TLF Tandy Leather Factory Inc

Our Business

Tandy Leather Factory, Inc. is one of the world’s largest specialty retailers of leather and leathercraft-related items.  Founded in 1919 in Fort Worth, Texas, and organized in 2005 as a Delaware corporation, the Company introduced leathercrafting to millions of American and later Canadian and other international customers and has built a track record as the trusted source of quality leather, tools, hardware, supplies, kits and teaching materials for leatherworkers everywhere.  Today, our mission remains to build on our legacy of inspiring the timeless art and trade of leatherworking.

What differentiates Tandy from the competition is our high brand awareness and strong brand equity and loyalty, our network of retail stores that provides convenience, a high-touch customer service experience, a hub for the local leathercrafting community and our 100-year heritage.  We believe that this combination of qualities is unique to Tandy and gives the brand competitive advantages that are difficult for others to replicate.

We sell our products primarily through company-owned stores and through orders generated from our four websites: tandyleather.com, tandyleather.ca, tandyleather.eu and tandyleather.com.au.  We also manufacture leather lace, cut leather pieces and most of the do-it-yourself kits that are sold in our stores and on our websites.  We also offer production services to our business customers such as cutting (“clicking”), splitting, and some assembly. We maintain our principal offices at 1900 Southeast Loop 820, Fort Worth, Texas 76140.

Currently, the Company operates a total of 106 retail stores.  There are 95 stores in the United States (“U.S,”), ten stores in Canada and one store in Spain.

New management joined the Company in October 2018 and set new strategic directions for both short and long term.  The overarching goal is to invest in rebuilding a foundation for growth by: 1) improving our brand proposition, 2) reversing the sales decline with business customers, 3) building our talent, processes, tools and systems and 3) positioning us for long-term growth.  A number of key initiatives to achieve these goals were begun in 2019 and continued into 2021.  However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020 shifted our strategic focus to company survival and cash preservation.  With all of the retail stores temporarily closed to the public by the end of March, 2020, web sales, digital marketing and centralized web fulfillment became the highest priority.

Key initiatives in 2020 and 2021 included:

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Accelerating implementation of our new web platform which supported a significantly improved consumer experience (look-and-feel, searchability, relevant content including video, and product and pricing information) integration of inventory, shipping and other systems, and substantial reduction in the time, manual effort and need for outside resources to make additions and changes;

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Accelerating centralization of our web fulfillment activities to our Fort Worth warehouse which provided significant improvement in fulfillment rates and shipping times, and supported early product testing, an increase in product breadth by offering online-only items that required limited inventory investment, and other inventory efficiencies;

◾	Shifting marketing resources from print and in-store activities to digital, with increased investments in SEO, SEM, email, digital advertising, social media, SMS/MMS, and affiliate links;

◾	Accelerating the retail employee training program in the areas of product knowledge, leathercrafting knowledge and selling tools while stores were closed;

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Continuing to drive the Commercial Program, through a dedicated team focused on the Company’s largest customers with a business model that meets these customers’ unique needs including dedicated sales representatives, clear and competitive volume-based pricing, personalized service and sourcing, shipping directly to customers from our distribution center, and improved product consistency, quality and availability;

◾	Continuing to improve the quality and assortment of the product offering to better appeal to more advanced leather-crafters and business customers; and

◾	Continuing to build the organization, processes, infrastructure, tools and systems to efficiently execute these strategies.

Delisting of Company Stock

Nasdaq suspended trading in the Company’s shares as of August 13, 2020 due to the Company not being current with its SEC filings.  Our stock has since traded on the OTC Link (previously “Pink Sheets”) operated by OTC Markets Group under the symbol “TLFA.”  Nasdaq denied the Company’s appeal of this decision, resulting in the Company’s stock being formally delisted by Nasdaq on February 9, 2021.  We intend to reapply for Nasdaq listing once the Company has made the required Exchange Act filings.

