Nature of Business (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Jan. 31, 2016

Disclosure Text Block [Abstract]

Nature of Business

NATURE OF BUSINESS

Tiffany & Co. is a holding company that operates through its subsidiary companies (collectively, the "Company"). Its principal subsidiary, Tiffany and Company ("Tiffany"), is a jeweler and specialty retailer. Through its subsidiaries, the Company designs and manufactures products and operates TIFFANY & CO. retail stores worldwide, and also sells its products through Internet, catalog, business-to-business and wholesale operations. The Company's principal merchandise offering is jewelry (representing 93% of worldwide net sales in 2015); it also sells timepieces, leather goods, sterling silverware, china, crystal, stationery, fragrances and accessories.

The Company's reportable segments are as follows:

• Americas includes sales in Company-operated TIFFANY & CO. stores in the United States, Canada and Latin America, as well as sales of TIFFANY & CO. products in certain markets through Internet, catalog, business-to-business and wholesale operations;

• Asia-Pacific includes sales in Company-operated TIFFANY & CO. stores, as well as sales of TIFFANY & CO. products in certain markets through Internet and wholesale operations;

• Japan includes sales in Company-operated TIFFANY & CO. stores, as well as sales of

TIFFANY & CO. products through Internet, business-to-business and wholesale operations;

• Europe includes sales in Company-operated TIFFANY & CO. stores, as well as sales of TIFFANY & CO. products in certain markets through the Internet; and

• Other consists of all non-reportable segments. Other includes the Emerging Markets region, which consists of retail sales in Company-operated TIFFANY & CO. stores in the United Arab Emirates ("U.A.E.") and wholesale sales of TIFFANY & CO. merchandise to independent distributors for resale in certain emerging markets (primarily in the Middle East). In addition, Other includes wholesale sales of diamonds obtained through bulk purchases that were subsequently deemed not suitable for the Company's needs as well as earnings received from third-party licensing agreements.