Hafele

The founding of Häfele falls into a time of deep reaching political and social upheaval. The Weimar Republic is just a few years old, the consequences of the First World War are still evident everywhere.

1923, when inflation reached its climax in Germany, two young men, Adolf Häfele and Hermann Funk, take their fate into their own hands: on 1st December they set up a speciality store for joinery needs called "Products for the hardware and tool industry" in Aulendorf in Württemberg.

The young company specialized in joinery and carpentry supplies and moved to Nagold, the former center of the furniture production in Württemberg.

From there Adolf Häfele visited the woodworking shops and furniture manufacturers in the area to better understand customer requirements and in so doing he established the company's first regional network.

His credo still has central importance today: personal contact, industry and product knowledge, reliability and fast delivery of products.

Adolf Häfele establishes the first wholesale warehouse and distribution of products.  His innovative product assortment and excellent customer service put him ahead of his time, enabling him to acquire many new clients.

Häfele participates in a foreign trade fair in Strasbourg in 1933.  They offer furniture fittings for bedrooms and kitchens.

The young company receives the "Gold Medal" for the their display booth design. The export of fittings to other countries is starting to increase.

By this point, Häfele employs a sizeable sales force who visit customers at home and in neighboring countries.

The first furniture fittings catalog was published in 1939 with a circulation of 20,000 copies. Distributed in Germany and abroad it forms the foundation for international sales of Häfele products.

The symbolic cover shows a picture of a globe which became the logo of the rapidly growing business.