Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2014	May 31, 2013
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 3,470	$ 2,308
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	406	464
Bad debt expense	14	58
Change in inventory reserve	76	(62)
Gain on sale of real estate property	(535)	(780)
Net loss on trading securities	49	34
(Increase) decrease in:
Trade accounts receivable	(2,972)	472
Inventory	(843)	(1,435)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	390	83
Deferred tax asset	(889)	670
Increase (decrease) in:
Trade accounts payable	941	(829)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	675	(561)
Deposit liability	(24)	(60)
Liabilities of discontinued operations	(146)	(111)
Net cash provided by operating activities	612	251
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(458)	(631)
Purchase of marketable securities, trading	(5,137)	(4,792)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities, trading	4,648	4,829
Proceeds from securities sold short	0	619
Proceeds from sale of property	1,139	2,830
Change in restricted cash	0	(620)
Net cash provided by investing activities	192	2,235
Financing activities:
Payments on revolving credit facility	(1,366)	(985)
Preferred dividend	(57)	(57)
Bank overdraft	1,251	(92)
Payments on long-term debt - real estate held for sale	(396)	0
Payments on long-term debt	(126)	(1,663)
Net cash used in financing activities	(694)	(2,797)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	71	224
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	181	(87)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	1,507	2,568
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	1,688	2,481
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	299	512
Cash paid for income taxes	$ 666	$ 196