SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 2, 2004 The Leather Factory, Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 1-12368 75-2543540 (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification Number) 3847 East Loop 820 South, Fort Worth, Texas 76119 Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) (817) 496-4414 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION The Registrant is furnishing the press release attached as Exhibit 99.1 announcing the Registrant's third quarter 2004 financial results. This press release was issued on November 2, 2004. ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS Exhibits. 99.1 Press release dated November 2, 2004 furnished pursuant to Item 2.02. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. THE LEATHER FACTORY, INC. Date: November 8, 2004 BY: /s/ Wray Thompson Wray Thompson, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer EXHIBIT 99.1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 2, 2004 THE LEATHER FACTORY REPORTS 3RD QUARTER 2004 RESULTS FORT WORTH, TEXAS - The Leather Factory, Inc. (AMEX: TLF) today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2004. Consolidated net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 was $427,000 compared to consolidated net income of $602,000 for the third quarter of 2003. Fully diluted earnings per share for the quarter was $0.04, compared to $0.06 in the same quarter of last year. Total sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2004 increased 4.6% to $10.6 million from $10.1 million for the third quarter last year. Consolidated sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 were $33.7 million, an increase of 8.3% over total sales of $31.1 million in the first three quarters of 2003. Consolidated net income for the current year was $1.9 million or $0.17 per fully-diluted share versus $2.1 million or $0.20 per fully-diluted share in the comparable period last year. Sales at our Tandy Leather subsidiary increased $720,000 in the third quarter, a 31% improvement over last year's third quarter. Thirty-six stores comprised Tandy Leather's retail operations on September 30, 2004, compared to twenty-six retail stores a year ago. Four stores were added in the third quarter of 2004 bringing the total number of new stores added in 2004 to ten as of the end of the quarter. For the first nine months of 2004, Tandy Leather sales increased $2.9 million, or 46%, over the first nine months of 2003. Third quarter sales for the Leather Factory wholesale division decreased $305,000 over the same quarter last year, a 4.1% decline. The sales decrease is due to a reduction in sales to our national account customers of $353,000 that was partially offset by a $48,000 sales gain to our other customer groups. For the first nine months of 2004, the Leather Factory wholesale division sales were down $440,000 over the same period in 2003 as a result of sales declines to our national account customers totaling $1.2 million partially offset by sales gains to our other customer groups of $740,000. Consolidated gross profit margin for the current quarter was 56.1%, an improvement from 55.2% for the third quarter of 2003. For the first three quarters, consolidated gross profit margin was 55.3%, an improvement over last year's gross profit margin of 54.5%. Consolidated operating expenses rose $490,000 in the current quarter and $1.8 million for the first nine months over the same periods a year ago. Operating costs associated with the new Tandy Leather stores, advertising expenses, and rising healthcare costs account for the majority of the increase. Wray Thompson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our third quarter turned out to be a continuation of our second quarter. The Tandy stores reported solid sales gains although business this summer has been slower than we initially expected. Nonetheless, we have met our internal goal of opening or acquiring twelve Tandy stores this year, and our Tandy retail store sales have increased 46% over the first nine months of 2003, increasing higher-margin retail sales to 27% of our total revenue. The Leather Factory wholesale centers generated a modest sales gain for the quarter but are still running better than 4% gains on a year-to-date basis. However, our national account group is still reporting sales declines which more than offset the wholesale centers' sales gains. While rising health care costs and expenses associated with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance continue to impact our operating margins, we believe the sales decline to our national account group is the reason we must adjust our 2004 guidance downward. However, with the growth in our retail sales division and a continued focus on cost reduction, we expect 2005 earnings to be up approximately 15-18% over our 2004 expectations." Financial Outlook: The following statements are based on TLF's current expectations as of November 2, 2004. These statements are forward-looking statements and should be read in conjunction with the cautionary information about these statements that appears below. The Company estimates consolidated net sales for 2004 will be in the range of $44 to $46 million. Diluted EPS for 2004 is expected to be in the range of $0.24 to $0.26. For 2005, consolidated net sales will be in the range of $47 to $48 million and diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.28 to $0.30. Average diluted shares outstanding in 2004 and 2005 is estimated to be approximately 11 million shares. The Company assumes an effective tax rate annually between 35% and 37%. The Leather Factory, Inc., (http://www.leatherfactory.com), headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a marketer and distributor of a broad product line including leather, leatherworking tools, buckles and adornments for belts, leather dyes and finishes, shoe repair supplies, saddle and tack hardware, and do-it-yourself leathercraft kits. The Company distributes its products worldwide though its Leather Factory stores, Tandy Leather retail stores and mail/telephone/website orders (http://www.tandyleather.com). Its common stock trades on the American Stock Exchange with the symbol "TLF". Contact: Wray Thompson, CEO, The Leather Factory, Inc. (817) 496-4414 Shannon L. Greene, CFO, The Leather Factory, Inc. sgreene@leatherfactory.com This news release contains forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made here or in other news releases issued by The Leather Factory, Inc. 