LEADERS IN THE OUTDOOR LEISURE INDUSTRY
WHAT’S INSIDE Page 3 – WELCOME TO LOFA Page 4 – INTERNET INNOVATION Page 5 – LOFASSURED Pages 6 & 7 – SOLEX Page 8 – ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES & SUPPORT Page 9 – SOCIAL & COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITIES Pages 10 & 11 – HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
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WELCOME TO LOFA The Leisure and Outdoor Furniture Association is a pro active organisation representing the very best brands within the UK gardening industry, all adhering to the LOFA Code of Practice. Established in 1967, our goal is to support and promote the commercial trading and industrial interests of our members. LOFA members offer a variety of products ranging from garden furniture, through barbecues, fire pits, and chimeneas to associated accessories all of which can be purchased in stores or online from major retailers worldwide.
What is LOFA LOFA offers a range of services and support to its members, its primary aim as a professional trade association is to work with its members to develop good working practices, a respect for the environment and to provide consumers with up to date information on lifestyle products for the garden. LOFA’s goal is to make every member feel supported, informed and inspired.
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INTERNET INNOVATION With an expected 3.48 billion people using social media, LOFA are embracing the medium as a source for marketing and engagement of consumers, retailers and members.
anywhere and at any time. Social Media’s a great way to network - Everyone now has the ability to network with LOFA. Social Media provides a window into the future – Using and monitoring social media is a great way to ensure that LOFA are always aware of future trends and opportunities. It is often the first place for new ideas and shared news, and being ahead of the curve can differentiate you from your competition.
Social media’s great for company culture – Most people know how to use social media, it allows great interaction and communication with people from different locations across the globe. Social media provides a channel for advocacy – Promoting LOFA via social media will provide the brand with an advertising channel that is not only free, but very influential. It allows the sharing of data in any form with a large number of people making it an invaluable tool for collaboration.
Social Media is a great way to share – Sharing interesting news with the people who are interested in LOFA, its members and the products that they sell. Website – A website is your window to the world. It’s where everyone looks first to find out who you are, what you do and what you can offer. LOFA’s new website is easy to navigate and a great visitor experience. It offers more to members and encourages consumers and retailers to have more interaction with LOFA.
DID YOU KNOW THAT … Consumers are 71% more likely to make a purchase based on social media referrals (Hubspot) Social media im proves collaboration - Being able to use social media on various devices means that information can be shared from
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LOFA ASSURED LOFA Assured is an initiative to ensure all cushions sold by LOFA members comply with current Government Fire Safety Regulations. Is Your Garden Furniture Up to Regulation?
Be Safe - Be Sure - Be LOFA Assured In recent tests, 8 out of 10 samples purchased from non-LOFA Assured members on the high street or online failed and the products were removed from the market.
their cushions were tested by FIRA to make sure the cushions were compliant with the current Government Fire Safety Regulations. The audit requires the members to have full traceability on all cushions that they supply into the UK market place. LOFA are now working with retailers across the UK to help them ensure they have performed all due diligence in their purchasing process and are stocking safe and compliant furniture.
100% of all LOFA members are LOFA Assured so look for the LOFA Assured swing tag when shopping for your outdoor furniture. In partnership with Hertfordshire Trading Standards and FIRA (Furniture Industry Research Assocation) LOFA have been on a long journey putting this initiative into practice. All LOFA members that manufacture furniture were subjected to an educational audit scheme and all
Look for LOFA Assured swing tags on all garden furniture cushions to ensure they meet current Government Fire Safety Regulations.
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SOLEX - THE SUMMER OUTDOOR LIVING EXHIBITION SOLEX is the biggest three day event in the Outdoor Living Trade calendar. SOLEX is a must attend event. It is the ideal trade show for LOFA members to showcase their best-selling ranges and newest collections. It is the perfect place to meet new and existing customers within the industry, and members have seen a significant growth in the demand for their products after this event. As a member of LOFA SOLEX offers you: • Free entry into the SOLEX catalogue. • Dedicated website www.solexexhibition.com.
• Free web profile. • Free customer invitations. • 2 VIP car park passes right outside the hall for the duration of the show (cars only). • Subsidised space. • Free use of porters to help load and unload your products. • Free use of Forklift trucks. • Free opportunity to share your news in GTN SOLEX Sun. • Entry into New Product Awards which comes with a £1000 Marketing Support winning prize. • Hand-picked visitors who are looking for your product, no time wasters or tyre kickers.
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Join LOFA and become part of a growing organisation of companies representing the very best of the Outdoor Leisure Industry. LOFA welcomes applications from companies within the garden and outdoor leisure industry. lofa.co.uk
ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES SUPPORT • Excellent contacts within the garden retail sector, particularly with garden centres across the UK.
• LOFA Annual Review of Trade - giving you access to the consolidated information that will be provided in report form to all LOFA members, allowing you to benchmark your business, confidentially, against the aggregate LOFA membership.
• Opportunity to exhibit at the exclusive SOLEX Trade Exhibition. • Invited to attend LOFA’s Weekend Member Networking Event.
• Access to approved suppliers allowing members to make savings where possible.
• A dedicated page on the LOFA website. • Annual AGM / Conference.
• Training. • Benefit from advertising and Social Media campaigns to promote LOFA members within the industry.
• Representation on the BSI and CEN Committees. • LOFA ASSURED initiative to ensure all cushions sold by LOFA members comply with the Government Fire Safety Regulations.
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SOCIAL COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITIES • Reduce carbon footprint. • Encourage members to embrace sustainability within their product production and throughout their business practices. • Engage in charitable giving. • LOFA is a supporter of the Greenfingers Charity. • A respect for the environment. • Encourage good working practices. Printed on stock made with, or containing wood that comes from FSC certified forests or from post-consumer waste.
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HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER By joining LOFA you will become part of an inspirational association of companies all focused on the Outdoor Living Industry. You will gain access to a wealth of business benefits from savings for events and services to sharing best practice with other members as well as nurturing further growth through prospective customers.
Membership requirements You will need to be one of the following: • A UK or Irish based manufacturer. • A distributor of an exclusive brand, holding stock in the UK or Ireland. • A non-UK based company with a subsidiary or an authorised representative operating in the UK or Ireland.
We welcome companies trading in barbecues and / or their accessories, garden furniture, garden lighting, fire pits, chimeneas, parasols, outdoor play equipment, soft furnishings and all associated outdoor leisure products.
Your operation will be Product Sales • Business should be conducted through commercial premises or a registered office.
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• Distribution warehouse must hold stock. • Brand name cannot be represented more than once.
a safety initiative to ensure all cushions sold by LOFA members comply with current Government Fire Safety Regulations.
• Business through your own retail premises i.e. Direct to the public or via your own website should not be more than 30% of your total product sales.
This will involve a full audit of your FFSR (1988) compliance by an independent auditor as a pre cursor to membership being approved. Potential members will be charged for this audit before the audit takes place.
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Application An application form can be found on the LOFA website - www.lofa.co.uk.
If you manufacture, import or supply any form of cushions as part of your product portfolio you will be required to join the LOFA Assured Scheme –
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LEADERS IN THE OUTDOOR LEISURE INDUSTRY
#lovingoutdoorliving (+44) 02392 258 844 Suite 7, Pemberton House 1, Stafford Park 1, Telford, TF3 3BD lofa.co.uk
