Military Exchanges Remove 891 Magazines from Stores

You are subscribed to American Forces News Articles for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Military Exchanges Remove 891 Magazines from Stores 07/30/2013 03:35 PM CDT Military Exchanges Remove 891 Magazines from Stores By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, July 30, 2013 - The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is permanently removing 891 magazines from its stock, an assortment that includes The Saturday Evening Post, SpongeBob Comics, the Home Buyers Guide, Playboy and many others. AAFES officials said they want to reduce space for the magazine product category in exchange stores by 33 percent beginning tomorrow. The additional exchange floor and shelf space will be given to products and services such as electronics, whose demand is increasing, officials said. "According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, digital magazines continue to expand their presence in the industry," Army Lt. Col. Antwan C. Williams, AAFES public affairs chief, said in a statement. "Like their civilian counterparts, exchange shoppers' increased reliance on digital devices to access content virtually has resulted in a sustained decrease in demand for printed magazines." Consistent with its mission to provide quality merchandise and services to its customers at competitively low prices and to generate earnings which provide a dividend to support morale, welfare and recreation programs, Williams said, AAFES is adjusting its stock assortment to align offerings with industry counterparts. Retailers have seen a sustained decrease in demand for printed magazines, and sales of all magazines at exchange facilities fell 18.3 percent from 2011 to 2012, AAFES officials said. Among the 891 magazines that AAFES exchanges no longer will sell are some adult titles, including Playboy, Penthouse, American Curves, and Tattoo. Along with other magazine sales, sales of adult sophisticate titles at AAFES stores have declined 86 percent since 1998. "The decision to no longer stock the material is a business decision driven by the time, money and energy required to facilitate buying habits, combined with decreasing demand," Williams said. "Magazine sales are on a sustained downward trajectory due to the proliferation of digital delivery," he added, "and the exchange, as a government entity, is operating in a fiscally constrained environment that requires it to shrink expenses while growing sales and earnings."   Related Sites: Army and Air Force Exchange Service   Defense Department News Through Facebook On American Forces Press Service's Facebook page, you can post comments and share news, photos and videos. Go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Forces-Press-Service/65137437532 or search for American Forces Press Service at Facebook.com. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or e-mail address, or stop subscriptions at any time by clicking on your 'User Profile' page at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOD/subscriber/edit?preferences=true#tab1. You will need to use your e-mail address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please e-mail support@govdelivery.com. Have another inquiry? Visit the online FAQ at http://www.defense.gov/landing/questions.aspx for up-to-date information. Get the help you, your family, and fellow servicemembers need, when you need it. Visit www.WarriorCare.mil to learn more. Check out the National Resource Directory at www.nationalresourcedirectory.org, a new web-based resource for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families, families of the fallen and those who support them from the Departments of Defense, Labor, and Veterans Affairs. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of Defense. Visit us on the web at http://www.defense.gov/. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense