Interview with Leather Factory Chief Financial Officer published on web

05/11/2001

The Wall Street Transcript has published an in-depth interview with Shannon Greene, Chief Financial Officer The Leather Factory, in which she talks at length about the company's future. The entire 3,100-word interview is available online at http://www.twst.com/ceos.htm .

In the interview Greene gives an overview of the company: "We have grown to 30 stores in the United States and Canada from the original six. We distribute leather, leatherworking tools, buckles and other belt supplies, leather dyes, finishes, saddle and tack hardware -- anything that you want to do with a piece of leather. We also sell do-it-yourself leathercraft kits predominantly to craft retailers, the large craft stores, and mom and pop stores. It's a wide variety of products, but all leather related."

Greene explains, "We've got consistent profits and our management is very stable. The same management team that has been here for 15-20 years is still here and actively involved in day-to-day operations. I believe that we take a fairly conservative approach with regard to expansion. Going out and opening 100 stores next week is not the best decision that we could make. Yes, it's real flashy, but our deal is, if we're going to open more stores, if we're going to expand, we want to do so profitably. We want more money down on the bottom line as that's good for our shareholders. So we take a fairly conservative approach to acquisitions and expansion."

This interview is part of a 54-page Apparel Retailers Issue available at http://www.twst.com/info/info441.htm