AIS 50th anniversary

50 years of independent retail. 50 years of community.

50 years of AIS – celebrating our Members, suppliers, and shared history.

Reaching our 50th anniversary is a moment of immense pride for our Board, Members and valued supplier partners. Five decades at the heart of the furniture industry have taught us one thing above all else: our greatest strength lies in community.

A woman and a man are leaning over a decorated cake with the number "50" on top, preparing to blow out a candle. The background features a banner with the logo "AIS" and the number "50".

A message from our Managing Director

Fifty years is a milestone worth celebrating, but our Golden Anniversary isn’t just about looking back. While the retail landscape constantly brings new challenges, it also presents incredible opportunities.  

Our recent national research confirms a continued shift in consumer mindsets: more people, including a growing proportion of younger buyers, are actively choosing independent retailers. Today’s shoppers crave authenticity and a real connection whether they are buying a sofa, curating a wardrobe, equipping for a sport, or choosing toys for their family. 

As we commemorate 50 years, our mission remains unchanged: championing independent businesses to thrive. The next chapter of retail is already being written, and independents across all our sectors are uniquely positioned to lead the way. 

Here’s to celebrating 50 years of success together and to building an even brighter future! 

Sue-Kemp Sue Kemp Managing Director

A message from our Chair of the Board

Reaching our 50th anniversary is a moment of immense pride for our Board, Members and valued supplier partners. Five decades at the heart of the furniture industry have taught us one thing above all else: our greatest strength lies in community. 

At the heart of AIS is the relationship between our suppliers, Members and the association itself. That relationship is at its strongest when we come together face to face. 

As we celebrate our 50th year, we are making a pledge: to make a dedicated, collective effort to show up, connect and meet in person at our market-leading INDX shows and regional events.

I would like to thank every Member, supplier and partner for five decades of trust, loyalty and community spirit. 

Together, we look forward to shaping the next 50 years of retail excellence.

Darryl Simpson Darryl Simpson Chair of the Board

Our moment in history

We have evolved over the past 50 years and are proud to celebrate who we are today. Explore key milestones in our journey.

1976
On 31 December 1976, Associated Department Stores and the Independent Stores Association joined to become Associated Independent Stores (AIS

Associated Independent Stores is born

On 31 December 1976, Associated Department Stores and the Independent Stores Association join to become Associated Independent Stores (AIS). At this time, AIS had 100 Members from across the UK and Ireland.

1980
in 1986 Associated Independent Stores moved from London to the West Midlands

AIS moves to Birmingham

Associated Independent Stores moves from London to the West Midlands, setting up in Tricorn House in Birmingham.

1989

AIS moves to custom-built premises

On 12 January 1989, AIS moves from Tricorn House to Sheward House is Solihull. A roof fire delayed the move but it is still the home of AIS today.

2005
in 2011 we extend our exhibition centre, Cranmore park, for trade shows and create more meeting spaces.

Sheward House becomes Cranmore Park

Sheward House gets a facelift and an extension. Renamed Cranmore Park, our conference and events centre.

2020
Sue-Kemp

New Managing Director at the helm

Sue Kemp is appointed to drive the future strategy for AIS and help its Members to thrive.

2022
indx man trade show

INDX Shows return

INDX trade shows return post-covid with 26 shows delivered.

2026
A woman and a man are leaning over a decorated cake with the number "50" on top, preparing to blow out a candle. The background features a banner with the logo "AIS" and the number "50".

AIS celebrates 50 years

AIS celebrates its milestone achievement of 50 years.

Our founding Members

When AIS was established in 1976, twelve visionary retailers came together with a shared ambition to secure better buying opportunities and strengthen the future of independent retailing. These founding Members were:

  • Aldiss

    Fakenham · Founded 1892

    W J Aldiss celebrates 135 years in 2027 and is still proudly independent and still owned by the same family - now in its 5th generation. William Aldiss (WJ) was set up in business by his entrepreneurial mother. We are proud that today that this tradition continues with 5 of our 10 board members being female. This year marks 40 years since my first AIS sample show, at the age of 18 at the group's offices at the time in Edgeware Road London.

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  • Austins

    Newton Abbot · Founded 1924

    Founded in Newton Abbot in 1924, Austins began when Robert Austin sent his son Charles to Devon to establish a new drapery business. From that small beginning, the family business has grown into one of the South West’s best-known independent department stores. Over more than a century, Austins has continually evolved, expanding from its original store into a collection of departments across the town, while remaining firmly rooted in its family ownership and its commitment to personal service. Today, the business is still led by the Austin family, with David Austin and his two daughters continuing the family tradition. Four generations on, Austins remains a wonderful example of the resilience, adaptability and enduring strength of independent retail — and a proud part of the AIS story.

