Corporate News
Australian Border Force seize “Australian made” fakes
The Australian Border Force (ABF) is continuing its operational focus on trade enforcement, seizing ten Chinese-made pianos falsely claiming to be Australian made. Pianos are considered furniture products and as such have the same regulatory requirements as other...
CHOICE tests show Cots that have failed testing to Australian Standards and the year they were tested
Source * Brand Model Year tested Babies R Us Harper CR026OK 2017 Baby Stepz Classic 2017 Babyhood Georgia Sleigh Luxx 2017 Genesis Monterey 2017 Grotime Melody 30101 2017 Mocka Sonata 812583 2017 Strom Skajen 2017 All 4 Bubs Lunar 2016 Baby Stepz Sleigh Cot 2016...
FIGHTING FAKE DESIGN FURNITURE ON ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS
Thanks to AFA Partners Redpoints, and Gus Hazel of James & Wells for delivering this really informative AFA dedicated WEBINAR ‘Fighting fake design furniture on ecommerce platforms’. In case you couldn't make it, here’s the link to the webinar on demand so you can...
INTERNATIONAL OECD KEYNOTE TO FOCUS ON JOBS AND TRAINING AT INDUSTRY 4.0 CONFERENCE
Dr Mariagrazia Squicciarini – Senior Economist, Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation will give the keynote address at the Industry 4.0 Conference to ensure delegates benefit from the latest OECD insights on the topic of Jobs, work and skills in the...
JOINT FORCES TO DELIVER LARGEST AUSTRALIAN INTERIORS EVENTS IN 2019
What do you get when you join Australia’s largest gift fairs, hospitality show and Australia’s iconic Furnitex? Visitors will go on a journey of discovery and explore the many offerings of the furnishing industry showcasing the world’s exhibitors, international trends...
MALAYSIAN MANUFACTURER’S KEEN TO COMPLY FOR GLOBAL TRADE
Australia has long-standing trade relations with Malaysia particularly in the furnishing industry. The enforcement of the Illegal Logging Regulation has seen exports from Malaysia to Australia drop from 3 rd to 5th, with China taking a large chunk of the business....
GLOBAL APARTMENT HOTEL OPERATOR JOINS AFA MEMBERSHIP RANKS
Quest Apartment Hotels, Australasia's largest and fastest growing global apartment hotel operator is the Australasian Furnishing Association’s (AFA) newest Member. But Why? Quest has commenced work on its first UK site in Liverpool city centre and the safety and...
DO YOU WANT UP TO $50k OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING?
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...
LOOKING FOR APPRENTICES OR TRAINEES? Former Broncos, Titans and Queensland State of Origin star speaks out.
Australian Apprenticeships Ambassadors have shared their experiences of the vocational education and training sector at a recent roundtable at Federal Parliament. Seventeen ambassadors met to discuss their VET experiences and explain how apprenticeships and...
ARE YOU SOURCING OR DISTRIBUTING DANGEROUS FURNITURE?
Fifty Australians a week injured by toppling furniture and televisions. An estimated 2,600 Australians receive hospital treatment for injuries caused by toppling furniture and televisions each year, equating to approximately 50 people per week. Since 2001 at least 22...
APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINEESHIPS : HOW CAN YOUR BUSINESS ATTRACT CANDIDATES AND WHAT FUNDING INCENTIVES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU?
The West Australian branch of Apprenticeship Support Australia (ASA) conducted the first of a series of workshops for AFA Members in Perth last week. ASA helps build workplace capability using the Australian Government’s funded apprenticeships program. Apprenticeship...
HELP? WHERE HAS MY CUSTOMER GONE? – A GUIDE FOR FURNITURE SUPPLIERS
Last week’s two hour workshop in Perth, Western Australia, was hailed as a breakthrough for business leasers who attended the very informative detailed event. Presenter Carlinea Williamson from House of Home worked through how to identify new opportunities based on...
IS YOUR DESIGN I.P BEING RIPPED OFF?
FAKE DESIGN FURNITURE ON ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS WEBINAR – WEDNESDAY 30TH MAY 2018 International I.P Tracking Specialists Red Points will debate the problem of counterfeits and illegal replica products on eCommerce platforms, and consumer behaviour towards these products....
TOP 10 BUSINESS ENERGY TIPS TO SAVE $$$ AND IMPROVE YOUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Don’t pay more for energy than you have to. HERE are ten easy ways to keep your business power bills down.
