SmartCompany50 rank: 32
Revenue: $10.7 million
Growth: 41.3%
Founders: Franz Madlener, 39
Based: Melbourne
Employees: 100
Industry: Retail trade
Website: www.villaandhut.com
Villa & Hut just keeps expanding, jumping from $7.4 million revenue last year to $10.7 million in 2006-07.
It is second time around for Franz Madlener. He owned his first store at age 18 and built it into a chain, selling surf wear and denim before selling. Then in 2000, he was holidaying in Indonesia and saw handicrafts and furniture being made for eco-conscious tourists who love the idea of a story behind the products.
They also wanted to ensure that the products they are buying are produced in “fair trade” environments and contain certification of the source.
Villa & Hut was founded to fill the gap in the market for ethical hand crafted home furnishings.
By 2003 it opened the Kafe branded restaurants, and by 2007 has eight stores in Australia and is opening a new store in Philadelphia in the US later this year with a catchment area of the new stores the population of Australia.