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  • Barbours

    Dumfires · Founded 1953

    Mr Douglas Barbour continued to grow the business with the purchase of a shop in Castle Douglas in 1953 (subsequently sold in 1974) and one in Stranraer in 1965 which still trades today. Douglas married Margaret Baird (from a family of department store owners from Lanarkshire in the Central Belt of Scotland) in 1957 and two of their three sons joined the business. Peter joined in 1982 after training with Bentalls in Kingston and Barbours (no relation) in Harare, Zimbabwe. Colin returned to Dumfries in 1987 after a spell with Jenners in Edinburgh and Grace Brothers in Sydney, Australia. They became joint Managing Directors on Douglas’ retirement in 1991 (5th Generation). Expansion continued mainly into the Home market with the opening of an out of town Furniture and Carpet unit in 1989. In 2001 the Company managed to acquire an adjacent site on Buccleuch Street and opened Barbours at Home in 2002 having vacated the out of town site. Peter sadly passed away in 2021, but the 6th Generation joined the business with Ross (Colin’s son) and Victoria (the late Peter’s daughter) ready to take the reins.

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  • Elphicks

    Farnham · Founded 1881

    Founded in Farnham in 1881 by George Elphick as a small drapery business, Elphicks has been a fixture of the town’s retail landscape for almost 150 years. Remarkably, the business continues to trade from the same West Street location where it began, having evolved over the generations into a much-loved department store spanning fashion, home, gifts and lifestyle. The Elphick family remained at the heart of the business for more than 120 years, until it was acquired by Tudor Williams in 2004. In 2026, the story came full circle when Alan Bushnell and David Howson led a management buyout of the business, returning Elphicks to independent, family-run ownership. Today, Elphicks continues to look to the future while building on its remarkable heritage and deep roots in the Farnham community — a wonderful example of the resilience and enduring spirit of independent retail.

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  • Goulds

    Dorchester · Founded 1902

    Founded in Dorchester in 1902 by Harry and Florence Gould, Goulds has been part of the town’s retail story for more than 120 years. What began as a small family draper’s shop has grown through four generations into a thriving independent retailer spanning fashion, home, gifts and lifestyle. Throughout its history, Goulds has continually evolved while retaining the values on which it was founded: quality, service and a strong connection to its local community. Today, the family business continues to look to the future while proudly preserving its independent heritage. Goulds has also been part of the AIS story from its early days, making it a fitting example of the enduring strength, resilience and independence that have characterised AIS Members for generations.

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  • Harveys

    Halifax · Founded 1911

    ‘Harveys are extremely proud to have been one of the founder Members of AIS. Our membership remains as important to us today as it did 50 years ago, if not more so. Being part of a unique group of retailers, all facing the same challenges, is an incredible support to us in a time when the issues we are facing are becoming more and more complex. There is always someone to talk to, to bounce ideas off, to offer advice & guidance and practical support. The team at AIS work tirelessly to offer us, as members, the most up to date industry news and information, as well as price incentives and exclusive deals. We are celebrating our 100 years as a business this year and I know we wouldn’t have reached this milestone without AIS’. Interesting fact about our business – King Charles visited us a few years ago, he’s also in the family business!!

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  • Hatchers

    Taunton · Founded 1775

    With a history stretching back to 1775, Hatchers is one of Britain’s oldest family-owned department stores. Founded by William Hatcher as a small drapery business in Taunton, the company has evolved over 250 years from drapery to furniture, home furnishings and, ultimately, the much-loved department store it is today. The business has weathered enormous social and economic change, continually adapting while retaining its strong connection with the people of Taunton. In the 1980s, when outside investment threatened its independence, the Hill and Raisey families stepped in to protect Hatchers and keep it locally owned. Today, the next generation of those families, Stephen Hill and Mark Raisey, continue to lead the business. After 250 years, Hatchers remains a remarkable example of independent retail resilience — a business built on family, community and an unwavering belief in its future.

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  • Jarrolds

    Norwich · Founded 1770

    “Being one of the founding Members of AIS gave Jarrolds the opportunity to combine the independence and character of a family owned business with the strength, scale and expertise of a wider retail network. That partnership has helped us remain competitive while staying true to our values. Today, AIS is just as important, enabling independent retailers to share knowledge, innovate together and thrive in an increasingly challenging retail landscape.”

