Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 28, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fiscal Periods

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31, which results in fiscal years consisting of 52 or 53 weeks.  Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years.  Fiscal year 2012 (“2012”) is comprised of the 53 weeks that began on January 29, 2012 and will end on February 2, 2013.  Fiscal year 2011 (“2011”) was comprised of the 52 weeks that began on January 30, 2011 and ended on January 28, 2012.  The fiscal quarters ended April 28, 2012 (“first quarter of 2012”) and April 30, 2011 (“first quarter of 2011”) were both comprised of 13 weeks.  

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Merchandise Inventories

We assign cost to merchandise inventories using the average cost retail inventory method. Under our previous inventory management system which was used through the end of 2011, we calculated average cost at the department level which constituted approximately 50 inventory cost pools. As previously disclosed in public filings over the past few years, we have been implementing new inventory management systems, SAP^® for Retail. On January 29, 2012, the first day of 2012, we completed the implementation of our new inventory management systems, which has allowed us to more precisely determine our inventory cost under the retail method. We now calculate average cost at the class level which constitutes approximately 350 inventory cost pools.

This change in accounting principle, to include approximately 350 class inventory cost pools in the retail method calculation instead of approximately 50 departments in the calculation's inventory cost pools, is preferable as it will provide us with a more precise estimate of the average cost of our merchandise inventories.

Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 250, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections" requires that unless it is impracticable to do so, the voluntary adoption of a new accounting principle should be done retrospectively. Prior to January 29, 2012, the date we completed our implementation of SAP^® for Retail, our accounting systems did not capture merchandise inventory costs with class level detail needed for us to recognize, measure and disclose amounts for prior periods under the retrospective application. In particular, the previous inventory system did not track or reconcile stock ledger information by class, but rather by department. Specifically, key items such as freight and shrink costs were aggregated at the department level, with no data identifier to the class, which made it impractical to retrospectively account for the change. Therefore, we have adopted this change in accounting principle prospectively from the beginning of the current year, as we can determine the cumulative effect in inventory cost as of that date.

As the impact of the accounting change in the beginning of the current year inventory is immaterial, we have recognized the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle as a current period expense by recording a reduction in inventory and a corresponding increase to cost of sales of approximately $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2012. This non-cash charge reduced the first quarter of 2012 income from continuing operations and net income by approximately $3.4 million and reduced the first quarter of 2012 basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations by $0.05.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses include store expenses (such as payroll and occupancy costs) and costs related to warehousing, distribution, outbound transportation to our stores, advertising, purchasing, insurance and insurance-related, non-income taxes, and overhead.  Our selling and administrative expense rates may not be comparable to those of other retailers that include distribution and outbound transportation costs in cost of sales.  Distribution and outbound transportation costs included in selling and administrative expenses were $41.7 million and $40.1 million for the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2011, respectively

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Advertising Expense

Advertising costs, which are expensed as incurred, consist primarily of television and print advertising, internet marketing and advertising, and in-store point-of-purchase presentations.  Advertising expenses are included in selling and administrative expenses.  Advertising expenses were $24.4 million and $21.4 million for the first quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2011, respectively

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of our international subsidiary is the local currency of the country in which the subsidiary is located. We have one foreign subsidiary domiciled and operating in Canada. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date. Results of operations and cash flows are translated using the average exchange rates throughout the period. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on translation of assets and liabilities is included as a component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, which are included in other income (expense), were not material for the first quarter of 2012

Comparability of Prior Year Financial Data, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Reclassifications

In the third quarter of 2011, we realigned the merchandise categories in our U.S. segment to be consistent with the realignment of our merchandising team and changes to our management reporting. Prior to the third quarter of 2011, we reported sales in the former Hardlines category and the former Other category. We moved the electronics department out of the former Hardlines category and repositioned it in the former Other category, which was renamed Play n' Wear. We also moved the results of certain large closeout deals that are typically acquired through our alternate product sourcing operations out of the former Other category and repositioned them in the former Hardlines category, which was renamed Hardlines & Other. Additionally, we reclassified the results of prior periods to reflect this realignment of our merchandise categories