Who we are

Associated Independent Stores (AIS) is the UK and Ireland’s leading buying group for fashion, home, and leisure for independent retail.

Buying Group

The history of AIS starts in 1948, when 20 family-owned department stores joined forces. Since then, AIS has evolved into the leading buying group, headquartered at Cranmore Park.

AIS works together with independently owned retail businesses and a global network of suppliers to negotiate exclusive discounts and help drive profitability. With an unrivalled collection of own label brands, retail and merchandising experts, and its unique and convenient central payment system (CENPAC), the AIS buying group covers all your needs.

Trade Shows

The Cranmore Park Conference, Event, and Exhibitions venue, has been expertly built by event specialists as a stylish and modern West Midlands venue. Cranmore Park is the home of our unmissable INDX trade shows which are business and buyer focused events expertly curated across fashion, furniture, homeware, flooring, toys, and sport.

Welcome to the AIS family

Cranmore Park

Our impressive state-of-the-art dedicated conference, exhibition, meeting and event space is available to hire by our Members and can be tailored to all your requirements.

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INDX Trade Shows

INDX provides a fresh approach to trade shows, born to champion retail and create a trade show platform that truly serves the industry.

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Flooring One

Flooring One is our flooring and carpet specialist team at AIS, overseeing the best quality, largest, and most innovative selection of carpets, rugs, vinyl, and wood flooring in the UK and Ireland.

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toys from the largest buying group in the uk

Playroom

Playroom is our dedicated toy team, working with over 800 branded and non-branded toys and children’s products through exclusive toy import programmes.

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Meet our team

130 people work at AIS headquarters in the West Midlands. Our expert team has decades of experience in buying, retail merchandising, finance and more.

See the full team

Sue Kemp

Managing Director

At the helm of AIS and member of the AIS Board, Sue leads the strategic direction and strives to drive success for the membership. Sue is a prominent retail expert with over 30 years’ experience at a senior level within customer-centric global businesses including Merlin Entertainments, LEGOLAND and Marks and Spencer. Sue is also a member of the Advisory Board for Diversity in Retail.

Susan Potter-Price

Finance Director

As an AIS Board member, Susan leads the finance and CENPAC operation for AIS, utilising her wealth of senior financial experience built up across the retail sector, including HMV. Susan is also a non-executive director of Birmingham Bank Ltd.

Jane Bartlett

Director of Events

Jane directs the event strategy for AIS, INDX Trade Shows as well as Cranmore Park Conference and Exhibition Centre. This involves planning, creating, and delivering 50 days of trade shows a year, as well as leading the sales and business development for all events held at the home of AIS. Jane has led her own business events company and has created and developed successful event and exhibitions around the globe working with companies like SAP, Hewlett Packard, ROYAL CANIN and Denso.

Guy Brazier

Director of HR

Guy overseas the people strategy for the organisation including supporting the independent sector in attracting and retaining a diverse and inclusive talent pool. Guy is a Chartered Fellow of CIPD and has led HR teams for over 20 years including Warwick Castle, Alton Towers, Madame Tussauds and LEGOLAND.

Rachel Breen

Head of Home

With over 20 years of homewares buying experience and having previously held Buying Manager roles at Next, Sainsburys, and Debenhams, Rachel joined AIS to head up the Homewares Division in 2016.

Georgina Kelly

Director of Marketing

George is responsible for the marketing and communications strategy across the AIS portfolio of brands to ensure Members are supported, INDX trade shows succeed, and our profile grows. George has worked across retail, leisure, and education developing brand strategies for over 30 years including Debenhams, Warwick Castle, Bullring Birmingham, and the University of Leicester.

Emma Rackley

Director of Furniture and Home

Having previously been Group Commercial Director at Bensons, Emma joined AIS in 2021, bringing with her a wealth of industry expertise. Emma has also spent time at Leekes, Furniture Village, and Shop Direct.

