WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bolstered by record earnings in a challenging market, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) displayed an aggressive and optimistic market outlook at the recent American Logistics Association (ALA) 2015 Exchange Impact Workshop held in Dallas, Texas. Led by their Chief Merchandising Officer, Ana Middleton, and her team of professionals, AAFES detailed a “go to market strategy” by key business area to an audience of manufacturers, brokers, distributors, and service providers during this “groundbreaking” business development workshop.
For the first time, more than 50 associates of the Exchange presented their categories and collaborated with the vendor community during interactive impact sessions designed to improve go to market strategies. Strengthened industry and AAFES collaboration ensures that military patrons will have the latest in goods and services, ensuring a more responsive and efficient system. From store repositioning to individual category workshops the discussions focused on, hard lines, soft lines, consumables, and on-line retailing. Additional features included one-on-one networking opportunities between senior AAFES buyers and the many ALA member companies in attendance, and a “Breaking News” Washington Update on legislative and policy issues affecting military resale.
“This was a must attend event if you are doing business in the military resale business channel,” said Patrick Nixon, ALA President and former Director of the Defense Commissary Agency. “The workshop strengthened a working industry and exchange partnership that represents the best in industry coming together with the best of Government to take care of the best customers in the world—our military and their families.”
“The average company takes two to four years to successfully navigate the military resale environment, yet many of our members accomplish this in six to twelve months,” said Nixon. “ALA business meetings – like the Exchange Impact Workshop – provide our new and active members an unparalleled opportunity to open the lines of communication with military resale decision makers and to network with industry,” added Nixon.
“Having an opportunity to speak to the buying team, exchange leadership, and fellow ALA members is instrumental to the success of our organization,” stated Sherman Williams, CEO, Body Water LLC and new ALA member. “The impact workshop helped our company realize the importance of teamwork, service, and profit, and we look forward to participating in future meetings,” added Williams.
“Over the last several years we have seen the environment in the military resale channel change drastically,” stated Marty Johnson, E & J Gallo Winery and 2015 Exchange Impact Workshop Steering Committee Chairman. “As the climate continues to evolve, we need to be more holistic in our ALA meeting strategies. Our goal is to oil the machine and ‘Elevate the Experience’ for the Exchange, ALA members, and ultimately our customers,” said Johnson.
“If you’ve done what ALA has done, for more than 90 years, you understand military resale and you learn what not only works, but the techniques and strategies that are closely guarded by successful small businesses and utilized by the largest retail vendors in the world,” stated Joe Campagna, Kellogg Company and Chairman of the ALA Board of Directors.
“The choice to be involved is yours,” he added.
ABOUT THE ALA
The American Logistics Association (ALA) is a 95-year old trade association representing some of the largest consumer package companies and companies that support improved quality of life for our military and their families through strong resale (commissary and exchange) and morale, welfare and recreation programs (MWR) for the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. For more information or to connect with an account manager, visit www.ala-national.org.
ABOUT AAFES
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense. For more than 119 years, the Exchange's mission has been to support the men and women of the armed forces during military operations, humanitarian missions, and other endeavors around the world. The Exchange serves 12.8 million customers in 50 states and more than 30 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/
