SEGMENT DATA (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Jul. 29, 2011	Apr. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Jul. 30, 2010	Apr. 30, 2010	Jan. 29, 2010	Oct. 31, 2011 segment	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
SEGMENT DATA
Number of operating segments									8
Number of reportable business segments									3
Financial information concerning the company's reportable segments
Net sales	$ 368,094	$ 501,045	$ 631,601	$ 383,213	$ 337,311	$ 458,890	$ 562,819	$ 331,358	$ 1,883,953	$ 1,690,378	$ 1,523,447
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									174,826	141,268	95,788
Total assets	870,663				885,622				870,663	885,622	872,682
Capital expenditures									57,447	48,699	37,939
Depreciation and amortization									48,506	45,011	44,535
Components of the loss before income taxes included in "Other"
Interest expense									(16,970)	(17,113)	(17,578)
Finance charge revenue											543
Other income									7,309	7,115	(1,831)
Professional
Financial information concerning the company's reportable segments
Net sales									1,239,068	1,085,457	965,935
Intersegment gross sales									35,539	17,271	20,208
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									205,009	173,752	127,609
Total assets	497,388				437,987				497,388	437,987	418,806
Capital expenditures									43,933	34,017	25,871
Depreciation and amortization									31,380	27,261	25,197
Residential
Financial information concerning the company's reportable segments
Net sales									623,889	589,677	532,707
Intersegment gross sales									3,560	487	1,079
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									54,410	57,956	46,351
Total assets	202,222				173,919				202,222	173,919	171,892
Capital expenditures									5,615	8,599	7,531
Depreciation and amortization									9,846	10,259	11,040
Other:
Financial information concerning the company's reportable segments
Net sales									20,996	15,244	24,805
Intersegment gross sales									(39,099)	(17,758)	(21,287)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(84,593)	(90,440)	(78,172)
Total assets	171,053				273,716				171,053	273,716	281,984
Capital expenditures									7,899	6,083	4,537
Depreciation and amortization									7,280	7,491	8,298
Components of the loss before income taxes included in "Other"
Corporate expenses									(72,726)	(74,758)	(70,802)
Interest expense									(16,970)	(17,113)	(17,578)
Finance charge revenue											543
Elimination of corporate financing expense											7,052
Other income									$ 5,103	$ 1,431	$ 2,613