FORT WORTH – The ancient, time-consuming art of leather versus glitzy technology.
You may be surprised which one is still a success in 2014.
RadioShack grew out of Tandy Leather into a major corporation a half-century ago.
Dave Tandy sold hides in Fort Worth in the early 1900s. His son, Charles, added retail leather stores.
"With all the money he was making off the leather craft stores, he bought RadioShack out of bankruptcy in 1960 from a couple of brothers in Boston," said Tandy Leather CFO Shannon Greene.
RadioShack soon outgrew the parent. The company sold off the plodding leather business.
Now, the electronics store struggles to keep from shorting out, while the leather business plods on.
"Knock on wood, we've had sales gains the last five years," Greene said.
Sales were up 11 percent in November, their biggest month ever.
"It is kind of ironic that we were the first, and kind of became the red-headed step child, and here we are doing very well," Greene said.
Tandy Leather recently opened new stores in Austin, California, and Oregon. It's now up to 115 locations in five countries. Mostly boutiques that sell leather, and teach how to craft it by offering free lessons. It also sells wholesale.
The flagship store off Loop 820 in south Fort Worth is about five times bigger than the other stores. You can get everything from whole hides, to $19 starter kits, to make key chains and drink coasters.
About a year ago, it opened a leather-working museum at its corporate headquarters next door to the store. It features stunning works by the late Al Stohlman, who created designs for Tandy in the 50s and 60s.
Today, the craze in comic book heroes is helping to boost sales, as enthusiasts realize leather can be cut, painted, and shaped into unique masks and costumes.
"This is one of the things that's really big right now," Greene said.
She freely admits she would not want to be in the fiercely-competitive electronics industry. Not that Tandy Leather isn't aggressive.
Greene said they're winning by seeking out new markets, new customers, and new products. Like decorative leather covers for all those nifty, new electronic devices.
