Income Tax	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes At each reporting date, Lawson’s management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management’s view with regard to the realization of its deferred tax assets and the reversal of the corresponding valuation allowances. Although the Company has generated pre-tax profits over the past three quarters and has begun to utilize a small portion of its net operating loss carryforwards over the past two years, management feels that additional positive evidence is necessary in order to conclude that it is more likely than not that it will be able to realize its deferred tax assets. We believe that there is a reasonable possibility that within the next twelve months, sufficient evidence may become available to allow us to reach a conclusion that a significant portion of the valuation allowance will no longer be needed. As of September 30, 2017, substantially all deferred tax assets remain subject to a tax valuation allowance. If the Company continues to demonstrate that it can consistently generate income in future quarters, it may lead to a determination that there is sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that the company will be able to utilize its deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income. This would lead to the reduction of all or a portion of the valuation allowance resulting in an income tax benefit for the period in which the reduction is recorded. The Company will continue to closely monitor all positive and negative evidence and will re-assess its position on a quarterly basis. Although the Company is in this full tax valuation allowance position, income tax expenses of $0.8 million and $0.5 million were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, primarily due to reserves for uncertain tax positions, federal alternative minimum taxes and state taxes. In 2017, the company increased its deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance by $7.2 million that may arise from future settlement of uncertain tax positions in Canada. There was no impact to the Company's consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, balance sheets or statements of cash flows, as the company had valuation allowances equal to the value of the deferred tax assets. The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. Federal income tax, as well as income tax of multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. As of September 30, 2017, the Company is subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for the years 2014 through 2016 and income tax examinations from various other jurisdictions for the years 2011 through 2016. Earnings from the Company’s foreign subsidiary are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. A distribution of these non-U.S. earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise would subject the Company to both U.S. Federal and state income taxes, as adjusted for foreign tax credits.

Income Taxes

At each reporting date, Lawson’s management considers new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management’s view with regard to the realization of its deferred tax assets and the reversal of the corresponding valuation allowances. Although the Company has generated pre-tax profits over the past three quarters and has begun to utilize a small portion of its net operating loss carryforwards over the past two years, management feels that additional positive evidence is necessary in order to conclude that it is more likely than not that it will be able to realize its deferred tax assets. We believe that there is a reasonable possibility that within the next twelve months, sufficient evidence may become available to allow us to reach a conclusion that a significant portion of the valuation allowance will no longer be needed. As of September 30, 2017, substantially all deferred tax assets remain subject to a tax valuation allowance.

If the Company continues to demonstrate that it can consistently generate income in future quarters, it may lead to a determination that there is sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that the company will be able to utilize its deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income. This would lead to the reduction of all or a portion of the valuation allowance resulting in an income tax benefit for the period in which the reduction is recorded. The Company will continue to closely monitor all positive and negative evidence and will re-assess its position on a quarterly basis.

Although the Company is in this full tax valuation allowance position, income tax expenses of $0.8 million and $0.5 million were recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, primarily due to reserves for uncertain tax positions, federal alternative minimum taxes and state taxes.

In 2017, the company increased its deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance by $7.2 million that may arise from future settlement of uncertain tax positions in Canada. There was no impact to the Company's consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, balance sheets or statements of cash flows, as the company had valuation allowances equal to the value of the deferred tax assets.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. Federal income tax, as well as income tax of multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. As of September 30, 2017, the Company is subject to U.S. Federal income tax examinations for the years 2014 through 2016 and income tax examinations from various other jurisdictions for the years 2011 through 2016.

Earnings from the Company’s foreign subsidiary are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. A distribution of these non-U.S. earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise would subject the Company to both U.S. Federal and state income taxes, as adjusted for foreign tax credits.