Join the American Flock Association

Mission Statement

The American Flock Association provides positive leadership to foster a strong flock industry in North America. The purpose of this website is to assist visitors who have a need for value-added fiber coating solutions to obtain the information they need and to connect with qualified AFA members who can provide those solutions.

AFA members include manufacturers of roll-to-roll coated textiles, papers, and films as coaters of 3 dimensional objects and printers of apparel decoration and graphics arts products. Industry suppliers are a key sector of the membership.

AFA is the key forum in North America for companies and people in the fiber-coating industry to come together for industry promotion and addressing common industry issues and needs.

AFA invites any firm engaged in the manufacture, processing or marketing of flock, flock products, adhesives, used in flock products, flock machinery and other supplies, equipment, and technology related to the manufacture of flock products to apply for membership in the Association.

Membership categories are:

Full Member: any company meeting the above activity description that has operations in North America.

In 2006 the AFA introduced a new dues strategy designed to make membership more attractive for flock coaters and sellers of flock coated products for whom that business is only part of the company's overall business. Please contact us for details.

AMERICAN FLOCK ASSOCIATION SALES LEAD REFERRAL SYSTEM

As a major benefit of membership, the AFA sales lead program responds to inquiries of all types from potential customers seeking products and services relating to flocking (fiber coating) by qualifying and immediately transmitting the inquiries directly to all full members of the association by email and/or regular mail.

Features of the sales lead system include: 

• Collection of inquiries from the AFA website.
• Development of leads at AFA trade show exhibits.
• Development of leads by AFA staff and other members through contacts at trade shows,  conferences, etc.
• Leads are qualified by AFA staff and sent to members within 24 hours of receipt if possible.

Results:

• The following counts of qualified leads have been transmitted to members:

• In a 2004 survey of companies and individuals that sent inquiries to AFA the following results were reported:

• 80 past potential customer contacts were polled.
• Approximately 50% of respondents reported entering orders that led to business with AFA members.
• 25% of orders placed from the lead system were for in excess of $25,000.

• Member feedback on the lead system:

• “My company’s largest single job originated through an inquiry to the AFA” – 3-D object flocker.
• “The quality of AFA leads has really improved in the last year.”-roll-to-roll flock coater.

• “We have on occasion found our customers looking for product. This provides a check on our own customer satisfaction” – supplier.

• Contact the AFA office for details. info@flocking.org or 617-303-6288

RETURN TO SUMMARY OF BENEFITS ABOVE

AMERICAN FLOCK ASSOCIATION WEBSITE ADVERTISING

AFA offers its members low cost access to high value space on its website. Since a major website upgrade in the spring of 2004, AFA website activity has been strong and growing, as this chart of site visits indicates:

There are two levels in the AFA website ad placement program:

Level One: 2” X 3” (approx) scrolling space on the website home page and Member listing page with click through access to the member’s website or a larger member profile page (see Level Two)