AAFES Expands Mobile Marketing Efforts to 120 Retail Stores Nationwide
Partnership with CrossLink Media extended 5 years
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, May 26, 2010 – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), a joint military activity providing quality merchandise and services to the military and their families, has expanded its mobile marketing efforts to 120 primary retail stores nationwide. Since 2008, AAFES has been sending money saving offers to military shoppers’ mobile phones at seven installations through an exclusive partnership with CrossLink Media, provider of interactive mobile solutions. The AAFES Mobile Marketing program has been a great success with 2009 revenues yielding more than $600,000, which is directly linked to the mobile marketing efforts. Redemption rates for the AAFES mobile offerings have even reached as high as 30% (Typically, printed coupons average less than one percent redemption).
With more than 275 million mobile subscribers[i] in the US and more than 25% of Americans participating in at least one, and as many as ten, SMS marketing programs every month[ii], Cinema Solutions felt the time was right for a mobile offering. “Mobile marketing is proving to be a cost-effective and personal way to engage patrons,” said Anthony Kylitis, VP Marketing & Account Services. Cinema Solutions found the right mobile partner in CrossLink Media with an offering of easy to use and measurable products that can be extended to our clients.
“Serving a diverse customer base like America’s military requires AAFES to seek opportunities to engage military shoppers through a variety of mediums” says David Haning, Chief of Customer Relationship Marketing. “Enhancing the exchange’s value proposition through “smart” and “mobile” devices is consistent with our mission to deliver competitively priced goods and services to the military communities AAFES serves”
After a mandatory open call for proposals from other major mobile companies, AAFES once again selected CrossLink Media as their exclusive mobile marketing partner for the next five years. CrossLink Media offers a robust, user-friendly mobile messaging platform, MessageLink, as well as superior customer service which makes them a strong partner for AAFES.
“AAFES was an early adopter of mobile messaging” says Brad Beasley, President of CrossLink Media. “We are proud to continue our partnership by offering them an easy to use and effective way to connect with their shoppers.”
In recent years mobile subscribers have embraced mobile messaging at an astonishing rate. With more than five billion text messages being sent daily in the US[i], it is no surprise that the average mobile subscriber sends more text messages than phone calls.[ii] Coupling that with a down economy, there has never been a better time to utilize mobile coupons.
About CrossLink Media
CrossLink Media, a leading interactive mobile software company, provides mobile solutions that create a truly interactive consumer experience. Its proprietary software platform, MessageLink, allows organizations, brands and media companies to effectively communicate with consumers in real-time and with measurable results. CrossLink Media also services brands with its proprietary Bluetooth ad-serving software, BlueLink, which enables brands to further develop their customer relationships within close proximity to the BlueLink device.
CrossLink Media creates, manages and delivers mobile campaigns via relationships with all major wireless carriers throughout the United States. CrossLink Media’s mobile network provides access to over 200 million wireless phone subscribers in the U.S. and can extend this network to reach over 2 billion consumers worldwide. Whether it’s broadcast, print, outdoor, or online, CrossLink Media cuts through the advertising clutter and creates a one-on-one relationship with the mobile consumer. For more information, visit www.CrossLinkMedia.com.
About Army and Air Force Exchange Service
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. AAFES 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 Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs. To find out more about AAFES’ history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http://www.shopmyexchange.com/.
