2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation — The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and include all of the Company’s majority-owned subsidiaries.

Use of Estimates — 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 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents included investments in money market accounts and cash deposits at various banks.

Investments — All of the Company’s investments are classified as held-to-maturity securities and reported at amortized cost pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 320, Investments — Debt and Equity Securities (“ASC 320”) as the Company has the intent and ability to hold all investments to maturity. See Note 5.

Accounts Receivable — Trade accounts receivable arise from the sale of products on trade credit terms. On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews all significant accounts with past due balances, as well as the collectability of other outstanding trade accounts receivable for possible write-off. It is the Company’s policy to write-off the accounts receivable against the allowance account when receivables are deemed to be uncollectible. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects the Company’s best estimate of probable losses in the accounts receivable balances. The Company determines the allowance based on known troubled accounts, historical experience and other evidence currently available.

Inventories — Inventories are valued at cost, which is not in excess of market value. The majority of inventories are determined on a last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) basis. Inventory costs include the cost of shoes purchased from third-party manufacturers, as well as related freight and duty costs. The Company generally takes title to product at the time of shipping. See Note 6.

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation — Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Plant and equipment are depreciated using primarily the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows: buildings and improvements, 10 to 39 years; machinery and equipment, 3 to 10 years; furniture and fixtures, 5 to 7 years.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets — Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”) if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to its related estimated undiscounted future cash flows. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying value of the related asset or group of assets, a loss is recognized for the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the asset or group of assets. To derive the fair value, the Company utilizes the income approach and the fair value determined is categorized as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of each asset group is determined using the estimated future cash flows discounted at an estimated weighted-average cost of capital. For purposes of the impairment review, the Company groups assets at the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. In conjunction with the Company’s impairment review, the Company’s retail segment recognized an impairment charge of $165,000 in 2011, $310,000 in 2010, and $1.1 million in 2009 which was recorded within selling and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets — Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition of a business. Goodwill is not subject to amortization. Other intangible assets consist of a non-compete agreement, customer relationships, and trademarks. Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives. Intangible assets which are not amortized are reviewed for impairment annually and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. See Note 8.

Life Insurance — Life insurance policies are recorded at the amount that could be realized under the insurance contracts as of the date of financial position. These assets are included within Other Assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 9.

Contingent Consideration — The Company recorded its fair value estimate of the contingent consideration that may result from the Bogs acquisition (see Note 3) within other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. On a quarterly basis, the Company revalues the obligation and records increases or decreases in its fair value as an adjustment to operating earnings. Changes to the contingent consideration obligation can result from adjustments to the discount rate, accretion of the discount due to the passage of time, or changes in assumptions regarding the future performance of Bogs. The assumptions used to determine the value of contingent consideration include a significant amount of judgment, and any changes in the assumptions could have a material impact on the amount of contingent consideration expense or income recorded in a given period. See Note 11.

Income Taxes — Deferred income taxes are provided on temporary differences arising from differences in the basis of assets and liabilities for income tax and financial reporting purposes. See Note 13.

Noncontrolling Interest — The Company’s noncontrolling interest is accounted for under ASC 810, Consolidation (“ASC 810”) and represents the minority shareholders’ ownership interest related to the Company’s wholesale and retail businesses in Australia, South Africa and Asia Pacific. In accordance with ASC 810, the Company reports its noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries as a separate component of equity in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and reports both net earnings attributable to the noncontrolling interest and net earnings attributable to the Company’s common shareholders on the face of the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.

Revenue Recognition — Revenue from the sale of product is recognized when title and risk of loss transfers to the customer and the customer is obligated to pay the Company. Sales to independent dealers are recorded at the time of shipment to those dealers. Sales through Company-owned retail outlets are recorded at the time of delivery to retail customers. All product sales are recorded net of estimated allowances for returns and discounts. The Company’s estimates of allowances for returns and discounts are based on such factors as specific customer situations, historical experience, and current and expected economic conditions. The Company evaluates the reserves and the estimation process and makes adjustments when appropriate. Revenue from third-party licensing agreements is recognized in the period earned. Licensing revenues were $3.4 million in 2011, $2.2 million in 2010 and $2.7 million in 2009.

Shipping and Handling Fees — The Company classifies shipping and handling fees billed to customers as revenues. The related shipping and handling expenses incurred by the Company are included in selling and administrative expenses and totaled $2.2 million in 2011 and $1.4 million in each of the years 2010 and 2009.

Cost of Sales — The Company’s cost of sales includes the cost of products and inbound freight and duty costs.

Selling and Administrative Expenses — Selling and administrative expenses primarily include salaries and commissions, advertising costs, employee benefit costs, distribution costs (e.g., receiving, inspection and warehousing costs), rent and depreciation. Distribution costs included in selling and administrative expenses were $8.6 million in 2011 and $7.9 million in each of the years 2010 and 2009.

Advertising Costs — Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Total advertising costs were $8.7 million, $7.9 million and $8.2 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. All advertising expenses are included in selling and administrative expenses with the exception of co-op advertising expenses which are recorded as a reduction of net sales. Co-op advertising expenses, which are included in the above totals, reduced net sales by $3.3 million, $3.5 million and $4.2 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Foreign Currency Translations — The Company accounts for currency translations in accordance with ASC 830, Foreign Currency Matters (“ASC 830”) under which non-U.S. subsidiaries’ balance sheet accounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at fiscal year-end and income and expense accounts are translated at the weighted average rates of exchange in effect during the year. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are recognized as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, which is a component of equity.

Foreign Currency Transactions — Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in other income and expense, net, in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings. Net foreign currency transaction (losses) gains totaled approximately ($197,000) in 2011, $370,000 in 2010 and $1.3 million in 2009.

Earnings Per Share — Basic earnings per share excludes any dilutive effects of restricted stock and options to purchase common stock. Diluted earnings per share includes any dilutive effects of restricted stock and options to purchase common stock. See Note 16.

Comprehensive Income — Comprehensive income includes net earnings and changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss. The Company has chosen to report comprehensive income and accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Statements of Equity. The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss as recorded on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:


	2011		2010
	(Dollars in thousands)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	923	$	1,243
Pension liability, net of tax		(14,342)		(10,247	)
Total accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(13,419)	$	(9,004	)

The noncontrolling interest as recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2011 and 2010 included foreign currency translation adjustments of $345,000 and $834,000, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation — At December 31, 2011, the Company had three stock-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 18. The Company accounts for these plans under the recognition and measurement principles of ASC 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”).

Concentration of Credit Risk — The Company had no individual customer accounts receivable balances outstanding that represented more than 10% of the Company’s gross accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2011. The Company had one individual customer accounts receivable balance outstanding that represented 16% of the Company’s gross accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2010. There was no single customer with sales above 10% of the Company’s total sales in 2011. During 2010 and 2009, one customer represented 12% and 13% of the Company’s net sales, respectively.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements — In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-08, Intangible — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350) — Testing Goodwill for Impairment (“ASC 2011-08”). The amendments in this ASU permit an entity to first assess qualitative factors related to goodwill to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill test described in Topic 350. The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent. Under the amendments in this ASU, an entity is not required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (ASC Topic 220) — Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASC 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of stockholders’ equity and requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments are effective retrospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The guidance requires changes in presentation only and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS (ASU 2011-04), which amends ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”). This update clarifies the existing guidance and amends the wording used to describe many of the requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. This update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, with prospective application required. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Reclassifications — Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior years’ financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net income or equity.