{"id":8274,"date":"2022-07-27T17:26:11","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T17:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/?p=8274"},"modified":"2022-07-27T17:31:12","modified_gmt":"2022-07-27T17:31:12","slug":"business-of-all-sizes-can-find-unique-opportunities-with-the-army-air-force-exchange-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2022\/07\/27\/business-of-all-sizes-can-find-unique-opportunities-with-the-army-air-force-exchange-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Business of All Sizes Can Find Unique Opportunities with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DoingDALLAS <\/strong>\u2013 When the success of Gabriela Fuentevilla\u2019s at-home tamale business began to outgrow her house, she looked for a way to expand her operation\u2014and found a perfect partner in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service.<\/p>\n

As the spouse of an active-duty Airman at Ellsworth Air Force Base and a mom, Fuentevilla needed a business plan that would work for her schedule and lifestyle. She reached out to the Exchange, and soon after, Tia Gaby\u2019s Kitchen was serving up authentic Mexican food to the Ellsworth community.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would definitely recommend doing business with the Exchange,\u201d Fuentevilla said. \u201cAs a new business owner, I did not know half the stuff I needed. They walked me through everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Exchange is always looking to connect businesses with military shoppers. From name brands to start-ups, business of all types can find a home at the Exchange, which serves military communities around the world, operating in all 50 states and more than 30 countries.<\/p>\n

The Exchange has a customer base of 33.5 million shoppers and a range of business types, including restaurants, mall storefronts, kiosks, micro markets, food trucks, services such as salons and dry cleaners, and more. It ranks as the 54th<\/sup>-largest U.S. retailer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Exchange is a great fit for many businesses because we have such a diverse portfolio,\u201d said Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby, Exchange senior enlisted advisor. \u201cWe have more than 3,400 concessions and are always looking to connect our military communities with the products and services they want and need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Veteran- and military-spouse-owned businesses make especially strong partners, given their familiarity with the military lifestyle.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo serve the military community is very rewarding for me as a military spouse,\u201d Fuentevilla said. \u201cMost people in the military are missing a little bit of home. I get to bring a piece of my home to these Airmen.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Watch Fuentevilla\u2019s story here: https:\/\/vimeo.com\/730385413<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

Companies that do business with the Exchange gain increased brand visibility, a proven environment for testing new products and a welcoming culture for entrepreneurs, as well as flexible leases, fees and formats.<\/p>\n

These business partners also help support the Exchange\u2019s mission of improving the lives of service members and their families, as 100% of Exchange earnings are reinvested in the military community, including through support for critical military Quality-of-Life programs. In the last 10 years, the Exchange benefit has provided $3.5 billion for these programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Exchange is a launchpad for businesses,\u201d Osby said. \u201cIt can help businesses big and small achieve success while supporting our military heroes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Retail wholesale businesses, long- and short-term concessions, personal services, vending and restaurant providers can find out more by visiting ShopMyExchange.com<\/a> and clicking the\u00a0\u201cDoing Business with the Exchange<\/a>\u201d link under \u201cAbout the Exchange\u201d at the bottom of the page. More information is also available here: https:\/\/vimeo.com\/682028306<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Social-media-friendly version: <\/strong>The Exchange is taking care of business(es)! Business owners like military spouse Gabriela Fuentevilla have found a home with the Exchange, allowing them to increase brand visibility with a trusted partner. Businesses of all sizes can learn more about opportunities here: https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Q7PG-29s<\/a>.<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 54th<\/sup>-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $3.5 billion in earnings for critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a> or follow us on Twitter at https:\/\/twitter.com\/ExchangePAO<\/a>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Marisa Conner at 214-312-5111 or connermar@aafes.com.<\/p>\n

Follow the Exchange:<\/p>\n

Facebook:\u00a0 www.facebook.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Twitter:\u00a0 https:\/\/twitter.com\/shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

Instagram: @shopmyexchange<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2013 When the success of Gabriela Fuentevilla\u2019s at-home tamale business began to outgrow her house, she looked for a way to expand her operation\u2014and found a perfect partner in the Army & Air Force Exchange Service. As the spouse of an active-duty Airman at Ellsworth Air Force Base and a mom, Fuentevilla needed a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":8275,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"The Exchange is taking care of business(es)! Business owners like military spouse Gabriela Fuentevilla have found a home with the Exchange, allowing them to increase brand visibility with a trusted partner. Businesses of all sizes can find opportunities with the Exchange.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25],"tags":[160,174,107,35,354,45],"class_list":["post-8274","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press_releases","tag-aafes","tag-army-air-force-exchange-service","tag-exchange","tag-military","tag-military-spouses","tag-veterans"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2022\/07\/27\/business-of-all-sizes-can-find-unique-opportunities-with-the-army-air-force-exchange-service\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Business of All Sizes Can Find Unique Opportunities with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service","url":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2022\/07\/27\/business-of-all-sizes-can-find-unique-opportunities-with-the-army-air-force-exchange-service\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/2022\/07\/27\/business-of-all-sizes-can-find-unique-opportunities-with-the-army-air-force-exchange-service\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/Doing-Business-with-the-Exchange_2022-Release-e1658941694277.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/ExchangePost\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/07\/Doing-Business-with-the-Exchange_2022-Release-e1658941694277.jpg"},"articleSection":"Press Releases","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Marisa Conner"}],"creator":["Marisa Conner"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Exchange Newsroom","logo":""},"keywords":["aafes","army & air force exchange service","exchange","military","military spouses","veterans"],"dateCreated":"2022-07-27T17:26:11Z","datePublished":"2022-07-27T17:26:11Z","dateModified":"2022-07-27T17:31:12Z"},"rendered":"