Revenue Recognition

As part of the Company's revenue recognition analysis, it concluded that it has two separate performance obligations, and accordingly, two separate revenue streams: products and services. As a result, the Company reports two separate revenue streams and two separate costs of revenues. Under the definition of a contract as defined by ASC 606, the Company considers contracts to be created at the time an order to purchase product is agreed upon regardless of whether or not there is a written contract.

Performance Obligations

Lawson has two operating segments; the Lawson segment and the Bolt Supply segment.

The Lawson segment has two distinct performance obligations offered to its customers: a product performance obligation and a service performance obligation. Although the Company has identified that it offers its customers both a product and a service obligation, the customer only receives one invoice per transaction with no price breakout between these obligations. The Company does not price its offerings based on any breakout between these obligations.

Lawson generates revenue primarily from the sale of MRO products to its customers. Revenue related to product sales is recognized at the time that control of the product has been transferred to the customer; either at the time the product is shipped or the time the product has been received by the customer. The Company does not commit to long-term contracts to sell customers a certain minimum quantity of products.

The Lawson segment offers a vendor managed inventory ("VMI") service proposition to its customers. A portion of these services, primarily related to stocking of product and maintenance of the MRO inventory, is provided a short period of time after control of the purchased product has been transferred to the customer. Since some components of VMI service have not been provided at the time the control of the product transfers to the customer, that portion of expected consideration is deferred until the time that those services have been provided.

The Bolt Supply segment does not provide VMI services for its customers or provide services in addition to product sales to customers. Revenue is recognized at the time that control of the product has been transferred to the customer which is either upon delivery or shipment depending on the terms of the contract.

Accounting Policy Elections

The Company treats shipping and handling costs after the control of the product has been transferred to the customer as a fulfillment cost.

Sales taxes that are imposed on our sales and collected from customers are excluded from revenues.

The Company expenses sales commissions when incurred as the amortization period is one year or less.

Certain Judgments

The Company employs certain judgments to estimate the dollar amount of revenue, and related expenses, allocated to the sale of product and service. These judgments include, among others, the percentage of customers that take advantage of the VMI services offered, the amount of revenue to be allocated to the VMI service based on the value of the service to its customers, and the amount of time after control of the product passes to the customer that the VMI service obligation is completed. It is assumed that any customer who averages placing orders at a frequency of longer than 30 days does not take advantage of the available VMI services offered. The estimate of the cost of sales is based on the estimated time spent on such activities applied to the expenses directly related to sales representatives that provide VMI services to the customer.

At March 31, 2020, the Company had a deferred revenue liability of $0.7 million and a deferred expense of $0.3 million for related expenses associated with the deferred service performance obligations, respectively. The deferral of revenue and expenses does not affect the amount, timing and any uncertainty of cash flows generated from operations.

Disaggregated revenue by geographic area follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019

United States	$	73,584	$	74,048
Canada	17,451		17,295
Consolidated total	$	91,035	$	91,343

Disaggregated revenue by product type follows:



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019

Fastening Systems	22.8	%	23.5	%
Fluid Power	14.2	%	15.2	%
Cutting Tools and Abrasives	13.3	%	13.3	%
Specialty Chemicals	11.2	%	11.3	%
Electrical	10.8	%	11.5	%
Aftermarket Automotive Supplies	8.2	%	8.4	%
Safety	6.3	%	4.6	%
Welding and Metal Repair	1.4	%	1.7	%
Other	11.8	%	10.5	%
Consolidated Total	100.0	%	100.0	%