Serving military troops, families and veterans at home and abroad, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service operates more than 2,700 facilities around the world. The organization exists to make the lives of military veterans and families better, and about 85 percent of its 34,000 associates are connected to the military. But when it comes to running the business, it’s not much different from any other retailer. “You have to innovate to survive,” says Director and CEO Tom Shull. Established in 1895 and earning an impressive $8 billion in sales last year — and the No. 61 spot on STORES Magazine’s Top 100 Retailers list — the Exchange now provides everything from Wi-Fi to food courts to combat uniforms. And last year, the Exchange opened its online shopping benefits to honorably discharged veterans.
On this episode of Retail Gets Real, Shull discusses how the Exchange supports the military in all aspects of life and embraces innovation.
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