The Navy Exchange Service Command’s Ships Store Program recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its renovated ships store ashore at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia.

Following the renovation, the ships store ashore now boasts expanded merchandise assortments in nearly every category including food, drinks, health and beauty items, clothing, shoes, uniform items, souvenirs and gifts. As part of the renovation, the store received new checkout counters and carpeting, as well as display and refrigerator cases. The store also received new NEX branding elements and store signage to make it look and feel more like a NEX that customers know and love.

“We have received a lot of positive feedback about the changes to the store,” said Airianna Skyye, ships store supervisor, KBR, NSF Diego Garcia. “People are most excited about the new products we have introduced, especially when it comes to clothing, shoes and electronics. New products are highly appreciated in such a remote location. I constantly hear that the store looks great and that they can tell a lot of work went into it.”

Loida Huertas, administrative staff assistant for Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Yokosuka, Japan, expressed her excitement about the new items particularly the shoes, perfumes and watches. “I also like the new arrangement of the registers, in particular the way the lines are set up,” she said. “It is very helpful to the checkout experience.”

Several years ago, a former NSF Diego Garcia commanding officer requested that the ships store ashore be converted to a NEX. At that time, due to its remote location, the store was replenished much like a ships store using appropriated funding. However, after an analysis was completed by NEXCOM, it was determined that switching to a non-appropriated funded NEX wasn’t financially feasible. Instead, NEXCOM renovated and rebranded the store and expanded the product assortment to better meet the needs of the personnel on the island.

 “We determined that we could support the merchandise assortment for the store much quicker, easier and cost effectively through NEX Bahrain,” said Capt. Darrell Mathis, NEXCOM Deputy Commander Military Services. “By using the NEX for replenishment, NEXCOM is able to provide a much broader range of products, specifically in clothing and shoes, than was previously offered because these items were already sold in our stores.”

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