UFA Membership Information
Types of Members:
- Regular membership:
- Retailer
- Manufacturer
- Sales Representative
- Associate membership
Member Services and Products:
National Convention and Trade Show
UFA's National Convention & Trade Show, held every summer, offers outstanding business and educational opportunities for retailers, manufacturers and sales reps. Retailers can view the latest industry products, take advantage of special show offers and benefit from a comprehensive educational program. Exhibiting manufacturers and sales reps can increase their business contacts and sales by meeting hundreds of attendees face to face. Retailer members attend the show free of charge; nonmember retailers pay $25 per person to walk the show floor and $60 registration fee to walk the show floor and attend Education Day. Please click here to view recaps from past shows.
Discounts on Exhibit Booths
Manufacturer members receive a significant discount on booth space for the National Trade Show as well as Spring Trade Show.
Industry - Specific Education
At each National Convention & Trade Show, the Unfinished Furniture Association offers a dynamic educational program featuring sessions on the hottest industry topics. Industry experts cover the issues that concern you, from effective sales management to avoiding misleading advertising. Attend these timely, practical sessions designed to build, protect and enhance your business.
Idea Exchanges
Knowing that the best advice often comes from your peers, UFA offers small-group "idea exchanges" at the National Convention & Trade Show where you can discuss common business problems and issues with colleagues. You'll find solutions and make valuable networking contacts, too.
Unfinished Business Magazine
UFA's bimonthly magazine is filled with product news, helpful business and "how-to" articles, member profiles, and association news. It's the only magazine that specifically serves the unfinished furniture industry, so everything in it is news you can use!
(more info)
UFA Membership Directory and Buyer's Guide
This essential book is published annually and makes finding industry contacts easy. It includes a complete directory of retailer, manufacturer, sales rep and associate members by state and alphabetically, and a buyers guide that lists industry products and services by category with the companies that offer them. Members receive a copy free of charge; nonmembers pay $100.
UFA National Convention & Trade Show Program
Want to make the most of the convention? Before you work the crowd, let your fingers do the walking through this complete guide to the UFA trade show. The Program features an alphabetical listing of companies exhibiting at the UFA trade show, contact information and enough descriptive data on exhibitors' products to start your shopping list. Members and trade show attendees: free. All others: $15.
New Store Startup Manual
The manual serves as an invaluable tool in providing complete information on every phase of opening and operating a retail unfinished furniture store. Buy a copy today for only $25! (more info)
UFA E-Bulletin
We want to keep members updated on the latest news, events and happenings within the association and industry. UFA E-Bulletins are sent frequently to members to communicate up-to-the-minute news. This information is only available electronically through blast emails and then posted on the UFA Web site in the Members Only section. UFA members click here to access the password protected members section and catch up on UFA news!
Valuable Networking Opportunities
Electronic Listserv
Join the UFA Listserv today and communicate with your fellow members via email immediately! Sign up and start connecting with others within the unfinished furniture industry. Whether you’re looking for that hard-to-find piece or just need some business advice, the Listserv puts you just an email away from your helpful colleagues. UFA members click here to join the listserv.
Small Group Teleconferences –NEW!
These quarterly teleconferences are the most valuable networking tool outside of the UFA Tradeshows and the Listserv. Talk one on one with other members, share experiences, and implement immediately what you have learned. Best of all, there is no cost to participate! This opportunity is available to UFA members only.
Display Advertising & Sponsorship
Reach your target market through the advertising vehicles offered through UFA . Economical display advertising is available to manufacturers in Unfinished Business, the UFA Membership Directory and Buyers' Guide, the trade show directory and trade show sponsorship. Members receive a significant discount.
- Unfinished Business Magazine
Advertising in the magazine of the industry will indicate to your retail clients that your company is a leader in the industry, a key member of the UFA community and a source for their unfinished furniture needs. Click here to view the UB media kit.
- Manufacturers' Photo Opportunity - NEW!
Capitalize on the popularity of UFA 's newly redesigned website and make sure retailers can't miss seeing your products. Seeing your items in full color on the association's website will prove to your retail clients that your company is a fixture in the industry.
