Manufacturer and distributor Häfele UK has announced the winners of its seventh annual Studio Partner Awards, with Fareham-based In2 Group scooping the coveted Studio Partner of the Year prize.
The event, held on 29th June 2023 at Warwick Castle, saw 17 studios vying for winners’ trophies in the most contested awards to date following a record number of nominations and categories decided by just a few marks.
For 2023, the categories included Best Showroom Experience, Best Functional Space, Kitchen Design of the Year, Rising Star and the top prize, Studio Partner of the Year. For the first time, Häfele also gave an award for the Best Sales and Marketing Initiative, celebrating businesses that have elevated their brand in partnership with Häfele to drive growth and sales. The inaugural winner was Duncans of Grantown for its Moy County Fair project.
The full list of winners is as follows:
• Best Sales and Marketing Initiative: Duncans of Grantown – “Moy County Fair”
Duncans of Grantown were praised for not only using Häfele product to its advantage, but for creating a highly valuable growth tool which has ultimately driven sales and proven return on investment. The studio maximised the sales opportunity of the marketing initiative and worked closely with Häfele to achieve it.
• Best Showroom Experience: Regal Kitchens
In one of the most competitive of categories, Regal stood out for its creativity, as well as excellent point of sale and partnership working its Häfele area sales manager. From ‘look inside’ branded stickers, to charity treasure hunts, Regal is finding innovative ways to raise awareness of Häfele products with customers.
• Best Functional Space: Kettle Co. Kitchens
This category is as the heart of the Häfele philosophy and this year’s top prize was picked up by Kettle Co. for its intensely clever, beautiful - and of course functional - use of space. Placing furniture central to the kitchen design, the studio created a finished result that goes above and beyond the client’s expectations, producing a multi-use storage facility with easy access and adjustability for all future eventualities.
• Kitchen Design of the Year: Hugo & Co.
In the most fiercely contested category Hugo & Co stood out with a design that’s beautifully put together, matches the customer’s brief, and creates a seamless look. The design included handmade furniture created by the studio with bespoke timber drawers made through Häfele.
• Best Rising Star: Alexander Paul Kitchens
This studio demonstrated everything the judges were after and have risen from Bronze to Silver Studio Partner status in a limited time. Alexander Paul Kitchens were praised for collaborating to get the best out of Häfele and working in partnership to build their business.
• Studio Partner of the Year: In2 Group
For the judges, In2 ticked every box, and then some. Not only encapsulating what the Häfele Studio Partner network is all about, In2 go above and beyond to understand what their customers want, creating a personalised package to suit their every need entirely. With customer comments including ‘the highest level of personal service’ and ‘produce dreams into reality’, it’s no surprise the judges said In2 epitomise the Studio Partner Programme.
Commenting on the awards, Gareth Bevan, Sales Director at Häfele UK, said: “From the calibre of the entries, it is clear that the Häfele Studio Partners are some of the best in the business. This year, more than ever, the nominations were fantastically diverse, creative, clever and appealing, and included entries from firms in their infancy, all the way up to the most established. Our 2023 winners, as well as the other 11 studios shortlisted, should be enormously proud of their achievements. Congratulations to all.”
Häfele’s Studio Partner programme is a network of independent kitchen studios, hand-selected based on their superb customer service, business excellence and growth. Companies in the programme receive extensive marketing and sales support, including lead generation plus discounts and training.
Pictured: Studio Partner of the Year winners, In2 Group, collecting their award.
