Isaac Childs and his team at Rustico (asi/84264) said they did their best to overcome the financial struggles the company faced in recent years.

But in the end, sadly, the obstacle was too much: The Utah-based supplier of premium handcrafted leather goods has announced in a statement that it must “reluctantly close its doors and cease all operations.”

“We fought hard to try and make it through a large financial struggle and unfortunately have not succeeded,” the statement said. “We are truly heartbroken to share this news.” In October, Rustico said it was no longer taking orders through the end of the holiday season due to what it characterized as unexpected financial constraints. At the time, Rustico said all purchases that were made and confirmed by or before Friday, Oct. 13, would be worked on.

In issuing the more recent statement on its closing, Rustico encouraged those interested in buying its products to seek them at a retailer listed on the company website. “Get them quick,” the statement said, “because when they sell out, they’re gone.”

In comments on a Facebook post discussing the closure, industry pros expressed sadness about Rustico shutting down. “So sad – they have a really good quality product,” wrote one distributor. Another promo professional stated: “There is really no alternative to what they made.”

Childs was CEO and co-founder of Rustico. He and friends started the company following a backpacking trip to Europe in 1998, during which Childs discovered enjoyment in journaling about his travels.

He also realized he wanted better, more durable journals to write in – an inflection point that set him on the path to creating high-quality leather journals and the start of Rustico. Most recently, Rustico offered journals, portfolios, belts, wallets, wristbands and travel tags.

The company was thankful to distributors that it worked with over more than two decades.

“We want to express our deepest gratitude to all of you who have loyally supported us over the past 22+ years,” the statement said. “Thank you for believing in Rustico. As you wrote your amazing stories in our journals, you let us be a part of your journey. While this chapter of our story is ending, we have cherished every moment and unforgettable milestone.”

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