FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The Leather Factory, Inc. (AMEX: TLF) announced today that its subsidia ry, Tandy Leather Company, is opening retail stores in Phoenix, AZ and Van Nuys, CA. Both stores are expected to open next week. These are the first two Tandy Leather retail stores opened in 2005 and will bring the total number of Tandy Leather retail stores to 44.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wray Thompson, commented, "We're beginning our 2005 expansion in strong markets as these will each be the second stores in their respective metropolitan areas. Ron Ruck, a 20-year veteran in the leathercraft business, will be managing the Van Nuys store. Violetta Ochoa, who recently completed her management training in our Denver store, will manage the new Phoenix store."
The Leather Factory, Inc., (http://www.leatherfactory.com), headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a specialty retailer and wholesale distributor of a broad product line including leather, leatherworking tools, buckles and adornments for belts, leather dyes and finishes, saddle and tack hardware, and do-it-yourself kits, and is a manufacturer and distributor of fancy hat trims, leather lacing and kits. The Company distributes its products as The Leather Factory through its wholesale centers and as Tandy Leather Company through its retail stores (http://www.tandyleather.com). Its common stock trades on the American Stock Exchange with the symbol "TLF".
Contact: Wray Thompson, The Leather Factory, Inc. (817) 496-4414
Shannon L. Greene, The Leather Factory, Inc. sgreene@leatherfactory.com
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made here or in other news releases issued by The Leather Factory, Inc. (TLF) are based on current expectations as of the date of the release. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the results of The Leather Factory, Inc. to differ materially from management's current expectations. Many of these risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in TLF's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and the most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q. In addition, investors should be aware that there are business risks associated with opening a new line of retail stores. These risks include the possibility that stores will not be economically successful or that economic conditions will impede their profitability.
|