Tandy Leather Factory (TLF) 10-Q2024 Q1 Quarterly report

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, and 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 global websites, and through direct account representatives in our commercial division.  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 102 retail stores.  There are 91 stores in the United States (“U.S,”), ten stores in Canada and one store in Spain.

Tandy Leather has been introducing people to leatherworking for over 100 years.  Our stores have been and continue to be our competitive advantage: where our consumers learn the craft in classes, open table, and from the expertise of our store staff, where they can touch, feel and test the product, and where they can connect and commune with others passionate about leather.  Our websites provide inspiration, detailed product descriptions and specifications, educational information and videos, and a convenient place to also purchase product – especially for those who are far from our retail stores, including a growing international customer base.  For many of our retail and web customers, leatherworking evolves from a passion to a trade.  Our Commercial Division is tailored to the needs of those customers who build businesses around leather.  With dedicated direct account representatives, a direct-from-our-warehouse shipping model, bulk and volume-based competitive pricing, customized product development, and production and pre-production services, we are building long-term, strategic relationships with our largest customers.

In 2019, with the arrival of a new management team, we began the process of assessing and reinvigorating the business.  We focused in three broad strategic initiative areas: 1) improving our brand proposition, 2) rebuilding our foundation: the talent, processes, tools and systems needed to modernize and efficiently operate the business, and 3) creating a vision and road map for long-term growth.  We had significant achievements in all of these areas including significantly improving the product quality, breadth of assortment and value, dramatically improving the website and web operations, rebuilding the team, people policies and culture, and replacing all of the key systems, among many other accomplishments.

We made this steady progress to transform and reinvigorate our business even in the face of two very significant obstacles: a financial restatement and COVID-19.  With those obstacles behind us, we have been focused on improving our financial sustainability and profitability.  In the short-term, we are managing operating expenses and gross margin to deliver free operating cash and operating income even in the face of possible continued economic headwinds.  We will also continue to selectively invest in profitable sales growth where it makes sense, but rebuilding a durable, profitable business model is the highest priority.

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 annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Revenue Recognition. Our revenue is earned from sales of merchandise and generally occurs via three methods: (1) at the store counter, (2) via web sales, and (3) sales of product directly to commercial customers. 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 are 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. The sales return allowance included in accrued expense and other liabilities was $0.1 million, $0.1 million, and $0.2 million as of March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2023. The estimated value of merchandise expected to be returned included in other current assets was $0.1 million as of March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023, and January 1, 2023.

We record a gift card liability for the unfulfilled performance obligation on the date we issue a gift card to a customer. We record revenue and reduce the gift card liability as the customer redeems the gift card. In addition, for gift card breakage, we recognize a proportionate amount for the expected unredeemed gift cards over the expected customer redemption period, which is one year. As of March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and January1, 2023, our gift card liability, included in accrued expenses and other liabilities, was $0.2 million, $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively. We recognized gift card revenue of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we recognized $0.1 million and $0.2 million respectively in net sales associated with gift cards.

Inventory.  Inventory is stated at the lower of first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost or net realizable value, and FIFO layers are maintained at the location level.  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 FIFO 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 FIFO 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 and may lease warehouse equipment for our Texas distribution center under long-term lease agreements; however, as of the end of December 31, 2024, we did not have any warehouse equipment lease.  We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception and recognize right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities at commencement date based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term.  We elected not to record leases with an initial term of 12 months or less on the balance sheet for all our asset classes.

For operating leases, the present value of our lease liabilities may include: (1) rental payments adjusted for inflation or market rates, and (2) lease terms with options to renew the lease or options to purchase leased equipment, when it is reasonably certain we will exercise such an option.  The exercise of lease renewal or purchase option 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.

We recognize rent expense related to our operating leases assets on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Rent expense is recorded in operating expenses. The net adjustment between rent expense and the actual cash paid during the fiscal year has been recorded as accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance.

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 interest expense incurred is recorded in interest expense on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income.

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 lease assets for impairment when evidence exists that the carrying value of an asset group, including a lease asset, may not be recoverable.

