Cannon Exchange spreads savings

CANNON AIR FORCE BASE — The ghouls, goblins and ghosts of Halloween are vanishing as quickly as they came and Air Commandos stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., are preparing to usher in the holiday season with family, friends, feasting and festivities.

But alas! As anyone above the age of 18 can likely attest, the 'most wonderful time of the year' is not always the most affordable, and paychecks have been known to disappear faster than Airmen can say "Ho, Ho, Ho".

In order to lighten the load for holiday enthusiasts, the Cannon Exchange has rolled out a variety of promotions and programs sure to put the pep back in every shopper's step.

"Our Toyland Promotion kicked off Oct. 19 and will run through Nov. 21," said Linda Villines, Cannon Exchange administrative assistant. "The catalog, which is free to Exchange customers, contains more than $475 worth of coupons applicable to boys and girls ranging from toddler to adult."

"Because certain individuals prefer to shop from home, the toy book comes equipped with sections for both in-store and online shopping," Villines added. "To top it off, everything is tax free."

In addition to unbeatable savings, there's more than meets the eye with the Exchange's new Shuttle Program. Even if an item is not typically sold at the Cannon Exchange, patrons have the ability to request merchandise from a larger exchange outlet be delivered to their local store for convenient pick-up.

"The shuttle program ensures customers are not deprived of certain products because they are stationed at locations with smaller exchange stores," Villines said. "Depending on size and location, orders can reach their destination in as little as two days. The best part about this program is the customer incurs no additional cost."

Searching for something specific? Air Commandos with particular taste also have the opportunity to purchase specialty items from a plethora of local vendors at the Cannon Exchange.

"We play host to new and diverse vendors each week," said Carl Wolfe, Exchange Service business manager. "Depending on the day, customers can find anything from hand-crafted rugs to sports collectibles. There's something to suit even the most unique interests and hobbies."

To spread additional holiday cheer and further demonstrate their commitment to Airmen at the 27th Special Operations Wing, the Exchange is scheduled to conduct in-house games for prizes throughout November and December.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays and Mondays, Exchange personnel will be selecting patrons to answer holiday trivia questions and play spin-the-wheel. Santa Savings, which allows management to put certain items on sale for a given amount of time, will be conducted sporadically on Sundays. Children will also have the opportunity to participate in a turkey coloring contest, a unique ornament contest and storytelling on Wednesdays throughout November.

Airmen who shop at the Exchange during the month of December will be sure to snag a spot on Santa's nice list as the opportunities to save continue to increase with his and her shopping night, kid's shopping night and moonlight shopping.

With the exception of Jack Frost nipping at noses and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, nothing says 'Happy Holidays" quite like saving.

"We want to get people in here, get them shopping and spread the holiday spirit," Villines said. "The promotions are all free and we're just trying to have fun and get our military members and their families to come out and enjoy it. Everyone can benefit from savings during the holidays."