MANAGING ILL AND INJURED EMPLOYEES
by John Clements, HR Anywhere You hear that one of your employees is again absent from work and this employee has developed a pattern of not attending work. You have requested medical certificates as evidence for the absence. These medical certificates provided by...
DRAFT 2018 INDUSTRY SKILLS FORECAST AVAILABLE FOR FEEDBACK
The 2018 Industry Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work prepared on behalf of the Furnishing Industry Reference Committee is now available for feedback and comments. The Industry Skills Forecast identifies skills gaps and emerging skills needs within industry...
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR BID ON MAJOR SAUDI CINEMA PROJECT
So what does the latest Hollywood smash hit ‘Black Panther’ have to do with furniture? For the first time in 35 years Saudi citizens have been able to go to the movies and the first movie was this blockbuster from Warner Studios which was followed by a major...
Consumer Complaints Continue To Rise
When you buy goods or services and they break too easily, don’t work or don’t perform as generally expected, you have rights under the law. The Australian Consumer Law (contained in a schedule to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) creates a basic set of guarantees...
The Frustration Is Killing Us
Every now and then we receive quite lengthy well-thought out comments and feedback from our AFA Members which simply highlights the missed opportunities and ways in which our Members could better access our services. Here is an excerpt from a recent email for your...
Australian Industry and Skills Committee – Message From The Chair
As Chair of the Furnishing Industry Reference Committee (IRC) reporting to the federal government, AFA CEO, Patrizia Torelli joined around 90 IRC Chairs and Deputy Chairs who met in Melbourne recently. The focus of the day was on professional development, with...
AFARC Expressions Of Interest
The Australasian Furnishing Association (AFA) has established the AFA Regulatory Committee (AFARC) to support the furnishing industry – and the outcomes required to meet furnishing industry quality assurance and regulatory needs. The AFA Regulatory Committee brings...
AMAZON may not be the AMAZING solution when it comes to Consumer Safety
Nine in ten Australians said they will purchase from Amazon Australia if it delivers on its lofty promises, according to a study commissioned by parcel delivery service, CouriersPlease. The results of an independent survey of 1,001 Australian adults who have shopped...
Four baby cots recalled in one month
The Australasian Furnishing Association is alarmed to learn that four separate baby cots have been recalled the ACCC in just one month. Even more alarming is the fact that all three were sold online. ‘With the impending launch of Amazon into Australia, we’re concerned...
THREE THINGS THAT CAN LAND YOUR BUSINESS WITH A FAIR WORK CLAIM
Did you know that in the 2016/2017 Financial Year, the Fair Work Ombudsman resolved nearly 27,000 requests for assistance involving a workplace dispute – this is up 42% from the previous year. 127 claims of unfair dismissal are made against an employer every day and...
WARNINGS AND TERMINATION
by John Clements, HR Anywhere Generally, employees perform their duties well and there is no need to take corrective action. However, where an employee is not meeting either performance or behaviour expectations, it is critical to act. Coaching and retraining are...
AUSTRALIAN BEAN BAG REGULATION LOOP HOLES CLOSED : ENSURING CHILDREN’S SAFETY
Bean bags are a comfortable addition to any household, but they can pose a serious risk to young children and babies. In the 1990s, several deaths were reported when children unzipped their bean bags and crawled inside. The children inhaled the small, fibrous pellets...
LARGE CHUNKS OF AUSTRALIAN FURNITURE GIANT NOW IN HANDS OF CHINESE
Nick Scali managing director Anthony Scali has sold half his shares in his family’s namesake business to Chinese manufacturer KUKA holdings for $77.2 million in a deal that the business says will strengthen relations with a major supplier. Scali reduced his stake in...
MODERN ICON REACHES ANOTHER MILESTONE
A great big Happy 95th Birthday to one of Australia’s leading founders of great furniture design and manufacturing and the AFA’s inaugural Master of the Year in 2014. Ian, together with his wife Joyce, celebrate their birthdays this month and we send them our...
Penalties of up to 150k for Non Compliance
The Australian Illegal Logging Prohibition Act is now in force.From 1 January 2018, importers of regulated timber products into Australia.
FRANCHISE SECTOR FACES POTENTIAL SENATE INQUIRY
*Source March 12, 2018 Matthew Elmas It has been a trying month for Australia’s franchise sector, which after a string of scandals is now staring down the barrel of a Senate inquiry. A spokesperson for Senator John Williams has confirmed that he intends to move a...