For more info on this new program, download the Home Page Advertising Form. (99 kb pdf)
- Website Advertising Program - NEW!
Banner ads are now available on the Unfinished Furniture Association site. For more info on this new program, download the Website Advertising Form. (95 kb pdf)
- UFA Membership Directory and Buyers' GuideThe UFA Membership Directory & Buyer's Guide continues to serve as the reference book for the industry. Advertising in the directory serves as an excellent tool to maximize exposure and reach out to your targeted market. The Buyer's Guide section lists nearly 30 product categories, each with an alphabetical listing of the UFA member companies that manufacture products in that category.
- UFA Trade Show Program
The UFA Trade Show Program is one of the most valuable marketing tools in the unfinished furniture industry. Anyone involved with unfinished furniture from buyers to national consumer and trade media use the program throughout the year as the reference for the industry. Advertise in the Show Program and bring interested buyers directly to your exhibit!
- UFA Trade Show Sponsorship
Trade show sponsorship provides your company with the excellent exposure and indicates you are a supporter of the association as well as the industry. Your company is prominent in trade show promotions reaching thousands of buyers.
Mailing Labels
Manufacturer members can target mailings to the unfinished furniture industry's most active retailers nationwide. The complete list of UFA members is available for one-time use at just $50. Only UFA members may purchase the list.
Sales Leads Program
Inquiries to the UFA office that are potential sales leads are forwarded to UFA's sales representative and manufacturer member participants via e-mail.
2005 Retailer Profile Survey NEW!
Compiled from the input of retailers from all around the county, this survey provides aggregate industry information against which UFA members can benchmark their own performance and operating characteristics. UFA members may purchase a hardcopy for $25, non-members pay $185. Click here to order your copy. (88kb pdf)
UFA Web Site
UFA's Web site promotes the benefits and versatility of quality unfinished hardwood furniture and shares association news. All UFA retailer members have a free listing on the Web site where consumers can look up an unfinished furniture store in their area by state or zip code. Retailers can search for manufacturer and sales representative members.
UFA Web Site
UFA's Web site, www.unfinishedfurniture.org, promotes the benefits and versatility of quality unfinished hardwood furniture and shares association news. Each retailer member receives a free listing on the UFA Web site index where consumers can look up unfinished furniture stores in their area by city, state or zip code. Manufacturer and sales representative members have the option of being listed on the site with a brief company description.
Member Logo Sheet
Each new UFA member receives a logo sheet to publicize their affiliation with the association. Members place the logo on stationery, advertisements, invoices, flyers and more. It's an easy way to enhance a positive store image!
Consumer Brochures
Consumer brochures on buying wood furniture, choosing types of wood, and understanding finishing materials and techniques are available from UFA for retailers to distribute in-store. Retailer members receive 25 copies of each brochure upon membership and can order additional brochures at a substantial discount over the nonmember price. Please click here to order your brochures today
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(88kb pdf)
Point-of-Purchase Materials Discounts
Enhance your store displays for less! UFA members can receive a 10 to 20 percent discount on sales tags, signs and other customer-attracting P.O.P. materials.
Check Authorization
Retail members who take advantage of this special member service can accept a check with confidence after checking the customer's drivers license or government-issued I.D. card. No bulletins to check, no calls to make, no more bounced check hassles!
Retail Financing Program - NEW!
By being a member of the Unfinished Furniture Association, you are eligible for a program discount with American General. Financing allows your customers to get what they want or need when they want it without reducing their savings account or increasing their credit card debt or other lines of credit. By joining as a UFA member, you will be eligible for rates that are simply unattainable without owning a multiple store chain. Are you a UFA member? Click here to print an application form from our password protected Members Only section! (13kb pdf)
Board of Directors
Twelve board members elected from four regions of the country lead the Unfinished Furniture Association. Board members serve two-year terms, with the exception of vice-president, who automatically serves on the board one more year in the office of president.
