Furniture fittings and architectural hardware specialist Hafele recognised and rewarded its elite kitchen and bathroom specialists.

The winners of Hafele’s fourth annual Studio Partner Awards were named at a ceremony held at pop-up restaurant ‘Jardin Blanc Raymond Blanc’ at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Created to celebrate the achievements of kitchen and bathroom specialists, it was reported to be the biggest Studio Partner Awards event to date.

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Chef Raymond Blanc, OBE, together with marketing director of Hafele Chloe Thacker, presented the trophies and all winners also received an all-expenses paid trip to Dubrovnik in Croatia.

The Awards were presented across seven categories, spanning Best Use of Social Media, through to Best Showroom and culminating in Studio Partner of the Year.

Chloe Thacker commented: “Our fourth annual Studio Partner Awards was a fantastic opportunity to say thank you to our incredibly talented Studio Partner network.

“Our Studio Partners are hand-picked based on their commitment to quality, service and innovation, to ensure our company values are reflected in the customer experience.

“The standard of entries this year was the highest yet and we would like to offer our congratulations to all the award winners, as well as those who made the shortlists.”

Studio Partner of the Year Award

Presented to showrooms which demonstrate the greatest commitment and dedication to the Studio Partner programme, the Studio Partner Award was won by KF Kitchens.

The company was recognised for its dedicated and knowledgeable team which offers honest and constructive feedback, and continuously works with the Hafele team to get the most out of the partnership.

KF Kitchens was cited as a shining example of the Studio Partnership working at its best.

Special Recognition Award

The Special Recognition Award celebrated businesses which have stood out for their achievements throughout their Studio Partnership, commending passionate and talented kitchen and bathroom specialists.

It takes into account loyalty and advocacy for the Hafele brand, and adoption of its Ideals for Living values and philosophy.

Round Oak won the award for its generosity, patience and dedication, showing commitment to service, quality and the Hafele brand.

Best Success Story

Commending kitchen and bathroom specialists who have achieved “exceptional success” over the past 12 months was the Best Success Story Award. It was judged on growth, commitment to Hafele and overcoming business challenges.

BMS Kitchens & Bedrooms was presented the award, having elevated its family business to become a well-known name in the local area.

The company was presented the award for being a strong advocate of the Hafele brand and being eager to explore new opportunities.

Grohe Award

The Grohe Award was for engaged, enthusiastic dealers who have shown excitement for the brand and commitment to the Grohe/Hafele partnership over the past 12 months.

It was presented to In2 Solid Surfaces for its commitment to Grohe. According to Hafele, In2 Solid Surfaces has thrown itself into the partnership and developed into a loyal brand ambassador.

Best Showroom Award

The Best Showroom Award recognised the “clever and deliberate” use of space in kitchen showrooms. Judges were looking at the customer’s journey, design, product displays and showcase of the Hafele brand.

Parlour Farm scooped the award for its stylish design, use of space, as well as “creating an exciting and inspiring” customer journey.

Best Website Award

The Best Website Award challenged tech-savvy studios to create an online presence which is “as beautiful and deliberate as their showroom.”

It celebrates retailers who follow best business practice in design to develop and maintain an “easy-to-navigate website that incorporates customer service.”

Regal Kitchens was presented the award for its user-friendly website with clear call to actions, which was cited as a “glittering example of best practice.”

We spoke to Regal Kitchens’ senior designer John Martin for an insight into the secrets of online success.

Best Use of Social Media

One of the award’s most competitive categories, Best Use of Social Media celebrated partners which use social media platforms to promote their business, engage with customers and build an online community.

The Best Use of Social Media was presented to Studio 10 Kitchen Design. The team was acclaimed for being a sharer who is regularly responsive and a consistent content creator, engaging and interacting with its customers.