Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

Derivatives, Reporting of Derivative Activity [Policy Text Block]

[17] Derivative Instruments:

The Company uses derivative instruments to manage its exposure to cash-flow variability from foreign currency risk. Derivatives are carried on the balance sheet at fair value and included in prepaid expenses and other current assets or accrued expenses. The Company applies cash flow hedge accounting for its derivative instruments. Net derivative gains and losses attributable to derivatives subject to cash flow hedge accounting reside in accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) and will be reclassified to earnings in future periods as the economic transactions to which the derivatives relate affect earnings. See Note L - Derivative Instruments.

Nature of Operations [Text Block]

Organization:

Steven Madden, Ltd. a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, design, source, market and sell name brand and private label women's, men's and children's shoes, worldwide through its wholesale and retail channels under the Steve Madden Women's, Steve Madden Men's, Madden, Madden Girl, Steven, Superga (under license), Dolce Vita and Betsey Johnson brand names and through its wholesale channels under the Stevies, Report, Mad Love and Blondo brand names and, under license, the Kate Spade and Anne Klein brand names. An agreement under which the Company licensed the Avec Les Filles® trademark terminated as of December 31, 2018.

In addition, the Company designs, sources, markets and sells name brand and private label handbags and accessories to customers worldwide through its Wholesale Accessories segment, including the Big Buddha, Betsey Johnson, Madden Girl, Betseyville, Cejon, Steve Madden, Steven by Steve Madden, Luv Betsey, DKNY (under license), Anne Klein (under license) and Donna Karan (under license) accessories brands. Revenue is generated predominantly through the sale of the Company's brand name and private label merchandise and certain licensed products. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company operated 229 (including 7 e-commerce websites) and 206 (including 4 e-commerce websites) retail stores, respectively. Revenue is subject to seasonal fluctuations. See Note P for operating segment information.

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation:

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Steven Madden, Ltd. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Steven Madden Retail, Inc., Diva Acquisition Corp., Diva International, Inc., Madden Direct, Inc., Adesso Madden, Inc., Stevies, Inc., Daniel M. Friedman and Associates, Inc., Big Buddha, Inc., the Topline Corporation, Cejon, Inc., SML Holdings S.a.r.l., SML Canada Acquisition Corp., Madden International Ltd., DMF International Ltd., Asean Corporation Ltd., Dolce Vita Holdings, Inc., Trendy Imports S.A de C.V., Comercial Diecesiette S.A. de C.V., Maximus Designer Shoes S.A. de C.V., BA Brand Holdings LLC, BAI Holding, LLC, Mad Love LLC and Schwartz & Benjamin, Inc. (collectively the "Company"). The accounts of (i) Dexascope Proprietary Ltd., a joint venture in South Africa in which the Company is the majority owner, (ii) BA Brand Holdings LLC, a joint venture in which the Company is the majority owner, (iii) SPM Shoetrade Holding B.V., a joint venture in certain regions of Europe in which the Company is the majority owner, (iv) SM (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd., a joint venture in which the Company controls all of the significant participating rights, (v) SM Dolce Limited, a joint venture in which the Company is the majority interest holder and (vi) SM Distribution Israel L.P., a joint venture in which the Company is the majority interest holder, are included in the consolidated financial statements with the other members' interests reflected in “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest” in the Consolidated Statements of Income and “Noncontrolling interest” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications were made to prior years' amounts to conform to the 2018 presentation.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant areas involving management estimates include variable consideration included in revenue, allowances for bad debts, inventory valuation, valuation of intangible assets, litigation reserves and contingent payment liabilities. The Company estimates variable consideration on trade accounts receivables and factor receivables for future customer chargebacks and markdown allowances, discounts, returns and other miscellaneous compliance-related deductions that relate to the current period sales. The Company evaluates anticipated chargebacks by reviewing several performance indicators of its major customers. These performance indicators, which include retailers’ inventory levels, sell-through rates and gross margin levels, are analyzed by management to estimate the amount of the anticipated customer allowance.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash Equivalents:

Cash equivalents at December 31, 2018 and 2017 amounted to approximately $77,050 and $58,436, respectively, and consisted of money market accounts. The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Marketable Securities:

