Check out the 2024 INDX Trade Show schedule here

It’s time to thrive

The AIS buying group is the UK and Ireland’s leading fashion, home, and leisure buying group for independent retail.

Thriving independently

We’re a membership of buying power, creativity, and expertise.

Thrive together

Be part of a global partnership of suppliers and brands that give independents a point of difference.

Thrive with us in 2024

When we work together, we can achieve more than we ever could on our own.

Why Associated Independent Stores?

We’re here as a buying group for independent retailers. AIS is a membership organisation that celebrates individuality and entrepreneurship. We make sure every member thrives by combining all our strengths, buying power, creativity, and expertise. With collective retail sales of £1.5 billion, suppliers and brands from around the world are eager to partner with us.

Buying and Trade Shows

A major benefit of our membership is access to our regular INDX trade shows, where Members can preview and buy products and take advantage of exclusive deals. INDX trade shows are organised by our in-house industry experts to showcase products across furniture, fashion, homeware, flooring, toys, and sports.

Become a Member of AIS and gain access to the best buying opportunities and discounts from major suppliers. Additional benefits include:

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Member experience

An unparalleled end-to-end service focused on driving profit for you.

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Easy payments

A bespoke central payment system (CENPAC) saves time and money.

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Innovation

Innovation-led buying and product merchandising services.

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Global supplier network

Access to our portfolio of market-leading brands and product ranges.

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Our Products and Services

We have a team of highly respected buying experts in home, fashion, leisure, sports, and toys. We source the best brands, suppliers and exclusive products and we develop exclusive own label ranges. Our teams negotiate exclusive deals and discounts as well as providing essential, commercially driven services to support the independent retailer.

Teal velvet sofa
Furniture Buying

Furniture is at the heart of the AIS buying group. We give independent retailers access to new, bestselling, and exclusive furniture products across upholstery, cabinet, bedroom, lighting, accessories, and garden.

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homeware buying
Homeware Buying

From well-known brands to exclusively sourced ranges across cookware, kitchenware, small electricals, dining, glassware, home fragrance, and home textiles, AIS is the UK and Ireland’s leading homeware buying group.

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a customer looking through the womens wear apparel
Fashion Buying

Explore men's, women's, and kids ranges across fashion, accessories, and footwear. With access to exclusive brands, a strong focus on lifestyle, high street, and high-end names, plus our own label First Avenue.

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AIS flooring and carpet
Flooring Buying

The AIS Flooring One team offers Members the best quality, largest, and most innovative selection of floor coverings in the UK and Ireland, with a wide variety of traditional and contemporary products to suit every room of the house.

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independent retail owner serving a customer
Retail Buying and Merchandising

A one-stop-shop of retail industry expertise, supporting with annual strategy and planning, buying, and brand selection - all designed to improve margins and profitability.

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AIS sports and leisure clothing
Sports and Leisure Buying

Our newest division, the AIS sports and leisure team work with leading sports, active lifestyle, performance wear, and team wear suppliers with a focus on innovation, expertise, and quality.

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toys from the largest buying group in the uk
Toy Buying

Playroom is the home of market-leading toy brands as well as unique and sustainable products for children and nursery. As an AIS Member you can get access to exclusive margin-beating import programmes too.

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industry expert from AIS
Easy Payments

CENPAC is our unique AIS central payment system. CENPAC enables Members to settle all invoices from our preferred AIS suppliers with one easy and convenient direct-debit payment.

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Become a Member

Join our thriving membership today. Stay proudly independent but have access to global brands, our leading central payment facility, innovation-led buying and merchandising, and VIP access to the busiest trade-buying calendar of events in the sector.   

Become a Supplier

Support independent retail. Join our global partnership of brands and suppliers. Create points of difference for our Members, reap the benefits of our one-stop payment system, and grow your business by partnering with the UK and Ireland’s leading buying group for fashion, home, and leisure.

Fash - White Stuff
Fash - Levis
Fash - Wrangler
Fash - Joules
Fash - Weird Fish
Fash - Triumph
Fash - Super Dry
Fash-Joe_Browns
Fash-Happy_socks
Fash-First_Avenue
Fash-Esprit
Fash_Ben_Sherman
Fash-Kipling
RBM Fash - Ralph Lauren
Home-wax-lyrical
Home-Thermos
Home-sodastream
Home-SMEG
Home-Portmeirion
Home-Morphy-Richards
Home-Le-creuset
home-jml
home-denby
home-bedeck
Sport-babolat
Sport-Hoka
sport-mitre
sport-mizuno
sport-new-balance
sport-polar
sport-pulse-roll
sport-puma
sport-ronhill
sport-run-on-clouds
sport-saucony
sport-speedo
sport-underarmour
Floor-Abingdon-carpettile
Floor-associated-weavers
floor-cormar
floor-furlong
floor-hugh-mackay
floor-lano
floor-manx-tomkinson
floor-penthouse
floor-victoria
Toys - Hasbro
Toys - Lego
Toys - Keel
Toys - Playmobil
Toys - Mattel
Toys - Bandai
Toys - Galt
Toys - Gibson
Toys - character
Toys - Spinmaster
Toys - vtech
Toys - Schleich
Furn Ashley Manor
Furn-Collins-and-Hayes
Furn-Daro-Furniture
Furn-Duresta
Furn-Emma
Furn-G-Plan
Furn-Harrison-Spinks
Furn-Hypnos
Furn-Julian-Bowen
Furn-Lazboy
Furn-Parker-Knoll
Furn-Venjakob
home-christy
home-bianca
RBM Home - Taylors eye
RBM Home - Dartington Crystal
RBM Home - Breville
RBM Home - Kitchenaid
RBM Home - Judge
RBM Home - Tower
RBM Home - Tefal
RBM Home - Arthur Price
RBM Home - Wrendale
RBM Home - Laura Ashely
RBM Home - Circulon
RBM Home - Royal Worcester
RBM Home - salter
RBM Home - russell hobbs
RBM Home - Dualit
RBM Home - Stellar