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. Investors are reminded that past performance may not be predictive of future results. Selected financial data: QUARTER ENDED 09/30/04 NINE MONTHS ENDED 09/30/04 ---------------------- -------------------------- OPERATING OPERATING SALES INCOME SALES INCOME ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------- Leather Factory $ 7,067,483 $ 583,253 $22,934,369 $ 2,306,807 Tandy 3,053,712 168,459 9,193,196 660,782 Cushman 458,879 23,531 1,593,199 108,625 ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------- Total Operations $10,580,074 $ 775,243 $33,720,764 $ 3,076,214 =========== ========== =========== =========== TANDY LEATHER SALES QUARTER ENDED 09/30/04 NINE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/04 ======================= ========================= # OF STORES SALES # OF STORES SALES ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Same store sales 24 $2,323,564 20 $6,380,603 New store sales 12 730,148 16 2,812,593 ---------- ---------- Total Sales - Tandy Leather $3,053,712 $9,193,196 ========== ========== THE LEATHER FACTORY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 AND 2003 Three Months Nine months -------------------------- -------------------------- 2004 2003 2004 2003 ------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ NET SALES $ 10,580,074 $10,119,070 $33,720,764 $31,139,830 COST OF SALES 4,640,641 4,529,258 15,075,359 14,183,460 ------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ Gross Profit 5,939,433 5,589,812 18,645,405 16,956,370 OPERATING EXPENSES 5,164,190 4,672,820 15,569,191 13,769,241 ------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 775,243 916,992 3,076,214 3,187,129 Interest expense 14,910 40,735 41,019 174,555 Other, net (30,600) 6,089 (3,509) (68,433) ------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ Total other expense (15,690) 46,824 37,510 106,122 ------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 790,933 870,168 3,038,704 3,081,007 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 363,548 268,488 1,124,141 926,105 ------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ NET INCOME $ 427,385 $ 601,680 $ 1,914,563 $ 2,154,902 ============ =========== =========== ============ NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC $ 0.04 $ 0.06 $ 0.18 $ 0.21 ============ =========== =========== ============ NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED $ 0.04 $ 0.06 $ 0.17 $ 0.20 ============ =========== =========== ============ Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding: Basic 10,560,661 10,394,374 10,540,374 10,269,415 Diluted 10,931,940 10,902,794 10,986,541 10,840,764 THE LEATHER FACTORY, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 09/30/04 12/31/03 (UNAUDITED) ------------ ------------ Cash $ 1,328,052 $ 1,728,344 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 2,242,548 1,828,738 Inventory 12,880,245 11,079,893 Prepaid income taxes 14,357 206,023 Deferred income taxes 199,881 134,312 Other current assets 608,857 702,236 ------------ ------------ TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 17,273,940 15,679,546 ------------ ------------ Property and equipment, net 1,889,187 1,905,893 Goodwill and other intangibles, net 1,153,774 1,136,784 Other assets 324,795 336,183 ------------ ------------ $20,641,696 $19,058,406 ============ ============ Accounts payable $ 1,632,357 $ 1,545,079 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 1,178,921 1,000,427 Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt - 1,134 ------------ ------------ TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 2,811,278 2,546,640 ------------ ------------ Deferred income taxe 288,617 209,289 Notes payable and long-term debt, net of current maturities 1,006,821 1,792,984 ------------ ------------ Total liabilities 4,106,716 4,548,913 ------------ ------------ Common stock 25,345 25,171 Paid-in capital 4,796,999 4,673,158 Treasury stock (23,960) - Retained earnings 11,719,281 9,804,719 Notes receivable secured by common stock (15,000) (20,000) Accumulated other comprehensive loss 32,315 26,445 ------------ ------------ Total Stockholders' Equity 16,534,980 14,509,493 ------------ ------------ $20,641,696 $19,058,406 ============ ============ THE LEATHER FACTORY, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 AND 2003 2004 2003 ------------ ------------ CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 1,914,563 $ 2,154,902 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation & amortization 366,077 397,959 Loss on disposal of assets - 9,372 Deferred income taxes 13,759 59,508 Other 3,136 14,960 Net changes in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable-trade, net (413,809) (390,808) Inventory (1,739,977) 1,074,217 Income taxes 191,666 2,936 Other current assets 93,380 (37,153) Accounts payable 87,279 (162,618) Accrued expenses and other liabilities 178,494 (1,538,342) ------------ ------------ Total adjustments (1,219,995) (569,969) ------------ ------------ NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES 694,568 1,584,933 ------------ ------------ CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of property and equipment (267,552) (326,284) Payments in connection with businesses acquired (156,454) - Proceeds from sale of assets - 6,217 Increase in other assets 11,387 (22,305) ------------ ------------ NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (412,619) (342,372) ------------ ------------ CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net increase (decrease) in revolving credit loans (786,162) (1,544,417) Payments on notes payable and long-term debt - (4,878) Decrease in cash restricted for payment on revolving credit facility (1,134) 43,685 Payments received on notes secured by common stock 5,000 24,003 Repurchase of common stock (treasury stock) (23,960) - Proceeds from issuance of common stock 124,015 325,688 ------------ ------------ NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES (682,241) (1,155,919) ------------ ------------ NET CHANGE IN CASH (400,292) 86,642 CASH, beginning of period 1,728,344 101,557 ------------ ------------ CASH, end of period $ 1,328,052 $ 188,199 ============ ============ SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: Interest paid during the period $ 43,960 $ 178,558 Income taxes paid during the period, net of (refunds) 848,427 809,602