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Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies


Cash and Cash Equivalents


Cash and cash equivalents include currency on hand and demand deposits with financial institutions. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents on deposit in amounts in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant risk.


Accounts Receivable


The Company grants credit to its customers and generally does not require collateral. Accounts receivable are reported at net realizable value and do not accrue interest. Management uses judgmental factors such as a customer’s payment history, the general economic climate and the age and past-due status of invoices in assessing collectability and establishing allowances for doubtful accounts. Accounts receivable are written off after all collection efforts have been exhausted.


Estimated losses for bad debts are provided for in the consolidated financial statements through a charge to expense of approximately $115,000, $48,000, and $23,000 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The net charge-off of bad debts was approximately $78,000, $29,000, and $1,300 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.


Inventories


Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value using the FIFO method and are categorized as raw materials, work-in-progress or finished goods.


The Company records reserves for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the actual cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions and management’s review of existing inventory. If actual demand and market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory reserves resulting in a charge to expense would be required.


Property, Plant and Equipment


Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost. Depreciation is computed by the straight-line and declining-balance methods for financial reporting purposes and by accelerated methods for income tax purposes. Estimated useful lives for financial reporting purposes are 20 to 40 years for buildings and 3 to 12 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the building or the lease term. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Gains and losses resulting from the sale or disposal of property and equipment are included in other income.


Long-lived assets, including intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of those assets may not be recoverable in accordance with appropriate guidance. The Company uses undiscounted cash flows to determine whether impairment exists and measures any impairment loss using discounted cash flows. The Company recorded no asset impairment charges related to property, plant and equipment in 2013, 2012 or 2011.


Depreciation expense was $851,980 in 2013, of which $784,771 was included in cost of products sold, and $67,209 was included in selling, administrative and general expenses. Depreciation expense was $744,094 in 2012, of which $728,869 was included in cost of products sold, and $15,225 was included in selling, administrative and general expenses. Depreciation expense was $671,009 in 2011, of which $651,237 was included in cost of products sold, and $19,772 was included in selling, administrative and general expenses.


Pensions and Postretirement Benefits


The Company has two defined benefit plans that recognize a net liability or asset and an offsetting adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to report the funded status of the plans. The plan assets and obligations are measured at their year-end balance sheet date. Refer to Note 10 “Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits” for further detail on the plans.


Revenue Recognition


The Company recognizes revenue upon passage of title and when risks and rewards have passed to customers, which occurs at the time of shipment to the customer. The Company derived approximately 14.4%, 25.5%, and 16.9% of its revenue in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, from sales to distributors. These distributors do not have a right to return unsold products; however, returns may be permitted in specific situations. Historically, returns have not had a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations. Revenues are reported net of discounts and returns and net of sales tax.


For concession operations, the Company recognizes revenue when receipts are collected. Revenue is recognized for the Company’s proportional share of receipts with the remaining amounts collected recorded as an accrued liability until they are remitted to the concession contract counterparty.


Shipping and Handling Costs


Shipping and handling costs are expensed as incurred and are included in selling, administrative and general expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. These costs were approximately $668,000, $674,000, and $696,000 during 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.


Advertising Expense


The cost of advertising is generally expensed as incurred. The cost of catalogs and brochures are recorded as a prepaid cost and are expensed over their useful lives, generally one year. The Company incurred approximately $97,000, $165,000, and $149,000 in advertising costs during 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.


Income Taxes


The Company and its domestic subsidiaries file a consolidated U.S. income tax return. Canadian operations file income tax returns in Canada. Hong Kong operations file income tax returns in Hong Kong. The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with appropriate accounting guidance. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the Company’s deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.


Pursuant to appropriate accounting guidance, ASC-740—Income Taxes, when establishing a valuation allowance, the Company considers future sources of taxable income such as “future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards” and “tax planning strategies.” Appropriate accounting guidance defines a tax planning strategy as “an action that: is prudent and feasible; an enterprise ordinarily might not take, but would take to prevent an operating loss or tax credit carryforward from expiring unused; and would result in realization of deferred tax assets.” In the event the Company determines that the deferred tax assets will not be realized in the future, the valuation adjustment to the deferred tax assets is charged to earnings in the period in which the Company makes such a determination. If it is later determined that it is more likely than not the deferred tax assets will be realized, the Company will release the valuation allowance to current earnings.


The amount of income taxes the Company pays is subject to ongoing audits by federal, state and foreign tax authorities. The Company’s estimate of the potential outcome of any uncertain tax issue is subject to management’s assessment of relevant risks, facts and circumstances existing at that time, pursuant to appropriate accounting guidance. Appropriate accounting guidance requires a more-likely-than-not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company records a liability for the difference between the benefit recognized and measured pursuant to appropriate accounting guidance and tax position taken or expected to be taken on the tax return. To the extent that the Company’s assessment of such tax positions changes, the change in estimate is recorded in the period in which the determination is made. The Company reports tax-related interest and penalties as a component of income tax expense.


Research and Development


The Company engages in research and development activities relating to new and improved products. It expended approximately $178,000, $99,000, and $77,000 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, for such activity in its continuing businesses. Research and development costs are included in selling, administrative and general expenses.


Earnings Per Share


The Company reports earnings per share in accordance with appropriate accounting guidance. Under appropriate accounting guidance basic earnings per share excludes any dilutive effects of stock options, whereas diluted earnings per share assumes exercise of stock options, when dilutive, resulting in an increase in outstanding shares. Please refer to Note 13 for further information.


Foreign Currency


In accordance with appropriate accounting guidance, the Company translates the financial statements of the Canadian and Hong Kong subsidiaries from its functional currency into the U.S. dollar. Assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. Income statement amounts are translated using the average exchange rate for the year. All translation gains and losses resulting from the changes in exchange rates from year to year have been reported in other comprehensive income. Foreign currency gains and losses resulting from current year exchange rate transactions are insignificant for all years presented.


Fair Value of Financial Instruments


The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities and long-term debt approximate fair value.


Comprehensive Income


Comprehensive income consists of net income, foreign currency translation and minimum pension liability adjustments and is reported in the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity.


Use of Estimates


The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates include allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory obsolescence, product returns, pension, post-retirement benefits, contingencies, and deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


New Accounting Pronouncements


In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  The update requires companies to present either in a single note or parenthetically on the face of the financial statements the effect of significant amounts of reclassifications from each component of accumulated other comprehensive income based on its source and the income statement lines affected by the reclassification.  For public entities, the amendments that are subject to the transition guidance were effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2012.  Adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.


In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. Under this guidance, an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward.  This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. We believe adoption of this new guidance will not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.