Membership of BFM is not limited to British Furniture Manufacturers.  It is also open to those organisations that are associated to the trade.  

If you supply the trade in anyway, whether it is a commodity or a service you are eligible to join the BFM as an associate member.  Associates are given preferential status for referrals when suppliers are sought.

Associate membership is also open to furniture retailers and ancillary organisations to the trade such as lighting or other companies involved in homeware.

The benefits of Associate Membership are listed below.

Your own open BFM web page (with text & product pictures) & a link to your Company's web site/sales enquiries - accessible by BFM furniture manufacturers or indeed any potential client that views the BFM Directories. One or more of the following directories will be relevant to Associate companies:

• Supplier Directory
• Product finder - Soft Furnishings / Accessories Directory
• Showrooms / Retailers Directory

As a member you are able to use the BFM logo on your web site, letterheads, etc...The logo is a sign that you are directly associated with BFM, a recognised Trade Association for British furniture manufacturers which has been in existence for over 60 years.

Much is exclusive to BFM such as the State of Trade Survey published 3 times a year.  The BFM has also acquired an extensive array of offical data related to furniture production and sales.  For data relating to furniture production (view)

Our expertise in finding UK trade and sales data allows us to look beyond furniture into other areas such as the UK market (home produced and imported) for lighting, homewares etc, etc.  For an example click here.

We have specific data - size & breakdown of UK market - for example in the following areas:

• Leather
• Textiles
• Computer and electronic products
• Electrical equipment
• Machinery
• Wearing Apparel
• Wood and products of wood

You will have access to all the price data available to BFM furniture manufacturers PLUS any other price information held on our database.

For a complete list of price data available (view).

Full list of price data held on items purchased by furniture manufacturers (view)

Some Examples:
Blended foam - polypol and TD view
OSB panels view
Polyester staple fibre view
Cow hide view
Shipping 40ft Container Shang-Felixstowe view 
Beech panels finger-jnt view

• Insurance incl. employers' liability - click here for a free health check.
• Interiors UK - click here to see benefits.
• Design Protection (ACID) - 20% discount on entry fee for BFM members who join 
• Energy brokerage – gas/electricity & water - click here to see benefits.
• Telephones – line rental/calls/mobile phone agreements
• Trade credit insurance
• At least 10% discounts on furniture & furnishings testing through the SATRA Technology Centre
• Access to a pension scheme compliant with the employer compulsory contribution requirement (launches July 2012)    

Telephone advice on:

• Commercial legal matters from solicitors
• VAT
• Tax
• PAYE  
• Employment
• Health, safety & enviroment

PLUS

Access to on-line employment & health and safety documentation and guidance (view).