Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Nov. 03, 2012		Aug. 04, 2012		May 05, 2012		Feb. 04, 2012		Oct. 29, 2011		Jul. 30, 2011		Apr. 30, 2011		Jan. 29, 2011		Nov. 03, 2012		Oct. 29, 2011		Oct. 30, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 286,803		$ 282,447		$ 298,323		$ 281,781		$ 293,239		$ 291,716		$ 282,551		$ 234,783		$ 1,149,355	[1],[2]	$ 1,102,290	[1],[2]	$ 1,022,896	[1],[2]
Gross profit	32,314	[3]	26,710	[3]	29,401	[3]	21,250	[3]	24,791	[3]	26,243	[3]	26,655	[3]	17,984	[3]	109,675	[3]	95,673	[3]
Operating (loss) earnings	2,450		5,140		8,549		(526)		(34,890)		8,325		7,097		(1,818)		15,613	[1]	(21,286)	[1]	(61,136)	[1]
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	(555)	[4]	1,838	[4]	3,674	[4]	(2,270)	[4]	(27,380)	[5]	2,988	[5]	2,847	[5]	(1,838)	[5]	2,687	[4]	(23,383)	[5]	(49,643)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(109)		0		(3)		21		(349)		19		(225)		2,871		(91)		2,316		(732)
Net (loss) earnings	(664)	[4]	1,838	[4]	3,671	[4]	(2,249)	[4]	(27,729)	[5],[6]	3,007	[5],[6]	2,622	[5],[6]	1,033	[5],[6]	2,596	[4]	(21,067)	[5],[6]	(50,375)
Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)		$ 0.06		$ 0.12		$ (0.07)		$ (0.89)		$ 0.10		$ 0.09		$ (0.06)		$ 0.09		$ (0.76)		$ (1.63)
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ (0.01)		$ 0.00		$ (0.01)		$ 0.09		$ (0.01)		$ 0.08		$ (0.03)
Net (Loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)		$ 0.06		$ 0.12		$ (0.07)		$ (0.90)		$ 0.10		$ 0.08		$ 0.03		$ 0.08		$ (0.69)		$ (1.65)
Diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to common shareholders:
(Loss) earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)		$ 0.06		$ 0.12		$ (0.07)		$ (0.89)		$ 0.10		$ 0.09		$ (0.06)		$ 0.09		$ (0.76)		$ (1.63)
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ (0.01)		$ 0.00		$ (0.01)		$ 0.09		$ (0.01)		$ 0.08		$ (0.03)
Net (loss) earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)		$ 0.06		$ 0.12		$ (0.07)		$ (0.90)		$ 0.10		$ 0.08		$ 0.03		$ 0.08		$ (0.69)		$ (1.65)
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Total charges									41,067								8,834
Total charges, net of tax									28,813								5,917
Merger and transaction costs	6,900																6,901		0		0
Merger and transaction costs net of tax																	4,486
Restructuring costs									634								2,521		2,184		7,290
Restructuring and exit costs, net of tax									393								1,866		1,354		4,454
Foreign exchange (gains)/losses	1,465								(22)								(588)		(220)		2,146
Foreign currency gains, net of tax	1,026								15								(435)
Goodwill impairments									40,455								0		40,455		56,149
Goodwill impairments, net of tax									28,435
Cash proceeds									4,844										4,844
After tax earnings																			$ 3,003

[1] Excludes discontinued operations.

[2] In addition to external sales to customers, inter-segment sales were $63,416, $54,396, and $50,344, in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

[3] Gross profit is calculated as net sales less cost of sales and amortization expense.

[4] Operating earnings and net earnings from continuing operations in 2012 were impacted by charges totaling $8,834 ($5,917 net of tax), comprising merger and transaction costs of $6,901 ($4,486 net of tax), restructuring and exit costs of $2,521 ($1,866 net of tax), and foreign currency gains of $588 ($435 net of tax). Fourth quarter 2012 operating earnings and net earnings include foreign currency gains which pertain to prior annual periods of $1,465 ($1,026 net of tax). Prior annual periods were not corrected as such amounts were immaterial and thus recorded in the fourth quarter of 2012.

[5] Operating earnings and net earnings from continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2011 were impacted by charges totaling $41,067 ($28,813 net of tax), comprising goodwill impairments of $40,455 ($28,435 net of tax), restructuring and exit costs of $634 ($393 net of tax), and foreign currency gains of $22 ($15 net of tax).

[6] The earnings from discontinued operations in 2011 include the settlement agreement for breach of contract by Chemtura that led to $4,844 in cash proceeds and after tax earnings of $3,003.