Tandy Leather Factory Names Johan Hedberg as CEO in Leadership Transition

Tandy Leather Factory, the Fort Worth, Texas-based specialty retailer of leather and leathercraft supplies, has appointed Johan Hedberg as its new Chief Executive Officer and a member of its board of directors. Hedberg succeeds Janet Carr, who has led the company for six years and will remain with Tandy through the end of March 2025 to support the transition, assist with the 2024 financial report, and prepare for the company’s headquarters relocation.

The leadership change comes at a pivotal moment for Tandy, which operates 99 retail stores across 40 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces, plus one store in Spain. With more than 100 years of history as a specialist retailer serving leathercrafters, hobbyists, and small manufacturers, Tandy occupies a distinctive niche in the North American leather ecosystem—one that connects the industrial tannery to the individual craftsperson in a way that few other retailers can match.

Hedberg brings more than 30 years of wholesale and retail leadership experience to the role. Commenting on his appointment, he said: “I am excited about the opportunity to lead Tandy Leather as we turn the page to a new chapter in the company’s story with the move to our new facility and continue to reach new customers and drive sales growth.”

That reference to a “new facility” touches on one of the most significant operational changes underway at Tandy. The company has completed the sale of its current headquarters facility, which includes its primary distribution center and flagship retail store. Under the terms of the transaction, Tandy has leased back the facility through approximately September 2025, giving the company time to complete its move to a new location.

The new headquarters and distribution space is a 10-year lease for approximately 134,000 square feet at Chisolm 20 Commerce Park in Benbrook, Texas—just a few miles from the company’s current offices. The lease runs through September 2035, providing Tandy with long-term stability as it reorganizes its distribution and retail operations.

For a company that sells leather hides, tools, belt buckles, leather dyes, and DIY kits to a customer base that spans serious hobbyists and small-scale manufacturers, the efficiency of the distribution center is central to the customer experience. A well-organized, appropriately sized distribution facility can reduce delivery times, improve inventory accuracy, and lower shipping costs—all meaningful advantages in a retail segment where customers plan projects around material availability.

The board changes extend beyond Hedberg’s appointment. The company also announced the election of John (Rocky) Sullivan to the board. Sullivan is an investment advisor representative and investment analyst with JCP Investment Management and is the owner of Sullivan Companies and its affiliates, which are engaged in investment management, real estate development, and agricultural production. As Sullivan joins, directors James Pappas and Janet Carr will step down from the board, as will director Eric Speron.

The board restructuring, taken together with the CEO transition, suggests a company in the process of refreshing its leadership while maintaining continuity. Carr’s decision to stay through March 2025 provides a buffer that should help ensure that Hedberg’s onboarding is thorough rather than rushed.

Tandy also announced that its board has declared a special cash dividend of $1.50 per share of common stock to its shareholders. For a company in the midst of a leadership transition and a headquarters move, the declaration of a special dividend signals confidence in the company’s cash position and a willingness to return capital to shareholders even during a period of operational change.

Tandy Leather Factory’s challenge under Hedberg will be to balance the heritage of a 100-year-old brand with the need to attract new customers who may be encountering leathercraft for the first time through social media, online tutorials, and a resurgence of interest in handmade goods. If the new distribution center supports faster fulfillment and the leadership transition proceeds smoothly, Tandy may be well positioned to capture that growing interest.

Source: Leather International – Tandy Leather Factory appoints new CEO