Tandy Leather Factory Inc Company Profile

Our company was founded in 1980 as Midas Leathercraft Tool Company, a Texas corporation. Midas original business activity focused on the distribution of leathercraft tools. In addition, the founders of Midas entered into a consulting agreement with Brown Group, Inc., a major footwear retailer, as a result of their proposal to develop a multi-location chain of wholesale stores known as "The Leather Factory." In 1985, Midas purchased the assets related to The Leather Factory stores from Brown Group, Inc., which then consisted of six wholesale stores.

In 1993, we changed our name to The Leather Factory, Inc. We reincorporated in the state of Delaware in 1994. In 2005, we changed our name to Tandy Leather Factory, Inc.

We have expanded our wholesale store chain by opening new stores and by making numerous acquisitions of small businesses in strategic geographic locations. In 1996, we expanded into Canada by acquiring our Canadian distributor, The Leather Factory of Canada, Ltd.

Our retail operations began in 2000, when we acquired the operating assets of two subsidiaries of Tandycrafts, Inc. to form Tandy Leather Company. In 2002, we opened our first retail store under the "Tandy Leather" name. Since 2002, we have acquired or opened 85 retail locations and closed three retail stores, for a net of 82 retail stores.

In 2008, we began expanding outside of North America by opening one combination wholesale and retail store in Northampton, United Kingdom. By 2009, we operated 30 wholesale stores, 75 retail stores, and one international combination wholesale and retail store. Since 2009, we have closed two wholesale stores, opened nine new retail stores, closed two retail stores, and opened two new international combination wholesale and retail stores.

At December 31, 2015, we operated 28 stores located in North America operating under the Leather Factory name and 82 stores located in North America operating under the Tandy Leather name, and four combination wholesale and retail stores operating under the Tandy Leather Factory name in the United Kingdom, Australia and Spain.

Our business concept focuses on the wholesale distribution of leather and related accessories to retailers, manufacturers, and end users. Our strategy is that a customer can purchase the leather, related accessories and supplies necessary to complete his project from a single source. The size and layout of the stores are planned to allow large quantities of product to be displayed in an easily accessible and visually appealing manner. Leather is displayed by the pallet where the customer can see and touch it, assessing first-hand the numerous sizes, styles, and grades offered. The location of the stores is selected based on the location of customers, so that delivery time to customers is minimized. A two-day maximum delivery time for phone, Internet and mail orders is our goal.

We service our customers primarily through the operation of three segments. We identify those segments based on management responsibility, customer focus, and store location. The Wholesale Leathercraft segment consists of 28 wholesale stores of which 25 are located in the United States and three are located in Canada. As of March 1, 2016, the Retail Leathercraft segment consists of 83 Tandy Leather retail stores, of which 76 are located in the United States and seven are located in Canada. Both of these segments sell leather and leathercraft-related products. The International Leathercraft segment consists of all stores, wholesale or retail, located outside of North America.

Our products are generally organized into 12 categories. We carry a wide assortment of products including leather, lace, hand tools, kits, and craft supplies. We operate a light manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas whose processes generally involve cutting leather into various shapes and patterns using metal dies. The factory produces approximately 20% of our products and also assembles and repackages products as needed. Products manufactured in our factory are distributed through our stores under the TejasTM brand name. We also distribute product under the Tandy LeatherTM, Eco-FloTM, CraftoolTM, and Dr. JacksonsTM brands. We develop new products through the ideas and referrals of customers and store personnel as well as the analysis of fads and trends of interest in the market.

Our wholesale stores serve customers through various means including walk-in traffic, phone, Internet and mail order. We also employ a distinctive marketing tactic in that we maintain an internally-developed target customer mailing list for use in our aggressive direct mail advertising campaigns. We staff our stores with experienced managers whose compensation is tied to the operating profit of the store they manage. Sales are generated by the selling efforts of the store personnel, our direct mail advertising, our website (www.tandyleather.com), and our participation at trade shows.

We offer an unconditional satisfaction guarantee to our customers. Simply stated, we will accept product returns for any reason. We believe this liberal policy promotes customer loyalty. We offer credit terms to our non-retail customers upon receipt of a credit application and approval by our credit manager. Generally, our open accounts are net 30 days.

Our products are generally organized into 12 categories. We carry a wide assortment of products including leather, lace, hand tools, kits, and craft supplies. We operate a light manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas whose processes generally involve cutting leather into various shapes and patterns using metal dies. The factory produces approximately 20% of our products and also assembles and repackages products as needed. Products manufactured in our factory are distributed through our stores under the TejasTM brand name. We also distribute product under the Tandy LeatherTM, Eco-FloTM, CraftoolTM, and Dr. JacksonsTM brands. We develop new products through the ideas and referrals of customers and store personnel as well as the analysis of fads and trends of interest in the market.

Our products are generally organized into 12 categories. We carry a wide assortment of products including leather, hand tools, kits, dyes, and finishes and stamping tools.