Marketable securities consist primarily of certificates of deposit and corporate bonds with maturities greater than three months and up to four years at the time of purchase. These securities, which are classified as available-for-sale, are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of any tax effect, reported in stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss). These securities are classified as current and non-current marketable securities based upon their maturities. Amortization of premiums and discounts is included in interest income. For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the amortization of bond premiums totaled $728 and $983, respectively. The values of these securities may fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates and credit risk. The schedule of maturities at December 31, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:



	Maturities as of December 31, 2018				Maturities as of December 31, 2017
	1 Year or Less		1 to 4 Years		1 Year or Less		1 to 4 Years
Corporate bonds	$	24,617	$	—	$	11,979	$	29,523
Certificates of deposit	42,351		—		52,048		—
Total	$	66,968	$	—	$	64,027	$	29,523

For the year ended December 31, 2018, losses of $189 were reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income in interest and other income as compared to gains of $5 for the year ended December 31, 2017. At December 31, 2018, current marketable securities included unrealized losses of $67 and no non-current marketable securities were held by the Company. At December 31, 2017, current marketable securities included unrealized losses of $106 and unrealized gains of $1 and non-current marketable securities included unrealized gains of $3 and unrealized losses of $90.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories:

Inventories, which consist of finished goods on hand and in transit, are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment:

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed utilizing the straight-line method based on estimated useful lives ranging from three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized utilizing the straight-line method over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the remaining lease term. Impairment losses are recognized for long-lived assets, including definite-lived intangibles, used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are not sufficient to recover the assets' carrying amount. Impairment losses are measured by comparing the fair value of the assets to their carrying amount.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets:

The Company's goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets are not amortized, rather they are tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances change that could cause these assets to become impaired.

In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill are assessed for impairment by performing a qualitative assessment which evaluates relevant events or circumstances in order to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an intangible asset or reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The factors that are considered include historical financial performance, macroeconomic and industry conditions and legal and regulatory environment. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of the intangible asset or reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the fair value of the intangible asset or reporting unit is compared with its carrying amount and, if the fair value of the intangible asset or reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an impairment is recognized equal to the amount by which the carrying value of the intangible asset or reporting unit exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $1,000 related to the Wild Pair trademark. The impairment was triggered by a loss of future anticipated cash flows. The Company completed its annual impairment tests on goodwill and its remaining indefinite-lived intangible assets during the third quarter of 2018, and no other impairments were recognized.

The Company amortizes its intangible assets with definite useful lives over their estimated useful lives and reviews these assets for impairment when there is a triggering event. The Company is currently amortizing its acquired intangible assets with definite useful lives over periods typically from two to ten years using the straight-line method.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net Income Per Share of Common Stock:

Basic net income per share is based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, which does not include unvested restricted common stock subject to forfeiture of 5,135,000, 5,874,000 and 6,287,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively. Diluted net income per share reflects: a) the potential dilution assuming shares of common stock were issued upon the exercise of outstanding in-the-money options and the proceeds thereof were used to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock at the average market price during the period, and b) the vesting of granted nonvested restricted stock awards for which the assumed proceeds upon vesting are deemed to be the amount of compensation cost not yet recognized attributable to future services using the treasury stock method, to the extent dilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, options to purchase approximately 45,000, 14,000 and 561,000 shares of common stock, respectively, have been excluded in the calculation of diluted income per share as the result would have been anti-dilutive. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, all unvested restricted stock awards were dilutive.

Comprehensive Income Loss Policy

Comprehensive Income:

Comprehensive income is the total of net earnings and all other non-owner changes in equity. Comprehensive income for the Company includes net income, foreign currency translation adjustments, cash flow hedging and unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities. The accumulated balances for each component of other comprehensive loss attributable to the Company are as follows:



	2018			2017
Currency translation adjustment	$	(33,091	)	$	(24,798	)
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	530			(623		)
Unrealized loss on securities, net of tax	(67		)	(192		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$	(32,628	)	$	(25,613	)

Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Advertising costs:

