Corporate News
MX Drawer System from Häfele – Let life come to you
AFA Member Häfele, believe that time and space are two of life’s luxuries and their new concept lets you make the most of both. The MX Drawer System is the forward-thinking alternative to dark cumbersome cupboard spaces. Why? It makes life better by delivering...
Four cots recalled in one month!
The Australasian Furnishing Association is alarmed to learn that four separate baby cots have been recalled by 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...
The Australian bar stool that set the gold standard for timeless furniture design
Amongst the most coveted mid-century pieces ever produced, AFA Member Workspace Commercial Furniture (formerly TH Brown) is proud to announce the remake of the TH Brown Danish Bar Stool. The first in Workspace’s new Origin’s Collection, the Danish Bar Stool unveils a...
Melbourne has been selected as the partner city for Business of Design Week 2018, Hong Kong’s flagship design showcase event.
Business of Design Week (BoDW) is Asia's leading annual event on design, innovation and brands – a five-day conference that attracts more than 120,000 visitors from all over the world. Held in the first week of December each year, the event brings together some of the...
32nd Hong Kong Houseware Fair
AFA Corporate Communications Manager, Vivienne Forbes, attended the 32nd Hong Kong Houseware Fair and the eighth Hong Kong International Home Textiles and Furnishings Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The two fairs were...
Women designers display objects of protest and empowerment at New York’s Chamber gallery
New York gallery Chamber is hosting a domestic-focussed showcase that features work by only women designers – the second all-female exhibition to open in the city this week. For her final exhibition in Chamber's Collection #3 series, curator Matylda Krzykowski has...
Scholarships for Women
Women in the furniture and textiles sector are advised that a residual pool of scholarship funding is currently available to participate in a range of leadership development programs commencing in the second half of 2017. The funding batch has been provisioned by...
Man About the House, London 2017.
Are you heading to London for the Festival of Architecture in June? If so you may be interested in the Man About the House From June 9 to 16 some of the cities architectural icons will be taken over and be turned into temporary theatres. These include: * A return to...
Harvey Norman group of companies give undertakings to ACCC
The ACCC has accepted court enforceable undertakings from Domestic & General Services Pty Ltd (Domestic & General Services) and Yoogalu Pty Ltd (part of the Harvey Norman group of companies) following an industry-wide review of extended warranty selling...
POTENTIAL RISKS TO VENUE OPERATORS, PATRONS, VISITORS AND STAFF
POTENTIAL RISKS TO VENUE OPERATORS, PATRONS, VISITORS AND STAFF There has been an increase in reports to The Australian Furniture Association (AFA) and state and regulatory bodies, that unsafe Furniture used in public spaces and venues is posing a serious safety risk...
Dulux Colour Awards 2017 Winners announced
In its 31st year, the Dulux Colour Awards will once again be Australasia’s premier showcase of inspirational colour application in built environments. We will continue our commitment to recognising creative and innovative thinking in the industry and reward those who...
457 Visa Changes
The Office of the Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection has announced the abolition of the Subclass 457 Visa for foreign workers and the creation a new temporary visa restricted to critical skills shortages. The intent is to ensure...
Understanding Malaysian Culture for SMEs: A Workshop by Dr Tom Verghese
Malaysia is one of Australia’s top ten trading partners and the prospects for business have provided a beacon for SMEs to expand their operations into Malaysia. However, many ventures have been cut short by cross-cultural blunders in matters such as language,...
International Award Winning Design by new Brisbane-based interior design firm DESIGN & CO
We are proud to announce that DESIGN & CO along with A' International Design Award and Competition that the interior design Inspiration Runway by Grainne Devlin at the AFA Trade show - Furnitex 2016 - is a winner of the renowned Bronze A' Design Award at...
Forestry Standard LTD is promoting a nationwide photo
Forestry Standard LTD is promoting a nationwide photo contest aimed at further raising awareness of the importance of sustainable forest management and certification. AFS CEO Simon Dorries said the contest theme – ‘experience forests, experience PEFC’ – would enable...
Product Testing for Safety
Product testing is one way of preventing unsafe products from entering the Australian market, and ensuring supplier responsibilities are met. It is the responsibility of all suppliers to ensure products: are free from defects meet mandatory safety standards meet any...
Screening requirements for air cargo to the United States (US) to change on 1 July.
These requirements have been imposed on airlines by the US Government. The Australian Government is working with businesses to help them comply with the US requirements, ensure readiness and reduce red tape while enabling a smooth transition. You must act now to get...
International Green Interior Awards
Our Partners at Australian Living are calling for nominations from Australian Furniture Association Members that celebrate green interior products! FOR FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS AND PRODUCT DESIGNERS - Enter innovative interior products that respect the health of end...
Training Package Development and Endorsement process policy
Furnishing IRC Chair and AFA CEO, Patrizia Torelli recommends that industry leaders familiarise themselves with The Training Package Development and Endorsement Process Policy, which is one of three documents that form the organising framework of standards that...
E-commerce: Challenges and Opportunities for Exporters
As a well-established hub for finance and trade, Hong Kong is home to many traders who have a wealth of experience in conducting import and export business. Thanks to efficient management, the bilingual environment and an internationally-recognised legal regime, it...
Training Providers Forum 2017
The WA Forum is getting a makeover, becoming a one day conference for the first time. A busy and vibrant one day program will both engage and challenge delegates. In 2017 the Forum themes will focus on: the student experience; employer perspectives; and assessment....
PROFESSIONAL DESIGNERS PROGRAM – MALAYSIA 2017
This article was written by Alby Johnston who attended the EFE in Malaysia - For several years now Australian Furniture Association’s (AFA) Chief Executive Officer, Patrizia Torelli has been developing relationships with many Governments, Furniture Councils,...
More mental gymnastics: navigating the world of furniture design protection in Australia
This article is part of a series of articles about using design law to protect your furniture designs. Here we look at: examples of actual registered furniture designs in Australia so that you can see the sort of furniture designs that furniture designers are...
Are you an IMPORTER of Products that contain timber and wood fibre?
Implementation of the changes to import conditions for manufactured wooden articles outlined below in the Australian Government Release will be deployed in September 2017 to give importers reasonable time to meet the new conditions. As reported, the Australian...
IMPORTERS BEWARE – YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GOODS YOU IMPORT
Are you aware that your business is responsible for any furnishing product that you import, manufacture, sell, supply or distribute? This means that you can be held liable for any defect or other condition that renders the product unsafe and results in injury, death...
Australian Furnishing Community of Practice Network Update
Check out the latest edition of the TAFE Futures Magazine In this edition read about Continuity and Change: AFA Members and Australian employers’ training practices and partnerships with training providers A year of challenge and opportunity for TAFE and the VET...
Aligning Business and People Strategies
Business leaders spend considerable time and energy developing business strategies and seek to align all business activities to ensure optimisation of effort, business growth and sustainability. This should always include the people within a business. For example,...
Sure you can buy direct from China!
This is an article from Graham Smith CEO Innova Group that he wrote in a LinkedIn forum we thought we would share with you - Keeping costs low and profits high have always been fundamental in business. One source of low-cost furniture items is buying from China....
Unfair Contract Terms Under Scrutiny
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has a number of in-depth investigations underway across a range of industries following the introduction of the new business-to-business (B2B) unfair contract terms laws in November 2016. In November 2016, the ACCC...
Australian Training Awards
Are you a Furnishing Industry business employer that supports the nationally recognised training programs for your employees? Since 1994, the Australian Training Awards have recognised the outstanding achievements of apprentices, trainees, vocational students,...