COVID-19 and Outlook

In late 2019, COVID-19 was detected in Wuhan, China and has since spread to other parts of the world, including the U.S.  On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.  Federal, state, and local governments implemented various restrictions, including travel restrictions, border closings, restrictions on public gatherings, quarantining of people who may have been exposed to the virus, shelter-in-place restrictions and limitations on business operations.  As previously announced and for the health and safety of employees and customers, on March 17, 2020, the Company made the decision to begin temporary store closures.  The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 temporarily shifted our strategic focus to company survival and cash preservation.  We began closing stores on March 18, 2020, and by April 2, 2020, we temporarily closed all stores to the public.  While we pivoted to serve customers only online, the Company experienced significant decreases in demand for its products in the second and third quarters of 2020, negatively impacting net sales.

In response, we took immediate action to mitigate the impact of temporary store closures on our cash flows by: (i) furloughing 406 Tandy employees, comprising two-thirds of the Tandy work force, (ii) temporarily cutting corporate salaries, with deeper cuts for the Executive Leadership Team, (iii) negotiating abatements, deferrals and other favorable lease terms with landlords, and (iv) negotiating longer payment terms with our key product vendors.

Due to our size, we were not eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program administered through the Small Business Administration.  Also, due to our not being current on financial filings with the SEC, we were not able to obtain loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act.  During the second quarter of 2020, the Company borrowed $0.4 million through the Spanish government’s Institute of Official Credit Guarantee for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, a COVID-19 relief program.  The term of the agreement is for five years and the interest rate is fixed at 1.5%.  Based on the terms of the loan agreement, we make interest-only payments for the first two years and monthly principal and interest payments for the remainder of the term of the agreement.  In Canada, we participated in the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (“CECRA”) program for rent relief.  This program provided for a 75% reduction in the store rent for included stores for the months of April, May and June 2020.  We received total rent abatements under the program of $0.05 million.

Nine stores were permanently closed during 2020 as leases expired or early terminations were negotiated, including at locations where we believe we can retain a majority of customers through geographically proximate stores and/or our enhanced website platform.  After these permanent closures, Tandy operates 106 stores, including ten in Canada and one in Spain.

On May 22, 2020, our Fort Worth flagship store reopened to the public, the beginning of a phased approach to reopening our stores with limited hours, new protocols for sanitizing, social distancing, wearing masks and taking daily temperatures of employees.  During the third quarter of 2020, all 106 of Tandy’s stores had reopened to the public, and the store re-openings were well received by our employees and customers.  During the fourth quarter of 2020 and into the present, we continue to manage through the pandemic as we saw increased spikes in COVID-19 infections, and continue to see varying levels of infection rates, and have been forced to close certain stores or move certain stores to “curbside only” operations.  With the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 during the third quarter of 2021, we have experienced an increasing number of these shutdowns.  We believe that the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in 2021 has offset these closures somewhat, but it is difficult to predict whether these vaccines will be adopted by further large numbers of Americans or whether current or future vaccines will remain effective against Delta or other future variants of the virus.  We expect that at least some further infections and temporary store shutdowns will continue for the foreseeable future.

While we previously fulfilled our web orders out of our retail stores, during the second quarter of 2020, we built a centralized web fulfillment capability in our Fort Worth distribution center and have been and expect to continue to fulfill web orders primarily through Fort Worth going forward.  Both our e-commerce business and stores have been performing above last year sales levels, but the future remains uncertain, and more store closures and/or the ongoing unemployment crisis could cause a material negative impact on future sales.

As part of the Company’s accounting policy for long-lived asset impairments, we believed the COVID-19 impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position and the ongoing uncertainty the virus had created around future operating results represented a triggering event starting in the first quarter of 2020 and continued throughout the remainder of 2020.