None of our lease agreements contain contingent rental payments, material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.  We have no sublease agreements and no lease agreements in which we are named as a lessor.

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 relates primarily 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.  The total 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.

The following table presents selected financial data:

Consolidated net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 decreased $1.1 million, or 5.3%, compared to the corresponding prior year period.  We believe the decrease in sales was due to ongoing weak consumer demand compared to a year ago.

Our store footprint consisted of 102 and 102 stores at March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

Since January 1, 2023, we closed one store in Baldwin Park, CA in March 2023. We evaluate a number of factors when determining whether to close existing stores, including the 4-wall cash flow trend and longer-term projection for the store, the long-term sales trend, ongoing cost of store operations, date of lease expiration, quality of the store and location, and the size and potential of the trade area including proximity to other existing stores, among other variables.  We use similar factors to determine whether to open new stores.

Gross profit decreased by $0.9 million, or 7.6%, compared to the same period in 2023, and our gross margin percentage for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, decreased year over year by 140 basis points  due to increased promotional activity to compensate for weaker consumer demand.

Operating expenses decreased $0.6 million or 5.2% compared to the corresponding prior year period, primarily as a result of a decrease in retail store salary of $0.2 million combined, $0.1 million temporary reduction in corporate salary, RSU and bonus expenses of $0.6 million, and a decrease in freight to customers of $0.1 million, offset by an increase in occupancy expense, marketing expense and supplies of $0.3 million.

Our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was 25.7% compared to 29.5% for the same period in 2023.  Our effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to U.S. state income tax expense, expenses that are nondeductible for tax purposes, and the change in our valuation allowance associated with our deferred tax assets.

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, 2024 totaled $12.3 million. 

On January 3, 2023, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.  Under the Credit Agreement, the bank will provide the Company a credit facility of up to $5,000,000 on standard terms and conditions, including affirmative and negative covenants set forth in the Credit Agreement.  As security for the credit facility, the Company has pledged as collateral certain of its assets, including the Company’s cash in deposit accounts, inventory and equipment.  As of the date of this filing, no funds had been borrowed under this facility.

On August 8, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a new program to repurchase up to $5.0 million of the Company’s common stock between that date and August 31, 2024.  As of March 31, 2024, $5.0 million remained available for repurchase under this new program.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, cash from operations generated $1.1 million driven by a net income of $0.5 million, non-cash expense of $1.4 million, including depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation, a net reduction in inventory of $1.2 million and a decrease in prepaid expense of $0.1 million, partially offset by a reduction to working capital including a net $1.1 million decrease in accrued expense and other liabilities, a reduction in lease liability payments of $0.9 million,  and a decrease in accounts payable trade of $0.1 million. We invested $1.2 million in capital expenditure primarily related to replacing a new roof at our corporate headquarters and other new capital investments due to new store openings and store relocations.  The activities above, in addition to the effect of exchange rate changes, resulted in a net increase in cash of $0.2 million.

For the three months ended March 31, 2023, cash from operations generated $0.8 million driven by a net income of $0.7 million, non-cash expense of $1.4 million, including depreciation, amortization, and stock-based compensation, a net reduction in inventory of $2.4 million that includes adjustments, offset by a reduction to working capital including a net $2.8 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities mostly due to bonus accrual and contract liabilities, and a reduction in lease liability payments of $0.9 million. We invested $0.1 million in capital expenditure primarily related to system modifications and improvements.  The activities above, in addition to the effect of exchange rate changes, resulted in a net increase in cash of $0.7 million.

Our management team, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (who serves as our principal executive officer and principal financial officer) , evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the last day of the fiscal period covered by this report, March 31, 2024. The term disclosure controls and procedures means our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level.

Over the last three years, we have put a full program of both preventative and detective procedures in place to address all of our previously reported material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in internal controls over financial reporting and disclosure controls.  This program has now been tested over multiple periods and found by management to be effective.

The information contained in Note 6, Commitments and Contingencies to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Report is hereby incorporated into this Item 1 by reference.

Our Risk Factors are discussed fully in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference.

The following table provides information about purchases we have made of our common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2024:

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.