Lumi Power Yoga Voted Hammersmith's Favourite Business

Lumi Power Yoga Voted Hammersmith's Favourite Business - Again!

Kings Mall pop-up store Made in H&F also triumphs in 2019 Brilliant Business Awards

The Lumi team onstage at the 2019 H&F Brilliant Business Awards

Lumi Power Yoga has been voted Hammersmith's Best Business - for the fourth year running.

The King Street studio won the Public Vote in this year's H&F Brilliant Business Awards and the team were presented with their trophy at a ceremony held at Olympia London on Thursday 21 November.

And that wasn't the studio's only success on the night. The Lumi Foundation – the studio's charitable organisation which aims to bring yoga to people who otherwise would not have access to its benefits - was named Best Community Focussed Business or Social Enterprise.

Afterwards the studio's founders, husband and wife team Ari and Elina said: " On Thursday night at Olympia, something extraordinary happened. Lumi Power Yoga was awarded the prize for the Best Business in Hammersmith based on public votes – for the fourth year in a row.

" In addition, Lumi Foundation received the prize for the Best Social Enterprise in Hammersmith and Fulham. Winning the double was made possible because of the amazing community at Lumi.

"We are so so grateful for each and every one of you who come together to create the Lumi Vibe. We are grateful for each and every yogi, teacher, customer service team member and hands on assistant. They say it takes a village to bring up a child. And it certainly takes a group of great people to create a community like Lumi. Thank you."

You can read their message in full on Lumi Power Yoga's website.

The two other Public Vote winners were Goldhawk Road Balkan restaurant Caffe Bonego which was voted the Best Business in Shepherd's Bush for the third year running, while Playday Parties was named the number one business in Fulham for the third consecutive year.

Awards were also given to two local firms who started trading at the borough's seasonal markets. Local resident and entrepreneur, Yohannes Miller, picked up the Best Place to Drink accolade for his business On the evening, Hammersmith resident and entrepreneur, Yohannes Miller, picked up the Best Place to Drink accolade for his business Dragon Cat Cafe in Hammersmith Broadway.

Along with his business partner Yen-Ting, he has created the first place in the borough to offer authentic Taiwanese bubble tea.

"I’m absolutely speechless," said Yohannes. " I never thought we had a chance of winning against all the great local pubs and bars we were up against. It was a lovely surprise."

Yohannes and Yen-Ting started out trading at the council’s traffic-free seasonal markets before moving into their own shop in Hammersmith last year, as did IMMYLondon, whose range of contemporary clothing and soft furnishings, using traditional batik materials sourced ethically from Indonesia can currently be seen at pop-up shop Made in H&F in Hammersmith's Kings Mall. It won Best Micro or Nano Business or Sole Trader prize.

"These awards give so much hope and confidence to small independent businesses like mine in H&F," said IMMY London founder Tia Hannaford, pictured above. "The council have been so supportive from the start when I began trading at the traffic-free markets and now look here I am picking up a Brilliant Business award. It’s fantastic."

Made in H&F, a pop-up boutique inside Hammersmith's Kings Mall selling the work of talented local traders, including art, jewellery, home accessories, gifts, bags, scarves, urban wear, upcycled furniture, cards, millinery and lots more, was also a winner in its own right, being named Best Creative Business.

"Congratulations to all the local businesses who picked up an award this year and all the businesses which were shortlisted," said Cllr Andrew Jones, H&F Cabinet Member for the Economy and the Arts.

"We’re committed to bringing real and lasting change to H&F but it’s only possible with the support and hard work of businesses like the ones honoured at this year’s awards."

Here are the winners in full:

Winners of the H&F Brilliant Business Awards 2019

Best community focussed business or social enterprise

Lumi Foundation

This yoga studio and community has an ambition to bring yoga to all by removing barriers such as money, health and access to facilities.

Best creative business

Made in H&F

A pop-up boutique in Kings Mall, Hammersmith providing affordable opportunities for local artists and designers to sell directly to the public on the high street.