Critical Accounting Policies

A description of our critical accounting policies appears in Item 7 “Management’s Discussions and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Revenue Recognition.  Our revenue is earned from sales of merchandise and generally occurs via two methods: (1) at the store counter and (2) shipment of product generally via web sales.  We recognize revenue when we satisfy the performance obligation of transferring control of product merchandise over to a customer.  At the store counter, our performance obligation is met and revenue is recognized when a sales transaction occurs with a customer.  When merchandise is shipped to a customer, our performance obligation is met and revenue is recognized when control passes to the customer.  Shipping terms are normally free on board (“FOB”) shipping point and control passes when the merchandise is shipped to the customer.  Sales tax and comparable foreign tax is excluded from net sales, while shipping charged to our customers is included in net sales.  Net sales are based on the amount of consideration that we expect to receive, reduced by estimates for future merchandise returns.  The sales return allowance is based each year on historical customer return behavior and other known factors and reduces net sales and cost of sales, accordingly.

Inventory.  Inventory is stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value.  Finished goods held for sale includes the cost of merchandise purchases, the costs to bring the merchandise to our Texas distribution center, warehousing and handling expenditures, and distributing and delivering merchandise to our stores.  These costs include depreciation of long-lived assets utilized in acquiring, warehousing and distributing inventory.  Manufacturing inventory including raw materials and work-in-process is valued on a first‑in, first out basis using full absorption accounting which includes material, labor, and other applicable manufacturing overhead.  Carrying values of inventory are analyzed and, to the extent that the cost of inventory exceeds the net realizable value, provisions are made to reduce the carrying amount of the inventory.  We regularly review all inventory items to determine if there are (i) damaged goods (e.g., for leather, excessive scars or damage from ultra-violet (“UV”) light), (ii) items that need to be removed from our product line (e.g., slow-moving items, inability of a supplier to provide items of acceptable quality or quantity, and to maintain freshness in the product line) and (iii) pricing actions that need to be taken to adequately value our inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  Since the determination of net realizable value of inventory involves both estimation and judgement with regard to market values and reasonable costs to sell, differences in these estimates could result in ultimate valuations that differ from the recorded asset.  The majority of inventory purchases and commitments are made in U.S. dollars in order to limit the Company’s exposure to foreign currency fluctuations.  Goods shipped to us are recorded as inventory owned by us when the risk of loss shifts to us from the supplier.  Inventory is physically counted twice annually in the Texas distribution center.  At the store level, inventory is physically counted each quarter.  Inventory is then adjusted in our accounting system to reflect actual count results.  

Leases.  We lease certain real estate for our retail store locations under long-term lease agreements. Starting in 2019, with the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), once we have determined an arrangement is a lease, at inception we recognize a lease asset and lease liability at commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. For our operating leases, the present value of our lease payments may include: (1) rental payments adjusted for inflation or market rates, and (2) lease terms with options to renew the lease when it is reasonably certain we will exercise such an option. The exercise of lease renewal options is generally at our discretion. Payments based on a change in an index or market rate are not considered in the determination of lease payments for purposes of measuring the related lease liability. We discount lease payments using our incremental borrowing rate based on information available as of the measurement date. Rent expense is recorded in operating expenses. The net excess of rent expense over the actual cash paid has been recorded as accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. For finance leases, our right-of-use assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the earlier of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term with rent expense recorded to operating expenses.  We adjust the lease liability to reflect lease payments made during the period and interest incurred on the lease liability using the effective interest method. The incurred interest expense is recorded in interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). As of March 31, 2021, we have no sublease agreements and no lease agreements in which we are named as a lessor. Subsequent to the recognition of our operating lease assets and lease liabilities, we recognize lease expense related to our operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The depreciable life of related leasehold improvements is based on the shorter of the useful life or the lease term. We also perform interim reviews of our operating lease assets for impairment when evidence exists that the carrying value of an asset group, including a lease asset, may not be recoverable.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets.  We evaluate long-lived assets on a quarterly basis to identify events or changes in circumstances (“triggering events”) that indicate the carrying value of certain assets may not be recoverable.  Upon the occurrence of a triggering event, right-of-use (“ROU”) lease assets, property and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment and an impairment loss is recorded in the period in which it is determined that the carrying amount of the assets is not recoverable.  The determination of recoverability is made based upon the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows of assets grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets with such cash flows to be realized over the estimated remaining useful life of the primary asset within the asset group.  The Company determined the lowest level of identifiable cash flows that are independent of other asset groups to be primarily at the individual store level.  If the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows for a given store are less than the carrying amount of the related store assets, an impairment loss is determined by comparing the estimated fair value with the carrying value of the related assets.  The impairment loss is then allocated across the asset group’s major classifications which in this case are operating lease assets and property and equipment.  Triggering events at the store level could include material declines in operational and financial performance or planned changes in the use of assets, such as store relocation or store closure.  This evaluation requires management to make judgements relating to future cash flows, growth rates and economic and market conditions.  The fair value of an asset group is estimated using a discounted cash flow valuation method.