The Company expenses costs of print, radio and billboard advertisements as incurred. Advertising expenses included in operating expenses amounted to approximately $21,921 in 2018, $19,629 in 2017 and $16,024 in 2016.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition:

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued new accounting guidance ("Topic 606"), as amended, Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09 ("ASU 2014-09"), "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," on revenue recognition. The new standard has replaced Revenue Recognition Topic 605 and provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers as well as requiring additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted the requirements of Topic 606 using the cumulative effect adjustment approach. The impacts to the financial statements of this adoption are primarily related to balance sheet classification, including amounts associated with the change in balance sheet classification of the sales returns reserves, with no significant impact to the income statement as the Company's previous revenue recognition policies are in line with Topic 606.

The Company recognizes revenue when performance obligations identified under the terms of contracts with its customers are satisfied, which generally occurs upon the transfer of control in accordance with the contractual terms and conditions of the sale. The majority of the Company’s revenue is recognized at a point in time when product is shipped to the customer. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring goods, which includes estimates for variable consideration. Variable consideration mainly includes markdown allowances, co-op advertising programs and product returns. The revenue recognition for the Company's segments are described below (see Note P for disaggregated revenue amounts by segment).

A. Disaggregation of Revenue

Wholesale Sales Segment. The Company generates revenue through the design, sourcing and sale of branded footwear and accessories to both domestic and international customers who, in turn, sell the products to the consumer. The Company recognizes revenue when performance obligations identified under the terms of contracts with its customers are satisfied, which occurs upon the transfer of control of the merchandise in accordance with the contractual terms and conditions of the sale. The Company's revenue associated with its branded footwear and accessories products is recognized at a point in time when product is shipped to the customer. The Company also generates revenue through the design, sourcing and sale of private label footwear and accessories to both domestic and international customers who brand the products and sell them to the consumer. The Company's revenue associated with private label footwear and accessories products is recognized at a point in time when product is physically delivered to the customer's freight forwarder.

Retail Segment. The Company owns and operates 229 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Israel and China, including 7 e-commerce sites. The Company generates revenue through the sale of branded footwear and accessories directly to the consumer. The Company's revenue associated with Retail segment sales is recognized at the time of the point of sale when the customer takes control of the goods and payment is received.

First Cost Segment. The Company earns commissions for serving as a buying agent for footwear products under private labels and certain owned brands for many of the large mass-market merchandisers, shoe chains and other mid-tier retailers. As a buying agent, the Company utilizes its expertise and relationships with shoe manufacturers to facilitate the production of private label shoes to customer specifications. The Company’s commission revenue also includes fees charged for its design and product development services provided to certain suppliers. The Company satisfies its performance obligation to its customers by performing the services in buyer agency agreements and thereby earning its commission fee at the point in time when the customer’s freight forwarder takes control of the goods. The Company satisfies its performance obligation with the suppliers and earns its design fee from the factory at the point in time when the customer’s freight forwarder takes control of the goods.

Licensing Segment. The Company licenses various trademarks it owns under licensing agreements for use in connection with the manufacture, marketing and sale of eyewear, outerwear, hosiery, activewear, sleepwear, jewelry, watches, hair accessories, umbrellas, bedding, luggage, fragrance, men’s leather accessories, women's and children's apparel, swimwear and household goods. The license agreements require the licensee to pay the Company a royalty and, in substantially all of the agreements, an advertising fee, both of which are based on the higher of a minimum or actual net sales percentage as defined in the various agreements. Licensing revenue is recognized on the basis of net sales reported by the licensees, or the minimum guaranteed royalties, if higher. In substantially all of the Company’s license agreements, the minimum guaranteed royalty is earned and receivable on a quarterly basis. The Company recognizes licensing revenue over the period of time in which the license is provided to the benefit of the licensee.

B. Variable Consideration

Markdown Allowances

The Company provides markdown allowances to its retailer customers, which are recorded as a reduction of revenue in the period in which the branded footwear and accessories revenues are recognized. The Company estimates its markdown allowances by reviewing several performance indicators, including retailers' inventory levels, sell-through rates and gross margin levels.

