Franz Madlener pulls off Villa & Hut rescue but still faces bankruptcy fight
Wednesday, 05 January 2011
Villa & Hut founder Franz Madlener has finally managed to rescue his beloved retail chain from the wreckage of collapsed franchisor Allied Brands, and says he will now concentrate on staving off personal bankruptcy related to debts due to Allied's woes. ...

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Madlener’s high price
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Villa & Hut founder Franz Madlener tried his hardest today to put a positive spin on what must loom as one of the toughest days in his career.  ...

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Villa & Hut founder Franz Madlener facing bankruptcy, administrators shut 10 stores
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Villa & Hut founder Franz Madlener says he is almost certain to be declared personally bankrupt, with more than 12 landlords, suppliers and finance companies chasing amounts that Madlener personally guaranteed when he owned the Villa & Hut chain.  ...

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Franz Madlener to continue push to buy back Villa & Hut chain from Allied Brand administrators
Wednesday, 03 November 2010
Villa & Hut founder Franz Madlener says he will continue with attempts to extract the chain out of Allied Brands and will begin discussions with the company's administrators.  ...

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Cookie Man franchise in liquidation as Allied Brands turmoil grows
Monday, 04 October 2010
Besieged franchise brand manager Allied Brands has been dealt another blow, revealing that its Cookie Man franchise has been placed in liquidation following a winding up order lodged in the New South Wales Supreme Court by a creditor.  ...

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Get big or get out
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
There is a new mantra in franchising: Get big or get out.  ...

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Villa & Hut founder Franz Madlener tries to buy back chain from struggling Allied Brands
Monday, 26 July 2010
The founder of franchise chain Villa & Hut, Franz Madlener, is trying to buy his company back from current owner Allied Brands, which shocked the market by announcing its second profit warning in six months last week.  ...

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Allied Brands shares down 24% after another profit downgrade: Economy Roundup
Friday, 23 July 2010
Franchise operator Allied Brands has lowered its profit guidance for the second time in six weeks due to writedowns in the Cookie Man and Villa & Hut businesses.  ...

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Allied Brands in turmoil as CEO sacked following profit downgrade
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Food and entertainment giant Allied Brands is in turmoil, with the company announcing a profit downgrade and the resignation of chief executive Shane Rodbone following a strategic review of the business.  ...

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How to give people what they need
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Franz Madlener is the founder of widely successful furniture company Villa & Hut, which he founded in 1998. Part of his success can be attributed to identifying the difference between giving customers what they need rather than just what they want.  ...

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Clock is ticking
Monday, 23 November 2009
Another day, another survey on the public's position on climate change.  ...

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Allied Brands expands Villa & Hut brand with new licensing deal
Wednesday, 04 November 2009
Listed franchise brand manager Allied Brands has announced a new deal to add 14 stores to its caf ...

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Survival of the fittest
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
It's the moment that every entrepreneur dreads - that time when your business is on the line and you're not sure if you'll make it through to next week. Whether it's cashflow problems, piles of debt or an attack from a competitor, many businesses have a near-death ...

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Jumping on the bandwagon
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Entrepreneur Franz Madlener was his usual forthright self when asked whether his Smart50 company Villa & Hut use social networking. "What the hell is social networking? Did I fall asleep on the couch while someone came up with a new word for something."  ...

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Smart50 defy the downturn and hire 900 staff in 2009
Thursday, 17 September 2009
The resilience of Australia's SME community has been highlighted by the announcement of the Smart50 awards, sponsored by Westpac.  ...

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Meet the Smart50 of 2009
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Downturn... what downturn? Despite one of the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, the finalists in SmartCompany's Smart50 awards have sailed through the last 12 months.  ...

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The smart50 of 2009
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
SmartCompany is proud to present the winners of the 2009 Smart50, sponsored by Westpac. This list recognises Australia’s fastest-growing small and medium companies in 2008-09 and includes awards for top franchise, top exporter, top innovator and top website. ...

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villa & hut
Tuesday, 08 September 2009
Franz Madlener Smart50 rank: 32 Revenue: $18,300,000 Growth: 55.91% Founders: Franz Madlener, 42; Jacky Roberts, 44 Based: Victoria Employees: 81 Industry: Retail trade Website: www.villaandhut.com It's been a big year for home wares franchise ...

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SmartCompany Awards 2008
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
  Congratulations to the winners of the SmartCompany awards for 2008 The SmartCompany Awards 2008 night on September 12 was a spectacular event at NAB in Melbourne. The winners, who came from a diverse range of industries and locations, shared in almost ...

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Villa & Hut's tipping point
Tuesday, 09 June 2009
Today on Lunch With an Entrepreneur, Franz Madlener, 42, tells Amanda Gome why he sold his business Villa & Hut and the challenges he faced taking it from a small to medium sized business.  ...

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