Stock-based Compensation.  The Company’s stock-based compensation primarily relates to restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards.  Accounting guidance requires measurement and recognition of compensation expense at an amount equal to the grant date fair value.  Compensation expense is recognized for service-based stock awards on a straight-line basis or ratably over the requisite service period, based on the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.  The service-based awards typically vest ratably over the requisite service period, provided that the participant is employed on the vesting date.  Compensation expense is reduced by actual forfeitures as they occur over the requisite service period of the awards.  Performance-based RSUs vest, if at all, upon the Company satisfying certain performance targets.  The Company records compensation expense for awards with a performance condition when it is probable that the condition will be achieved.  If the Company determines it is not probable a performance condition will be achieved, no compensation expense is recognized.  If the Company changes its assessment in a subsequent period and concludes it is probable a performance condition will be achieved, the Company will recognize compensation expense ratably between the period of the change in assessment through the expected date of satisfying the performance condition for vesting.  If the Company subsequently assesses that it is no longer probable that a performance condition will be achieved, the accumulated expense that has been previously recognized will be reversed.  The compensation expense ultimately recognized, if any, related to performance-based awards will equal the grant date fair value based on the number of shares for which the performance condition has been satisfied.  We issue shares from authorized shares upon the lapsing of vesting restrictions on RSUs.  We do not use cash to settle equity instruments issued under stock-based compensation awards.

Income Taxes.  Income taxes are estimated for each jurisdiction in which we operate.  This involves assessing current tax exposure together with temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and financial statement accounting purposes.  Any resulting deferred tax assets are evaluated for recoverability based on estimated future taxable income.  To the extent it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recorded.  Our evaluation regarding whether a valuation allowance is required or should be adjusted also considers, among other things, the nature, frequency, and severity of recent losses, forecasts of future profitability and the duration of statutory carryforward periods.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates in effect in the years when those temporary differences are expected to reverse.  The effect on deferred taxes from a change in tax rate is recognized through continuing operations in the period that includes the enactment date of the change.  Changes in tax laws and rates could affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future.  A tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits.  Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized.  We recognize tax liabilities for uncertain tax positions and adjust these liabilities when our judgement changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available.  Due to the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from the current estimate of the tax liabilities.  These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense and the effective tax rate in the period in which new information becomes available.  We recognize interest and/or penalties related to all tax positions in income tax expense. To the extent that accrued interest and penalties do not ultimately become payable, amounts accrued will be reduced and reflected as a reduction of the overall income tax provision in the period that such determination is made. We may be subject to periodic audits by the Internal Revenue Service and other taxing authorities.  These audits may challenge certain of our tax positions, such as the timing and amount of deductions and allocation of taxable income to the various jurisdictions.

Net Sales

Consolidated sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 increased $4.2 million, or 24.8%, compared to the same period in 2020, with almost all of our stores open throughout the quarter this year compared to COVID-related closures in the corresponding prior-year period, strong consumer demand in our retail stores and web channel, as well as the growing business-to-business commercial channel, offset by the closure of nine stores since the beginning of 2020. 

