UK Furniture & Furnishing Associations Working together for a better future Association of Master Upholsterers Soft Furnishers The Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers was founded in 1947, making it one of the oldest associations in the furniture industry. Its membership comprises craft upholsterers, upholstered furniture manufacturers, chair frame manufacturers, soft furnishing retailers and contractors and others associated with the craft of upholstery. (Soft furnishing is traditionally encompassed within the skills range of the traditional upholsterer.) The Association of Suppliers to the Furniture Industry (ASFI) was formed in 1978 by 15 companies who supplied products and services to the furniture manufacturing industry. The initial objective was to establish an effective UK exhibition that would allow suppliers of raw materials, components, fitting and services to demonstrate their products to the furniture manufacturing industry. This was rapidly achieved with the first ASFI Exhibition taking place in 1980. The exhibition has been held every two years since and remains of paramount importance to the Association, attracting increasing numbers of exhibitors and visitors each time. All exhibitors benefit from low stand costs, but ASFI members have a valuable package of additional advantages. Web: www.asfi.org The British Blind & Shutter Association (BBSA) Established in 1919, is the principal organisation representing the UK blind and shutter manufacturers and the companies that supply and serve them. The leading independent leather technology centre, providing collaborative research, product and process support to Members, and confidential consulting, delivering competitive advantage for all customers The Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors National Training Organisation. FFINTO is one of many National Training Organisations throughout the UK. We are owned by our member companies and work solely for the benefit of the sector (Furniture, Furnishings and Interiors) in improving its skill levels and competitiveness.   British Contract Furnishing Association The British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA) is the leading trade association representing the UK contract furniture and furnishings industry. The BCFA’s aim is to bring together manufacturers and contract furnishers and to inform the architect, specifier and interior designer of the wide range of products and services available.   British Furniture Manufacturers Association. British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM Ltd) is a trade association, employers' organisation and consortia member of Furniture, Furnishings & Interior Training Organisation (FFINTO). BFM has been representing the interests of the furniture industry for more than 50 years. BFM has a broad based membership covering, domestic, contract, office and kitchen manufacturers as well as a number of suppliers to the industry and retailers. Design Factory is a non-profit organisation providing a valuable support service to the East Midlands design & craft sector and all our members refer to our site on a daily basis for information. We send out a weekly e-newsletter to about 200 members - with all the links connected to our site. www.designfactory.org.uk Furniture Industry Research Association. For over half a century, FIRA has driven the need for higher standards through testing, research and innovation for the furniture and allied industries. New and better materials, improved processes and appropriate standards have been developed to enhance the quality of furniture and assist manufacturers and retailers to become more competitive. ukfirst has been established by FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Association), with support from the DTI, to assist UK furniture organisations to achieve world class performance in quality, cost and delivery. With increasing global competition, the need to improve has never been greater. Improvement is not just about your company it is also about your customers’ ever increasing demands for improvements in quality, cost and delivery. ukfirst works with furniture manufacturers to assist in the generation of sustainable process improvements that will not only improve competitiveness but will also enhance customer satisfaction. The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers. The Furniture Makers’ Company is the 83rd Livery Company of the City of London (there are currently 103 in all) and only the sixth formed since the reign of Queen Anne. Livery companies probably had their origins in the United Kingdom before 1066 and are similar to the fraternities and guilds (or mysteries) that flourished throughout Europe for many centuries. The Worshipful Company of Upholders, Members of the craft of upholder (or upholsterer) are recorded at very early dates, the earliest being Henry le Uphelder (1258). The name of the craft and of the practitioners have been variously spelt - sometimes within the same sentence! The first mention of upholders acting as an organised group occurs in 1346 when they petitioned the King for protection against unfair competition from France. They obtained ordinances and recognition as a separate mystery in 1360 and a grant of arms from the College of Arms in 1465 - one of the earliest of such grants. The National Carpet Cleaners Association The NCCA is a non profit making body, governed by a President and a Board of Directors drawn from, and elected annually, by the membership. All members are required to provide a high quality service to their customers, summed up by the associations motto: "Service with Integrity". Only fully accredited members of the Association are eligible to use the NCCA name and logo, and thus able to extend to their customers the assurance this offers. The NCCA 62c London Road Oadby, Leicester LE2 5DH Tel: 0116 271 9550 Fax: 0116 271 9588 info@ncca.co.uk E-Mail us for further information © 2008 Association of Master Upholsterers &Soft Furnishers Ltd.