DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9 Months Ended

Nov. 10, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CPI Corp. ("CPI", the "Company" or "we") is a holding company engaged, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries and partnerships, in selling and manufacturing professional portrait photography of young children, individuals and families and offers other related products and services.

As of November 10, 2012, the Company operates 2,701 professional portrait studios, 176 of which are temporary in nature, throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, principally under lease and license agreements with Walmart and license agreements with Sears and Toys "R" Us.  The Company also operates websites that support and complement its Walmart, Sears and Toys "R" Us studio operations.  These websites serve as vehicles to archive, share portraits via email (after a portrait session) and order additional portraits and products.

The Company's fiscal year ends on the first Saturday in February. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than to calendar years. Fiscal year 2012 refers to the 52-week period ended February 2, 2013. Fiscal year 2011 refers to the 52-week period ended February 4, 2012. The interim consolidated financial statements as of and for the 16 and 40 weeks ended November 10, 2012, are unaudited and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented.  The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the CPI Corp. 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended February 4, 2012.  The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

During the 16-week period ended November 10, 2012, the Company recorded adjustments related to the closure of thirteen (13) studio locations subject to operating leases, which resulted in a net expense of $756,000, to correct errors in previously recognized liabilities for operating leases recorded during the 12-week period ended July 21, 2012. These correcting adjustments are out of period because they relate to the Company's interim consolidated financial statements as of and for the 12-week period ended July 21, 2012. The amount of such adjustments was not material to the consolidated results of operations for the 12-week period ended July 21, 2012 or the 16-week period ended November 10, 2012. The expense was recorded to Other charges in the interim consolidated statements of operations for the 16 and 40 weeks ended November 10, 2012.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, insurance reserves; depreciation; recoverability of long-lived assets and goodwill; defined benefit retirement plan assumptions and income tax.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2011 financial statements to conform with the current year presentation.

For purposes of this report, the Walmart studio operations are operating within CPI Corp. under the tradenames PictureMe Portrait Studio® in the U.S., Walmart Portrait Studios in Canada and Estudios Fotografia de Walmart in Mexico, collectively "PMPS" or the "PMPS brand". The Sears studio operations are operating as Sears Portrait Studios (“SPS” or the “SPS brand”) the the Toys "R" Us studio operations are operating as Kiddie Kandids Portrait Studios (“KKPS” or the “KKPS brand”).

Until the second quarter of fiscal year 2012, the Company provided wedding photography and videography services and products through its subsidiary, Bella Pictures Holdings, LLC ("Bella Pictures®"). On December 17, 2012, the Company sold the Bella Pictures® tradename, certain assets and all remaining customer contracts. The sale will result in a net cash payout of approximately $195,000, primarily related to customer deposits received on open contracts. Also in the second quarter of 2012, the Company discontinued its Portrait Gallery from Bella Pictures ("Portrait Gallery") operations (see Note 4).