Our store footprint consisted of 106 stores at March 31, 2021 and 114 stores at March 31, 2020.  We started 2020 with 115 stores, and during the first quarter of 2020, we closed one store in Beaverton, OR in February 2020.  During the second quarter of 2020, we converted eight stores from temporary closures to permanent closures based on expiring leases, proximity to other stores, and local web sales penetration: Phoenix, AZ; Austin TX; Dallas, TX; Peoria, IL; Henrico (Richmond), VA; Nyack, NY; Johnston, RI and St Leonard (Montreal), QC.  We have not opened any new stores during 2020 or 2021. 

Operating expenses increased $0.1 million or 1.1% compared to the comparable period in 2020, mostly as a result of higher costs related to insurance, recruiting, the restatement, and performance-based compensation, offset by payroll and occupancy savings associated with permanent store closures, lower travel expenses, and lower costs associated with the CFO turnover.  Adjusted operating expenses, which excludes the non-routine items related to the restatement and CFO turnover, increased $0.3 million or 2.7% due to the items noted above.  Adjusted operating expenses excluding non-routine items as shown above is a non-GAAP measure, included here to provide additional information regarding the Company’s financial performance on a recurring basis.  Non-routine items are primarily legal and accounting fees associated with the restatement and recruiting fees, exit costs, interim CFO-related expenses, and expenses for a number of other contract accounting professionals associated with the turnover of our CFO.

Income Taxes

Our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was 23.0% compared to 22.6% for the same period in 2020.  Our effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to U.S. state income tax expense, the difference in tax rates for loss carryback periods, foreign income/loss positions, expenses that are nondeductible for tax purposes, the change in our valuation allowance associated with our deferred tax assets, and differences in tax rates.

Capital Resources, Liquidity and Financial Condition

We require cash principally for day-to-day operations, to purchase inventory and to finance capital investments.  We expect to fund our operating and liquidity needs primarily from a combination of current cash balances and cash generated from operating activities.  Any excess cash will be invested as determined by our Board of Directors in accordance with its approved investment policy.  Our cash balances as of March 31, 2021 totaled $10.8 million. 

Lines of Credit

On April 2, 2020, the Company’s primary bank terminated a $6 million working capital line of credit facility secured by inventory and a $15 million credit facility secured by the Company’s owned real estate as a result of the failure to provide timely quarterly financial statements and compliance certificates required under the facilities.  The delay was the result of the need to restate previously filed financial statements and file subsequent delinquent filings with the SEC.   As of the date of the termination, Tandy had no borrowings under these credit facilities or with any other lending institution.

Debt Agreements

During the second quarter of 2020, the Company borrowed $0.4 million from Banco Santander S.A. under the Institute of Official Credit Guarantee for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in order to facilitate the continuation of employment and to attenuate the economic effects of the COVID-19 virus.  This loan was provided for by the Spanish government as part of a COVID-19 relief program.  The term of the agreement is five years and the interest rate is fixed at 1.5%.  Based on the terms of the loan agreement, we are required to make monthly interest-only payments for the first two years and monthly principal and interest payments for the remainder of the term of the agreement.

Share Repurchase Program

In August 2015, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program, pursuant to which we were authorized to repurchase up to 1.2 million shares of our common stock at prevailing market rates through August 2016.  Subsequently, the program was amended to increase the number of shares available for repurchase to 2.2 million and to extend the program through August 2019.  In June 2019, the program was again amended to decrease the number of shares available for repurchase to one million as of such date and to extend the program through August 9, 2020.

On August 9, 2020, the Board of Directors approved a new program to repurchase up to $5 million of its common stock between August 9, 2020 and July 31, 2022, subject to the completion of our financial restatement and the filing of all delinquent filings with the SEC.  The Company’s previous share repurchase program expired in August 2020. 

On January 28, 2021, we entered into an agreement with an institutional shareholder of the Company, to repurchase 500,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0024 in a private transaction separate from our share repurchase program. The purchase price was $3.35 per share for a total of $1.7 million. The closing of the repurchase took place on February 1, 2021, and these shares were subsequently cancelled. Prior to the repurchase, the shares represented approximately 5.5% of our outstanding common stock.