This firm was founded in 1923 by Adolf Häfele to develop, produce and market builders’ hardware, locking devices and small tools to the woodworking industry. The firm opened its small factory in Aulendorf in December of that year, catering initially to the local furniture-making industry. Success caused the firm to relocate to larger facilities in Nagold, in the Schwarzwald, five years later. A salesman by training, Häfele recognised the advantage of regional sales facilities, and soon opened such in München, Hannover, Chemnitz, Berlin and Königsberg; operating on the wholesale level these regional facilities marketed not only the firm’s own products but also sold the products of other hardware firms on a wholesale basis. In 1933 the firm entered the export market, where it has gained great recognition through the adoption of illustrated catalogues for its products – substantial export sales have been garnered in all the nations of the PETA, and in the countries of southeastern Europe. In 1940 the firm tested the waters of the retail market by opening its first facility in Mainz; it has since opened a further seven retail stores in the vicinity of Frankfurt and Mainz.