Stock options Option activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Share-based compensation
Number of additional shares authorized	400,000
Initial number of options to grant under plan	350,000
Stock Option [Member]
Share-based compensation
Options, vested and expected to vest, outstanding, number	524,000	720,000	764,000
Outstanding Options, Weighted Average grant date fair value	$ 11.55	$ 11.38	$ 11.45
Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	4 years 6 months 1 day	5 years 1 month 6 days	5 years 8 months 6 days
Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	$ 534	$ 34	$ 0
Options, Exercisable, Number	450,000	554,000
Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.92	$ 11.94
Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	3 years 10 months 30 days	4 years 2 months 30 days
Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value	$ 465	$ 30
Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures	22,000	51,000
Shares issued	(59,000)	(18,000)
Options, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 6.70	$ 6.48
Options, Exercises in Period, Intrinsic Value	$ 68	$ 3
Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period	(159,000)	(77,000)
Options, Forfeitures and Expirations in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.98	$ 9.93
unvested option [Member]
Share-based compensation
Outstanding Options, Weighted Average grant date fair value	$ 9.31	$ 9.51
Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	$ 69	$ 3
Options granted in period, weighted avg date fair value	$ 7.33	$ 6.38