Tandycrafts to Close Plant in Van Nuys

Tandycrafts Inc., maker of picture frames and office supplies, plans to close its plant in Van Nuys and fire up to 400 workers, or 18% of its work force, to reduce costs. Tandycrafts said it will replace the manufacturing facility with a new plant in Mexico and will move the plant’s distribution and sales operations to its headquarters in Fort Worth. The company said some of the Van Nuys employees will be relocated and others will be fired, beginning in about three months. It expects to close the plant by the end of the year. The move comes five months after the company said it would fire 550 workers and close 121 unprofitable leather and crafts stores to focus on its more profitable office supply and wall decor business. Tandycrafts had 1998 sales of $232.5 million. The frame unit makes frames, mirrors and framed art under the Magee, Impulse and Hermitage brand names. Tandycrafts shares fell 13 cents to close at $3.38 on the NYSE.