Committees
Industry volunteers are a crucial part in forming the structure and goals of UFA, so join now and become more involved in your organization. Committee meetings are held throughout the year via conference call so no traveling is required. Your support is invaluable to helping us serve you better now as well as for the future. Only UFA members may participate on the following committees:
- Certification Committee
Purpose: To recruit and retain participants and develop ongoing programs.
- Membership Committee
Purpose: To help cultivate new and exciting member benefits and assist in recruiting and retaining members.
- Trade Show Committee
Purpose: To plan UFA’s National Convention and Trade Show including Education Day.
- Image Design Committee
Purpose: To develop the theme, image and design for UFA materials-most notably annual membership directory and convention material.
- UB Advisory Committee
Purpose: Serves as a resource for the editor and works to establish the editorial content of the magazine.
Brand Awareness Program & Industry Marketing Campaign
Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way ® - Certification Program
UFA members who qualify for the certification program can now participate FREE OF CHARGE! Through this comprehensive marketing program, our logo and value statement are used as a tool to highlight the product, quality characteristics and help the membership tell their story! With the support of certified members, this program will elevate the overall image of the unfinished furniture industry. Apply to get certified and differentiate your business from the rest of the furniture competition.
Industry Marketing Campaign
UFA has partnered with a professional marketing firm, Communication Solutions Group, to take UFA to the next level in consumer awareness. As one, we are a microscopic percentage of the furniture industry, together we have potential to compete with the “other” furniture markets. Now is the time for us to come together, work together, and show the end-consumer what Real Wood Furniture Finished Your Way® is all about. It is about choices, quality, personalization, and furniture that will last.
This campaign will consist of a turn-key marketing operation for each individual retailer. Membership to the certification program will now be free to all members. You can achieve the return on investment by being certified, and by using the marketing tools to market and advertise your business. The marketing plan being co-produced by Communication Solutions Group and UFA is being custom made for YOU. Please join us. We guarantee you that if you use all of the tools in this marketing plan, you will not regret the decision to stand with your partners in the unfinished industry.
For more information about the Industry Marketing Campaign, please click here to read answers to frequently asked questions.
Marketing Toolbox: Your One Stop Source for Marketing Success.
The Marketing Toolbox includes an entire collection of tools and resources to help our retail members maximize their advertising and marketing dollars while completely freeing them from the time and cost needed to develop and produce professional, high-quality marketing materials on their own. We’re proud to offer our members this extraordinary set of professional tools and resources at an incredible value. Short of a minimal cost of $75 to tag the television spot with custom information (and this is optional), there is no additional out-of-pocket cost for any of the Toolbox items.
To give our members an idea of the true value of what they will receive, we’ve listed all of the items and resources that are part of the Marketing Toolbox, as well as the current market value of these materials and services if members were to use their own dollars.
Item |
Current Market Value |
Customizable press release/expert source article |
$700 |
Camera-ready ad slick |
$500 |
Disk of printer-ready signs, stickers, and in-store brochure |
$3,000 |
High-quality, ready-to-broadcast television commercial tagged with each member’s contact information |
$3,000 |
High-quality, ready-to-broadcast radio commercials tagged with each member’s contact information |
$1,500 |
How-to guides on media buying, special events and local media relations. |
$500 |
Marketing seminar during the spring or national trade show |
$150 |
Free marketing consultation during the spring or national trade show |
$150/hour |
ONE MEMBER BENEFIT… TOTAL VALUE - OVER $9,000!
Become a member :
Take advantage of all the business-building, money-saving, problem-solving benefits UFA membership provides. We constantly strive to provide additional member services and benefits. Call UFA at 800-487-8321 for benefit updates.
UFA National Convention & Trade Show
Discounts on Exhibit Booths·Unparalleled Networking Opportunities·Idea Exchanges Discounts on Event Tickets·Industry-Specific Education
Publications - Industry Information · Consumer Awareness Activities Leadership Opportunities · Cost Saving Business Services and Tools Business-to-Business Advertising & Promotional Support
Membership Renewal:
Retailers, Sales Reps and Associate Members - Click here to renew online.
Manufacturers - Click here to download a renewal form.
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