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.
Member Benefits
Discover more about why membership works.
Why join AIS Buying Group?
All our Members are independently run retailers based in UK and Ireland. Our Members are diverse in scale and sector. Whether it's department stores, garden centres, specialist fashion, sport or toy shops or furniture, flooring, or homeware stores, we have expertly created a suite of benefits to enable our members to thrive.
Member Benefits
Explore the benefits of joining Associated Independent Stores.
Buying Power
With member’s collective retail sales of £1.5 billion, Suppliers and brands from around the world, want to partner with us and create and provide points of difference for our members.
Impactful Retail
With our exclusives, our own-label, brands, offers and promotions, and strategy development groups across home and fashion, we strive to make AIS Members stand out and succeed.
Access to all INDX Trade Shows
Meet suppliers, see the latest product, and receive exclusive AIS member offers at the busiest trade-buying calendar in the UK and Ireland.
BIRA and Diversity in Retail Membership
Have direct access to both the support and network of BIRA and Diversity in Retail.
Retail Buying and Merchandising
AIS Retail Buying and Merchandising (RBM) is our team of retail specialists who curate collections, with creativity and commercial acumen. From range planning, pricing, and promotions, strategy, they aim to maximise every sales opportunity for Members.
Bespoke Central Payment
Our unique and powerful payment system (CENPAC) enables members to save time, money, and administration. Enjoy improved settlement discount from suppliers, and access to exclusive Group merchandise rebates.
Cedars Database
Access to Cedars, the members’ accounts database, for viewing and accessing documents processed by CENPAC. Stop payment notes can be issued via Cedars and are automatically emailed direct to the supplier.
TradeIslands Access
Access to TradeIslands website for receipt of statements electronically via email or for download to import, furniture supplier database (image packs and price lists) and online purchase orders.
Supplier Information
Access to supplier turnover information for the member as an individual and the group as a whole.
Our Products and Services
We have a team of highly respected experts across home, fashion, leisure, sports, and toys. We source the best brands, suppliers, exclusive products and develop our brands as well as providing essential commercially driven services to support the independent retailer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Become a Member of AIS
Membership is by Application. Register your interest and start your application today.