Co-op Advertising Programs

Under co-op advertising programs, the Company agrees to reimburse the retailer for a portion of the costs incurred by the retailer to advertise and promote certain of the Company's products. The Company estimates the costs of co-op advertising programs based on the terms of the agreements with its retailer customers.

Rights of Return

The Company’s Retail segment accepts returns within 30 days from the date of sale for unworn merchandise which the Company is able to re-sell through the channel. The Company does not accept returns as a normal business practice from its branded and private label wholesale customers except for our cold weather accessories business and our Blondo and Kate Spade brands product lines. The Company estimates returns based on historical experience and current market conditions. Such amounts have historically not been material.

Sales Deductions

The Company supports retailers’ initiatives to maximize sales of the Company’s products on the retail floor by subsidizing the co-op advertising programs of such retailers, providing them with inventory markdown allowances and participating in various other marketing initiatives of its major customers. In addition, the Company accepts returns for damaged products for which the Company’s costs are normally charged back to the responsible third-party factory. Such expenses are reflected in the consolidated financial statements as deductions to arrive at net sales.

Revenue Recognition, Excise and Sales Taxes [Policy Text Block]

Taxes Collected from Customers:

The Company accounts for certain taxes collected from its customers in accordance with the accounting guidance which permits companies to adopt a policy of presenting taxes in the income statement on either a gross basis (included in revenues and costs) or a net basis (excluded from revenues). Taxes within the scope of this accounting guidance would include taxes that are imposed on a revenue transaction between a seller and a customer, for example, sales taxes, use taxes, value-added taxes and some types of excise taxes. The Company records all taxes on a net basis.

Cost of Sales, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cost of Sales:

All costs incurred to bring finished products to the Company’s distribution center or to the customers’ freight forwarder and, in the Retail segment, the costs to bring products to the Company’s stores, are included in the cost of sales line on the Consolidated Statements of Income. These include the cost of finished products, purchase commissions, letter of credit fees, brokerage fees, sample expenses, custom duty, inbound freight, royalty payments on licensed products, labels and product packaging. All warehouse and distribution costs related to the Wholesale segments and freight to customers, if any, are included in the operating expenses line item of the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to those of other companies in the industry because some companies may include warehouse and distribution costs, as well as other costs excluded from cost of sales by the Company, as a component of cost of sales, while other companies report on the same basis as the Company and include them in operating expenses.

Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Warehouse and Shipping Costs:

The Company includes all warehouse and shipping costs for the Wholesale segment in the operating expenses line on the Consolidated Statements of Income. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, the total warehouse and distribution costs included in operating expenses were $43,340, $32,395 and $27,079, respectively. Since the Company's standard terms of sales are “FOB Steve Madden warehouse,” the Company's wholesale customers absorb most shipping costs. Shipping costs to wholesale customers incurred by the Company are not considered significant and are included in the operating expenses line item in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Postemployment Benefit Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Employee Benefit Plan:

The Company maintains a tax-qualified 401(k) plan which is available to each of the Company's eligible employees who elect to participate after meeting certain length-of-service requirements. The Company made discretionary matching contributions of 50% of employees' contributions up to a maximum of 6% of employees' compensation which vest to the employees over a period of time. Total matching contributions to the plan for 2018, 2017 and 2016 were approximately $1,893, $1,819 and $1,633, respectively.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

[18] Income Taxes:

The provision for income taxes is computed using the asset and liability method, under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, and for operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the currently enacted tax rates that apply to taxable income in effect for the years in which those tax assets are expected to be realized or settled. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is believed more likely than not to be realized.

The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such positions are then measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. See Note N - Income Taxes.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

[19] Share-based Compensation:

The Company recognizes expense related to share-based payment transactions in which it receives employee services in exchange for equity instruments of the Company. Share-based compensation cost for restricted stock units (“RSUs”) is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Share-based compensation cost for stock options is measured at the grant date, based on the fair-value as calculated by the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model. The BSM option-pricing model incorporates various assumptions including expected volatility, estimated expected life and interest rates. The Company recognizes share-based compensation cost over the award’s requisite service period. The Company recognizes a benefit from share-based compensation in operating expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income if an incremental tax benefit is realized. See Note I - Equity- Based Compensation.