US retailer and wholesale distributor of leather, leatherworking tools, buckles and adornments, Tandy Leather Factory has announced that it expects to report third quarter 2005 consolidated net sales of approximately $11.7 million, compared with $10.6 million for the third quarter 2004, an increase of 11.2%. Furthermore, it expects to report an increase in third quarter 2005 sales for its retail Leathercraft operation of 37% over the same quarter of 2004, including an increase in same store sales of 11%.

Chairman and CEO, Wray Thompson, commented, "We are very pleased with the preliminary third quarter revenue results, especially considering the effects of severe weather on our Gulf Coast stores and on the retail environment in general. Sales in all three months of the third quarter of 2005 were up over the same months last year. We had a particularly strong August, with total revenues up 14% over August of 2004, and our National Account group is expected to report a 2% revenue gain for the third quarter of 2005 compared to the third quarter of 2004. We believe that our performance in the middle half of the year positions us well going into the fourth quarter, which is typically much stronger than either the second or third quarters."

All of the anticipated results are subject to the completion of the quarterly review of the company's financial statements by its auditors.