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  • John Sanders

    Ruislip · Founded 1890

    At the time of joining, we gained the benefits of improved supplier terms which enabled us to better compete with the chain stores that were expanding into our town centre locations. Over time it became apparent that through shows and networking, AIS encouraged us to merchandise our shops in different ways and experiment with different & exciting products driving our business forwards. AIS remains vital to us to enable us to respond to the fast-moving retail environment of the 2020s. The hub helps us speedily take advantage of new trends, while the shows allow us to plan our seasonal ranges. The windows of our Ealing store in the 1960s live online due to Dr Who! We featured in the infamous scene where our shop models came alive as killer Autons.

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  • Oldrids & Downtown

    Boston · Founded 1804

    With a history stretching back to 1804, Oldrids is one of Britain’s longest-established independent retail businesses. Founded in Boston by John Oldrid and Richard Hyde as a small drapery business, it has evolved over more than two centuries from a traditional draper into a major Lincolnshire retail business. The business has never been afraid to evolve. In 1981, Oldrids pioneered the move towards out-of-town retailing with the opening of Downtown Boston, followed by Downtown Grantham in 1989. This spirit of innovation has remained a defining part of the business throughout its long history. For more than 200 years, Oldrids has adapted to changing customers and changing retail landscapes while retaining its strong Lincolnshire roots. Its remarkable longevity is a testament to the resilience, ambition and independent spirit that sit at the heart of businesses like Oldrids — and of the AIS community.

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  • Roys

    Sudbury · Founded 1895

    In 1970 Fred Roy chaired ADS which later became AIS. Roys is now run by his nephews,  Paul & Ed Roy. The latter has served on the AIS board for 8 years. “AIS is important to Roys because it brings together like-minded independent retailers and suppliers. We really value the opportunity to share knowledge, ideas, and experiences, and to learn from both suppliers and other retailers across the industry. The trade shows are particularly valuable, giving the buyers the chance to meet new suppliers, discover new products and build relationships. Roys enjoys being part of a community where independent retailers support one another, share information and work together.” Roys has been part of the local community for over 130 years, and our family heritage and strong local roots remain an important part of the business today. We’re proud to support the communities we serve, donating tens of thousands of pounds each year to local charities and good causes. We also believe in supporting local businesses wherever we can. We currently stock more than 1,000 products from over 100 local suppliers, giving our customers the opportunity to discover and enjoy some of the wonderful products made right here in our county, while helping to put money back into the communities around us.

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  • Walker & Ling

    Weston-super-Mare · Founded 1892

    Being part of AIS as one of its founding Members is something I’m incredibly proud of. Walker & Ling has been part of the retail landscape for generations, and I’m very conscious that I’m the latest custodian of a business built by those who came before me. My responsibility is to respect that heritage while continuing to evolve the business for the next generation. For me, that’s also what being part of AIS is about. Independent retail can be a challenging journey, and having a network of like-minded retailers to learn from, share experiences with and support one another is invaluable. I’ve learnt a huge amount from those around me, and I believe it’s important that the next generation continues that tradition — learning from the past, contributing to the network and helping to shape the future of independent retail.” Interesting Fact we have the last functioning Lamson pneumatic cash tubes in the UK - !!

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A wall of memories

From Members to partners and friends, everyone has a story worth sharing. Leave a note, an image, or a memory—and explore the mosaic of experiences from across our community.

“Reaching our 50th anniversary is a remarkable milestone, and gives us all an opportunity to reflect on the strength, resilience and collaborative spirit that has shaped AIS over the past five decades. For me personally, this anniversary is a celebration of the people behind the success. I am incredibly proud of our team, whose dedication, expertise and hard work continue to drive our business forward and deliver real value for our Members. Their passion for the furniture and home industry, combined with their commitment to supporting our network, is something I deeply value and appreciate. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is the time I spend with our Members and suppliers. The relationships we have built across the industry are at the heart of everything we do, and it is a privilege to work alongside so many talented and entrepreneurial businesses. The 50th anniversary is not only a celebration of our history, but also of the partnerships, trust and shared ambitions that will help shape the future of the furniture and home sector.”
Emma Rackley Director of Furniture and Home, AIS Solihull

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Voices & History

Discover the people and moments that shaped AIS—from Member spotlights in our 50 at 50 series to in-depth features on our founders and history. Explore the experiences, insights, and milestones that define our journey.

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