MEDIA CONTACT: Judd Anstey
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-026
RELEASE DATE: May 18, 2011

DALLAS – Understanding that serving the military today means caring about the community’s tomorrow, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is focusing on active-duty, veteran, retired, National Guard and Reserve families’ career aspirations.

With more than 31 percent of approximately 43,000 associates identifying themselves as military family members and veterans accounting for another 12 percent of the workforce, the Exchange understands the unique perspectives its customers bring to “the other side of the cash register.”

“Their values of loyalty, professionalism and commitment are exactly what we look for when hiring,” said the Exchange’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources Jim Moore. “We know it’s difficult to start over with each transfer, which is why we developed special programs with spouses in mind.”

The Exchange’s spouse continuity and employment preference programs allow wives and husbands to build a career alongside their sponsor with each re-location. In 2010, almost 900 military spouses received promotions through this effort.

Military spouses are just one of the many groups the Exchange helps to find or keep employment. In fact, the Exchange has partnerships with several organizations dedicated to offering career assistance and creating opportunities for those who have served, including the Army Spouse Employment Partnership (ASEP), Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2).

“Hiring our military, their families and veterans is one small way we can support those who have sacrificed for us,” said Moore.

The Exchange’s commitment to hiring current and former military personnel, and their families, has been recognized by a variety of organizations including Military Spouse Magazine’s “Top 10 Military Spouse Friendly Employers”, G.I. Jobs magazine’s “Top 100 Military Friendly Employers” and CivilianJobs.com’s “Most Valuable Employers for the Military.”

Complete details on how to apply for a career with the Exchange, along with a listing of current available opportunities, are available at applymyexchange.com. Questions concerning the military spouse or hiring partnership programs can be directed to the Exchange’s Human Resources Support Center at [email protected].

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

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 Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Judd Anstey at 214-312-3861 or [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT: Deonna McGary
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-024
RELEASE DATE: May 11, 2011

DALLAS – The shopmyexchange.com website is becoming more fashion forward with a renewed focus on the latest trends in handbags and accessories. Thanks to a new partnership with Coach, military patrons are now able to carry away the season’s newest fashion for a reasonable price.

The new Coach sub-site provides access to a full assortment of handbags, footwear and watches.

If initial sales are any indication, the Coach assortment is receiving rave reviews. In fact, since launching May 3^rd, more than 700 handbags, 121 pairs of shoes and 43 watches were ordered in just the first 6 days of operation.

“The Exchange is constantly seeking ways to provide greater value to military patrons through unique partnerships,” said the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Chief of Staff Col. Virgil Williams. “This latest venture is just another example of how military patrons can ‘clutch’ onto great items at outstanding prices when they shop the Exchange online store.”

Authorized shoppers can access the latest collection from Coach by going to shopmyexchange.com and selecting the Coach Store listed under the “Clothing and Accessories” tab.

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 The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

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 Media Notes:

 For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Deonna McGary, 214-312-2132 or [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT: Judd Anstey
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-024
RELEASE DATE: May 11, 2011

DALLAS – Military shoppers looking to curl up with a good bargain may want to check out an Exchange catalog this summer. The ultimate authority in multichannel merchandising, Multichannel Merchant, has recognized last year’s All-Services Exchange Electronics supplement as one of the best catalogs in the world with a Gold Award in the Computer and High-Tech Equipment and Software category. The Electronics supplement is one of four produced last year by the Exchange.

There is no shortage of titles for authorized shoppers to choose from. In fact, the Exchange produces two “big” catalogs annually, each with more than 350 pages of best sellers including clothes, toys and collectibles. Twenty supplemental catalogs devoted to specific categories such as home décor, jewelry and fitness are also made available throughout the year.

Every supplement is available online, too, in the form of an eBook that allows patrons to flip through each page and click on the product of their choice. The interactive eBook even allows customers to place items into their shopmyexchange.com shopping cart and complete their order online.

“Purists can still have any catalog sent to their home or pick one up at their nearest Exchange and place an order through the phone or mail,” said the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Howard. “Regardless, shoppers can expect to find great products, prices and, as demonstrated by the recent MCM award, production quality.”

Authorized exchange patrons can find out more about the All-Services Exchange catalog program by visiting shopmyexchange.com and clicking the “Shop Online Now” tab. 

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 The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

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 Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Judd Anstey at [email protected] or 214-312-3861.

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Ward
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-023
RELEASE DATE: May 4, 2011

DALLAS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Coca-Cola have partnered to help military shoppers beat the summer heat with one of 10 shopping sprees.

The “Coke Living Free” sweepstakes will reward a grand prize of a $5,000 to six lucky authorized Exchange shoppers. Six first place winners will also take home $500 each.

“This is another Exchange exclusive opportunity,” said the Exchange’s Chief of Staff Col. Virgil Williams. “Authorized exchange shoppers need only visit their nearest Exchange, including locations throughout Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom, fill out an entry form and drop it in the box for their chance to win.”

The “Coke Living Free” sweepstakes runs through May 19. Contestants must be 18-years-old and older and no purchase is necessary to enter. Winners will be announced on or about June 27.

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 The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

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 Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Chris Ward, 214-312-2714 or [email protected].

MEDIA CONTACT: Deonna McGary
MEDIA ADVISORY: 11-022
RELEASE DATE: May 2, 2011

DALLAS – A recent study of Army and Air Force Exchange Service prices shows that troops save an average of 24 percent when exercising their Exchange benefit.

The Market Basket Survey, conducted in October 2010, compared prices at nine locations including Baltimore, MD; Ft. Walton Beach, FL; Killeen, TX; Omaha, NE; Tacoma, WA; Phoenix, AZ; Hampton/Newport News, VA; Honolulu, HI and Los Angeles, CA. Conducted by an independent research firm, the report focuses on the percentage of savings military patrons receive based on market, retailer and department.

Due to the variations in currencies overseas, the Exchange focused on operations in the United States; however the value proposition remains consistent throughout the world.

The results, indicative of the Command’s ongoing efforts to survey prices both locally and nationally, reaffirm the Exchange’s commitment to providing the best possible prices for authorized patrons, wherever they’re called to serve.

If shoppers do encounter a lower price, the Exchange goes as far as to match the price with or without a competitor’s ads. For example, if a shopper spots a price difference of less than $10, they simply notify the cashier and the price is matched on the spot.

For price discrepancies greater than $10, shoppers only need to bring in a current local competitor’s ad to receive the reduced price. In either scenario, the product must be identical to the item at the Exchange.

“The Exchange even offers a 14-day price guarantee on any purchase made at the Exchange,” said the Exchange’s Chief of Staff Col. Virgil Williams. “That means if an item is sold at a lower price by the Exchange, or any local competitor, the price is matched up to two weeks after the sale.”

Complete details concerning the Exchange’s price matching policy are available online at www.shopmyexchange/customerservice/priceMatch.com.

“Whether price matching or surveying our everyday prices the results speak for themselves -shoppers save at the Exchange,” said Williams.

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The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint command and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with articles of merchandise and services and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com.

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Media Notes:

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Deonna McGary, 214-312-2132 or [email protected].