Is it time to plan your next business trip and tag on a holiday? Check out the full list of furnishing and design related trade shows around the world on the link below. For information about the AFA’s travel partner discounts and special offers, contact the AFA at...
The AFA is currently negotiating the with international partners for Australia to be included in an International Design program. The program has been established for a number of years now and Australia is only the third country to be invited to this prestigious...
Thanks to those who completed the AFA’s recent survey about use of Timber in the production of Furniture. It appears that not everyone is in the know. Want to have your say and go into the DRAW to win an Australian Furniture Association (AFA) Individual Membership...
The AFA is committed to helping Australian businesses with a focus on building competitive and sustainable business models and to promote the profitable growth, competitiveness, innovation, and the export readiness of its Members. This week we wrote to the Victorian...
This article provides basic tips for protecting your furniture or homeware designs under Australian law. We’ll begin with a case study. Imagine you have just developed a new design for a lamp. It features an unusual shaped base and a distinctive holder for the...
Manufacturing has changed the world and is itself changing, more fundamentally than at any time since the industrial revolution. Does this spell the end of manufacturing in Australia, or a new beginning? Our immediate challenge is that the resources boom has ‘hollowed...
Have you noticed a rise in people being interested in upcycling? Have you heard the word more often than usual? It’s a thing! So what is all the fuss about upcycling? And what is it all about? Upcycle Magazine says “Upcycling is taking an item that is no longer needed...
The Australian Furniture Association is calling all Furnishing Industry Leaders and Buyers who wish to participate in the Business Delegation to attend the Export Furniture Exhibition and Malaysian International Furniture Fair Events, in Malaysia from the 8-11 of...
Many businesses operate a vehicle fleet and will, no doubt, have well-developed policies and procedures that apply to the operation of that fleet. These policies are designed to deal with safety and well being responsibilities of both the business and employees. To...
The International Standards Organisation (ISO) publishes standards on a wide range of topics, including consumer product safety. Members may be aware, for example, of the ISO standard for high chairs – ISO 9221. But ISO also publishes a range of standards and guides...
The Chinese government is moving to sustainable forest certification of wood products, both harvested at home and imported from other countries, officials told a conference on illegal logging in Beijing recently. That includes a crackdown on countries that don’t...
Further tariff cuts on more than 7000 Australian products have come into effect, creating more business opportunities for Australian exporters.These wide-ranging tariff cuts – agreed as part of Australia’s Free Trade Agreements with China and Korea – came into...
AFA Member and AFA partners, Axolotl, are also involved with art installations. As “Axolotl Art Projects” they were recently commissioned to produce this intricate glass artwork, drawn by eminent Chinese pop artist Jacky Tsai. The piece is on its way to be...
Dezeens favourite chairs from 2016 Designers are always reinventing the chair, and 2016 was no different. Deputy Editor Rima Sabina Aouf from Dezeen shares her favourites, including seats inspired by comics, a granite throne and a chair with its own micro-climate. To...
Studio Job, led by designers Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel, is known for its fantastical and often autobiographical pieces.They have expanded on their autobiographical Train Crash table with a coffee table version depicting a burning car. The Car Crash coffee table was...
On behalf of the AFA Board, Management and Members, we observe the sad passings of Wolfgang Schubert, founder of Burgtec Australasia Pty Ltd, who passed way on 9 January, and of Sonja, his beloved wife of 62 years, 9 weeks earlier, on 6 November. Wolfgang and...
Business confidence among SMEs is now sitting at its highest level since March 2010, following an eight point rise to +46 on a net basis, according to the latest Sensis Business Index (SBI)* survey.Sensis Chief Executive Officer, John Allan said, “Businesses closed...
As technology advances and changes our economy, young job seekers will be significantly affected by changes in the labour market. With the increasing automation of jobs traditionally occupied by young workers and professionals, a whole generation could face a...
Applications are now open for this industry-leading program for professionals in the built environment. Highly regarded across the industry, Consult Australia’s FutureNet Business Leaders Course is now in its tenth year, with its alumni sought-after by employers and...
Sydney Breakfast Forum To bring about change within the upper echelons of the built environment consulting industry would be a significant step in advancing equality in this traditional and male dominated world and these business leaders are taking a big step...
Taking a break over Christmas?… Looking to sell your house? – well, this is a great time to do some reno’s for a high return. Quick fixes before selling a home always pay off, but which home repairs bring the biggest return? Specific answers to this often-asked...
