AFA Latest Furnishing Industry News

May 2, 2022

Australian Furniture Association E News is distributed to over 43,000 subscribers each week. For the latest news subscribe now. • held a social event? • developed a new product? • received an award? • been involved in an interesting project? • visited or exhibited at...

Overcoming the “back to work blues”

Feb 2, 2022

The holiday season is essentially over and many of us are returning to work and finding it hard to adjust.  Some of the adjustment is about travelling to and from work in traffic, others include spending time again with people you may or may not like, learning again...

Are You Sitting on a Cancer-Causing Couch?

Dec 13, 2021

As previously researched and reported by the Australian Furniture Association, the concerns about hazardous AZO dyes in clothing and bed linen have been extended to include textiles and leather used in the manufacture of furniture in Australia and contained in...

Coaching and Mentoring

Nov 27, 2021

As leaders of businesses, we have many responsibilities. These range from dealing with the day to day operational aspects of our businesses and handling business finances to developing the people working with us. Each of these is critical and warrants much of our time...

Safety and Wellbeing

Nov 27, 2021

Safety and Wellbeing (often also known as Occupational Health and Safety) relies on a combination of a strong policy framework and a commitment by business owners and leaders to people and safety for a successful and a safe work environment. Every work environment,...

An engaged team – your best marketers!  

Nov 27, 2021

Business owners and leaders work very hard to build their brand and to develop and maintain their reputation in the marketplace. This process often takes many years of investment in time and money and it is critical to ensure all aspects of your business support the...

Australian Businesses responsible for imported product safety

Nov 27, 2021

As a result they can be held liable for any defect or other condition that renders the product unsafe and results in injury, death or damage. Generally, all businesses that manufacture or import products will have Public & Products Liability Insurance. However,...

PRODUCT RECALLS ON THE RISE   

Apr 19, 2021

Product recalls are on the rise as ever increasing consumer protection and new regulations come into play. It does not take much of a defect to fail to meet various legislation and Australian Standards. When a recall is declared by a government agency or a retailer,...

How the workplace affects employee health and wellbeing

Nov 27, 2020

The most direct effect that workplaces have on employee health and wellbeing is through the occurrence of injuries or illness due to work. Our workplaces affect the types of risks involved. Workplaces with high levels of physical work (for example, those that involve...

Storm Over Procurement Loopholes

Oct 27, 2020

A storm is brewing over government procurement policies within the furnishing sector, with Members of Australia’s peak industry body, the Australasian Furnishing Association (AFA), pushing for reform. It seems that the AFA may have ‘hit a nerve’, with the issue...

AFA Update – Coronavirus – Business, Employee and Health Support

Mar 24, 2020

AFA Update CoronavirusBusiness, Employee and Health Support   The Coronavirus will continue to be, one of the biggest challenges facing the furnishing and related industries (AFA) in modern times. As governments and health officials provide us with rapidly changing...

Understanding Digital Marketing Gobbledygook

Feb 25, 2020

Blogs. Posts. Likes. SEO. PPC. Analytics. IoT. Is it all gobbledygook to you? Let’s make it short, sharp and simple. An interactive introduction to online digital marketing that won’t make your brain explode. And better still, won’t make you feel like a ‘dummy’. Learn...

Warning on Toppling Furniture following the Death of another Child

Nov 27, 2018

NSW Fair Trading and other consumer affairs agencies across the country have launched a campaign to ensure parents and carers know how to protect their children and prevent a serious accident from toppling furniture and TVs. NSW Fair Trading Commissioner, Rod Stowe,...

DO YOU WANT UP TO $50k OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING?

Jun 27, 2018

Does this sound like you? · You need to find a smarter way, a quicker way, a better way to grow · You have great ideas but need to translate ideas into products and into commercial success · You have outgrown your current processes or resources. · You need to plan for...

Tipping Furniture Warning

Jan 27, 2018

The AFA has been liaising with Government to look into tipping furniture as it poses an ongoing threat to Australians. The AFA is pleased Australia’s consumer watchdog has launched a safety investigation into a popular series of drawers by Swedish furniture...

 Benchmarking by John Clements from hranywhere

Nov 27, 2017

Many organisations, regardless of size and structure, will seek to benchmark themselves. Benchmarking helps with improving processes, approaches and technologies to reduce costs, increase profits and strengthen customer loyalty and satisfaction.  Benchmarking is an...

Looking for an Intern? Did you know you can “Trial a young person”

Nov 27, 2017

Through the PaTH program AFA Members can host an internship placement in their business and see if the candidate is a good fit. You will receive $1000 to help with the costs of hosting an intern, and the intern is covered by insurance through the program. Just 200...

Developing an export plan?

Nov 27, 2017

Many AFA Members are looking to export their products, but how do you go about it? The first step is to develop an export plan so you and your business and staff have a clear plan to follow. An effective export plan will help evaluate your strengths and weaknesses...

Professional Design Program 3

Nov 27, 2017

This week we are very happy to announce that we have launched the Professional Design Program 3 Last month CEO Patrizia Torelli travelled to Malaysia to work with four of Australia’s lead designer makers involved in the international Professional Design Program 3 in...