are known for being consistent, having the best models and the best customer service. I have a personal relationship with everyone that works for the agency. It feels more like a family rather than a business relationship.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the beginning, I was counting on bookings with the contacts I had relationships within the industry. Nevertheless, with every start-up, building a broader client base was incredibly challenging, as I needed to prove that I could deliver as promised. Building relationships and booking with larger corporations and organizations started to take shape quickly. My team was able to show a proven track record! This enabled me to build my business, provide unmatched service to both large and mid-sized companies and organizations. Based on the success that we had, I was able to develop and grow my client base.
Currently, our biggest challenge has been navigating the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. During these past few months, I continued to stay in close contact with my clients. We continue to monitor restrictions and help guide our clients and team in the best way forward. We have been booking jobs again, of course, under new circumstances, but this enabled us to pick up where we left off.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Julie Freeman Agency specializes in booking models for photoshoots, commercials and fashion shows. Also, we hire models for big conventions, trade shows and conferences as spokesmodels, booth models and hostesses. We book models as brand ambassadors to represent different brands and their products. We provide high end service and consider ourselves the leader in our industry!
Raising money through raffle ticket sales for charities, nonprofits and conservation organizations is another important division of the Julie Freeman Agency. JFA raffle models are a group of passionate, educated “Cause Ambassadors,” who increase revenues for our charity partners up to 50-100%. We are exceptionally experienced in fundraising and focus on maximizing raffle ticket sales. I am confident in saying that I have the best sales team in the business.
JFA works a multitude of charity banquets, galas, luncheons, sporting clay shoots, fishing tournaments and golf tournaments. We consistently raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for these organizations and continue to increase their raffle sales year after year.
One thing that definitely sets us apart from our competition is minimal turnover. A majority of models that are with me today have been with me since the beginning. The culture in JFA is solid, respectful and professional. I am respectful to all of my models and in return, I get the same respect. The positive, respectful work environment also sets us apart from our competition. One of our biggest assets is our models take a personal interest in the agency and continue to build professional relationships. My team is accustomed to all types of events.
Another thing that sets us apart, is that I speak to each individual client who calls to book a job or event. I manage all the bookings for the agency. I pride myself on finding out the client’s needs and expectations from start to finish. I help them customize their job based on their specific needs. Every job and event is different . I want them to know that they are our #1 priority. My hope is that all of our clients know that they will receive first class customer service whether it is a 5 person event or a 5,000 person event.
Hard work and dedication with a clear focus of our client’s vision both professionally and revenue-based, is what separates our agency from the rest. We provide the utmost professional service, ensure successful events and exceed revenue goals that our client’s have come to expect. I am most proud of the fact that all of my hard work and dedication has been rewarded with recognition from our clients. I value my client’s business and consider them my most important asset.
We have partnered with hundreds of non-profits like Casa, Children’s Advocacy, Ronald McDonald House, Boys and Girls Club. It’s for the Kids, Folds of Honor, Wounded Warriors, Boot n Shoot, JCC, Jewish Family Services, and many private schools, just to name a few. Also, we work many high profile events such as Cattle Baron’s Ball, Wine, Wheels and Wildlife and Mack, Jack and McConaughey.
Who deserves the credit? Mentors, supporters, cheerleaders, advocates, clients, that played a role in the success of your business: I would have to say that my husband, Scott, was my biggest supporter and still is to this day. As a business owner himself, he has been able to mentor me over the years giving me advice on major decisions and standing behind me all the way.
I am grateful for the support of my core group of model friends in the business, without whom I would not have been successful. They have assisted me in building a powerful team, all of which are still with me 13 years later. Lastly, I have to credit my initial success to these incredible organizations: Dallas Safari Club, Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth, Park Cities Quail, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited that believed in me and my agency from the start! Hard work and dedication with a clear focus of our client’s vision
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory is spending time with my family at my grandmother’s house. It is the house that my mother grew up in. We celebrated many Thanksgivings and Christmases there! Even though they have not lived in that house. For many years, I have plans to stop by and see if the current owners would let me come in and soak it in. Every time I hear Miranda Lambert’s song “The House that built me.” It brings back the happiest memories from my childhood.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2300 Olympia Dr. Ste 271792
Flower Mound, TX 75027 - Website: juliefreemanagency.com
- Phone: 2142897253
- Email: julie@juliefreemanagency.com
- Instagram: @juliefreemanagency and @juliefreemanmodels
- Facebook: @juliefreemanagency and @juliefreemanmodels
- Twitter: jfaagency
- Other: Linkedlin: Julie Freeman
Image Credit:
Image 1: Julie Freeman Agency group pic
Image 2: Julie Freeman Agency group pic
Image 3: Mack, Jack and McConaughey Golf Tournament.- Matthew McConaughey and JFA Model Libby
Image 4: JFA Models
Image 5: Texas Motor Speedway Sweethearts: JFA models Hope and Kristin
Image 6: Park Cities Delta Waterfowl-JFA model Libby
Image 7: Liberty Christian Gala: Willy Robertson with JFA models Hope and Libby and JFA owner Julie
Image 8: Park Cities Quail- George Strait – JFA owner Julie and JFA model Maggie
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