Associated Independent Stores (AIS) is celebrating a dual milestone in 2026: its 50th anniversary and winning the prestigious Buying Group of the Year Award with Big Furniture Group.
For half a century, AIS has focused on ensuring independent retailers remain competitive and profitable. It has been a remarkable year so far, with many of our Members also celebrating milestone anniversaries, sharing their heritage on social media and in the industry press.
This year, AIS has taken to the road with their Regional Meeting series, sharing retail insights and celebrating key moments with Members. This winning format, hosted by our Members, includes an in-depth store tour, valuable business updates and insights from AIS, followed by an informal and relaxed dinner featuring a 50th anniversary-themed quiz and commemorative goodie bags. A huge thank you to Stringers and Stokers for showcasing their incredible stores. Next up are Sterling and Barbours as we head north to visit our Scottish Members, with trips to Yorkshire and the Channel Islands planned for next year.
Our longevity and recent award win are a direct result of the robust, practical business services we have refined over five decades to support independent retail. At the core of our operational support is CENPAC, our market-leading central paying system. For 50 years, we have understood that independent retailers want to focus on their customers, not paperwork. CENPAC solves this by consolidating invoices from hundreds of suppliers into a single, easy-to-manage single statement.
Beyond operational efficiency, our focus remains on providing product differentiation through our expanding portfolio of member exclusives. In a crowded marketplace, standing out is key. AIS actively curates and develops exclusive brands and product ranges across furniture, beds, and home furnishings that are available solely to our network. Backed by our comprehensive trend lookbooks and detailed product folios, these exclusive partnerships are specifically negotiated to protect independent margins and drive retail profitability.
Earlier this summer, we announced the winner of our Golden Ticket competition: furniture Member, Lees of Grimsby. An AIS Member since 2016, the business is managed by Graham Lees, representing the fourth generation of family leadership. The team are regular visitors to and dedicated supporters of the INDX Furniture and INDX Beds shows. As competition winners, Lees of Grimsby will receive a full-day consultancy session and a strategic report from the AIS team and Scarlet Opus.
Behind the scenes, we’re continuing to support our Members through an ongoing campaign available on our online platform, plus INDX Furniture is just around the corner where Members can look forward to discovering the latest exclusive products while taking advantage of negotiated settlement terms and pricing from AIS supplier partners.
“Winning this award as we celebrate our 50th anniversary is a significant milestone,” says Emma Rackley, Director of Home at AIS. “This recognition belongs entirely to our dedicated Members and supplier partners. We are incredibly proud of what we achieve together, and we look forward to welcoming readers to our INDX Furniture and INDX Bed shows in 2026 and 2027 as we head into the next 50 years.”