Ceri Smith

Director of Facilities

With a diverse property portfolio that includes over 40,000 square metres of event and conferencing space, Ceri’s expertise lies in facilities management, catering and hospitality, and infrastructure, with a very clear focus on sustainability and efficiency. Ceri previously worked within facilities at RNIB.

Richard Adams

Director of IT

Richard brings over 20years' experience across retail and hospitality, working with well known brands from New Look, Whitbread, and Debenhams.

Devlin Lindeque

Interim Director of Fashion, Toys and Sport

Devlin brings over 20 years of experience to AIS, including Disney, Mothercare, and Merlin Entertainments - with expertise in leading buying and design teams as well as constructing and developing ranges across multiple product categories.

Shannon Mack

Business Support Manager

With over 20 years’ experience working within senior leadership teams at companies including Amtico, Merlin and IBM, Shannon’s focus is Project Management, leading Internal Communications as well as championing Employee Engagement and all things Culture.

The history of AIS

1948 Independent Stores Association

20 family-owned department stores joined forces to create the Independent Stores Association. Suters of Slough & Uxbridge, Grants of Croydon, Dingles of Plymouth & Bentalls of Kingston-Upon-Thames, Keddies of Southend, Heals of Tottenham Court Road, London, Cockaynes of Sheffield & David Morgan of Cardiff, David Evans of Swansea, Colmers of Bath, Brown Thomas of Grafton Street - Dublin & Palmers of Yarmouth, Beales of Bournemouth, Poole & Bealsons of Bournemouth, W.Eaden Lilley & Co of Cambridge & Hammonds of Hull, Anderson & McAuley of Belfast, Schofields of Leeds, Bonds of Norwich and, Brown Muff's of Bradford.

1967 Associated Department Stores

On 8 August 1967, Associated Department Stores (ADS) was born. They were a group of independent department stores, like the Independent Stores Association, who joined together to share business insights..

1971 Our central payment system (CENPAC)

Associated Department Stores wanted to create a way to pay their suppliers centrally as a group, so they started CENPAC (our central payment system). Maurice Clifford Riches, George James Douglas Phillips, John Norman Rouse and Horace Hornsby were made the first directors.

1971 Associated Department Stores sets up in London

Associated Department Stores moved to its first dedicated space in London. Its offices were just off Regent Street, at 13 New Burlington Place.

1975 Associated Department Stores team grows

The team at Associated Department Stores outgrew their Regent Street office and moved to 157 Edgeware Road in London.

1976 Associated Independent Stores is born

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

1980 AIS moves to Birmingham

Associated Independent Stores moved from London to the West Midlands. We set up in Tricorn House in Birmingham.

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

1987 Joined with Floreat Furniture Group

The AIS furniture buying group grew bigger and combined with Floreat Furniture Group.

1989 AIS moves to custom-built premises

On 12 January 1989, AIS moved from Tricorn House in Edgbaston to Sheward House. A roof fire delayed our move slightly but it’s where we still are today.

2002 AIS forms Flooring One

Flooring One, our flooring buying group was born with a partnership with CCA Global, the largest floor coverings buying group in the world.

in 2002 our flooring buying group was born with a partnership with CCA Global

2005 Sheward House becomes Cranmore Park

Sheward House gets a facelift and massive extension. We renamed it, Cranmore Park, as we developed our conference and exhibition centre.

2011 Cranmore Park gets even bigger.

Cranmore Park gets bigger as we extend our exhibition centre for trade shows and create more meeting spaces.

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

2019 Simply Home launches.

AIS launches Simply Home, its exclusive homeware range.

2020 New Managing Director at the helm.

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

2021 AIS Retail Insights launched.

A series of digital-on-demand and face-to-face insight and expert panels to support Members.

2022 INDX Trade Shows return.

INDX Trade Show's return, post Covid-19 with 26 shows delivered.

2022 AIS refreshes its identity.

AIS refreshes its identity as it takes the top spot as UK and Ireland’s leading buying and services group for fashion, home and leisure for independent retailers.