DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9 Months Ended

Nov. 12, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CPI Corp. ("CPI", the "Company" or "we") is a holding company engaged, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries and partnerships, in selling and manufacturing professional portrait photography of young children, individuals and families and offers other related products and services.  The Company also offers wedding photography and videography services and products through its subsidiary, Bella Pictures Holdings, LLC.

The Company operates 3,097 (unaudited) professional portrait studios as of November 12, 2011, throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico, principally under lease and license agreements with Walmart and license agreements with Sears and Toys "R" Us.  The Company also operates websites which support and complement its Walmart, Sears and Toys "R" Us studio operations.  These websites serve as vehicles to archive, share portraits via email (after a portrait session) and order additional portraits and products.  The Company also operates a website for Bella Pictures® which serves as a vehicle to reserve/book weddings, select specialized, unique product offerings and view/edit photographs and videos from the wedding day. Late in the third quarter of 2011, the Company also launched its FotoNet.com™ photography deals program which offers members special offers on studio and on-location photography and a range of other specialized services and products.

The Interim Consolidated Balance Sheet as of November 12, 2011, the related Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations for the 16 and 40 weeks ended November 12, 2011, and November 13, 2010, the Interim Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the 40 weeks ended November 12, 2011, and the Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the 40 weeks ended November 12, 2011, and November 13, 2010, are unaudited.  The interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented.  The interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the CPI Corp. 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended February 5, 2011.  The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

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 at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Significant estimates include, but are not limited to, insurance reserves; depreciation; recoverability of long-lived assets and goodwill; defined benefit retirement plan assumptions and income tax.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2010 financial statements to conform with the current year presentation.

For purposes of this report, the Walmart studio operations are operating within CPI Corp. under the tradenames PictureMe Portrait Studio® in the U.S., Walmart Portrait Studios in Canada and Estudios Fotografia de Walmart in Mexico, collectively "PMPS" or the "PMPS brand".