Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2013	Feb. 29, 2012
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,024	$ 1,028
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	316	409
Bad debt expense	5	46
Change in inventory reserve	(62)	(50)
Gain on sale of property	(540)	0
Net loss (gain) on trading securities	119	(347)
Decrease (increase) in:
Trade accounts receivable	5	(1,088)
Inventory	(1,218)	(146)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	24	(126)
Deferred tax asset	450	312
(Decrease) increase in:
Trade accounts payable	(165)	(36)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	344	(814)
Deposit liability	(27)	0
Liabilities of discontinued operations	(74)	(72)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	201	(884)
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment	(123)	(206)
(Purchase) sale of marketable securities, trading	(578)	478
Proceeds from securities sold short	723	172
Proceeds from sale of property	650	0
Increase in restricted cash	(724)	(88)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(52)	356
Financing activities:
Net borrowings on revolving credit facility	734	650
Change in bank overdraft	(111)	782
Preferred dividend	(38)	0
Payments on long-term debt	(1,604)	(384)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,019)	1,048
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	156	(30)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(714)	490
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	2,568	1,368
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	1,854	1,858
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	339	379
Cash paid for taxes	196	415
Supplemental disclosures of noncash investing and financing activities:
Note receivable issued in connection with sale of real estate properties	$ 350	$ 0