Business Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 28, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 27, 2015 USD ($) segment	Sep. 28, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments | segment				3
Net revenues	$ 145,930	$ 160,595		$ 422,022	$ 478,926
Gross profit	58,726	70,965		176,760	205,758
Operating expenses	60,798	60,201		183,654	179,841
Interest expense, net	(792)	(739)		(2,261)	(2,642)
Other gain (loss), net	852	10		364	(518)
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	$ (2,012)	$ 10,035		$ (8,791)	$ 22,757
Concentration risk, percentage	10.00%	10.00%		10.00%	10.00%
Restructuring expense	$ (5)	$ 459		$ 1,583	$ 2,692
Litigation matters	6,584	0	$ (6,600)	15,564	0
Acquisition costs	15	291		135	291
Chief Financial Officer
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating expenses				800
Merchandise Availability Solutions | Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) Systems
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	42,000	43,500		107,200	130,100
Merchandise Availability Solutions | Alpha Business
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	28,800	29,300		76,000	84,800
Merchandise Availability Solutions | Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) Consumables
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	23,200	24,500		69,700	77,200
Operating Segments | Merchandise Availability Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	98,729	107,494		271,582	312,436
Gross profit	44,666	52,212		129,073	147,416
Operating Segments | Apparel Labeling Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	38,032	41,427		122,159	131,167
Gross profit	10,659	14,248		37,050	45,584
Operating Segments | Retail Merchandising Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net revenues	9,169	11,674		28,281	35,323
Gross profit	$ 3,401	$ 4,505		$ 10,637	$ 12,758