Exchange sales up since grand opening

  • Published
  • By Capt. Erin Dorrance
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Kirtland Exchange main store has seen a 31-percent increase in sales since its grand opening June 28. There has been a 16-percent increase in sales for all of Kirtland's AAFES facilities in July, including the main store, east and west Express stores, and the food court. The grand-opening day sales exceeded Black Friday sales, which traditionally are the highest sales of the year.

Kirtland still holds the title of having the newest Exchange in the Air Force and Army.

"There were two built this year - one in Fort Belvoir, Va., and one here; and ours is the newest," said Bob Cooper, Kirtland AFB Exchange general manager.

The new branded concept of the Exchange features three areas: home, life, and style. The result of the 10-year project, from design to ribbon-cutting, has been a hit with shoppers.

"I really like the new store," said Sharon Mulder, a local retiree who has shopped at the Kirtland store for 10 years. "The best part is the heating and air conditioning work properly, so you can shop comfortably, even in the middle of the summer."

The medium-sized exchange and food court employs 170 workers, according to Cooper. Kirtland's active-duty and retiree population mandate the store's size to accommodate the number of shoppers. However, anyone on base can eat at the food court and shop at the kiosks inside and outside the exchange mall.

"Our hot seller right now is firearms," Cooper said. "This is a new product for us that we didn't carry before. We also expanded our cosmetic line, introduced new clothing designers, and brought the furniture store into the main store."

If customers don't see products they want at their local exchange, they can request the items at the customer service center or check out www.aafes.com. Customers can also leave feedback with any employee or through the website's customer comment section.

"I read every piece of feedback that we receive," said Cooper.

Benefits of shopping at the exchange include tax-free purchases, and customers cycle money back into the base community, because a percentage of sales goes to the base in support of morale, welfare and recreation projects.

"Last year, we gave $513,093 back to the base community," Cooper said.

The exchange is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.