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Note 17 - Investment in Affiliate
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block]
(17)
Investment in Affiliate

The Company holds a minority interest in Ridemakerz, LLC, which is accounted for under the equity method.  Ridemakerz has developed a wholesale toy product line and selectively operates interactive retail stores, primarily in tourist locations that allow children and families to build and customize their own personalized cars.  From 2006 through 2008, the Company invested $5.5 million in cash and entered into a series of agreements whereby the Company agreed to perform advisory and operational support services for Ridemakerz in exchange for additional equity.  The Company received a total of $3.6 million in equity in exchange for support services provided in fiscal 2007 through 2009.  As of December 31, 2011, the Company retained an ownership interest of approximately 15%.  Under the current agreements, as of the balance sheet date, the Company could own up to approximately 24% of fully diluted equity in Ridemakerz.

In 2006, the Company also purchased a call option from a group of other Ridemakerz investors for $150,000 for 1.25 million Ridemakerz common units at an exercise price of $1.25 per unit.  The call option was immediately exercisable and expires April 30, 2012.  Simultaneously, the Company granted a put option to the same group of investors for 1.25 million common units at an exercise price of $0.50 per unit.  The put option was exercised on all 1.25 million shares on February 13, 2012.  After the exercise, the Company’s ownership interest was approximately 18%.  Under the current agreements, as of the exercise date, the Company could own up to approximately 24% of fully diluted equity in Ridemakerz.

In fiscal 2009, the Company recorded non-cash pre-tax loss allocations of $7.5 million.  In the 2009 fourth quarter, the Company determined that its investment in Ridemakerz had experienced an other than temporary decline in its fair value due to continued significant losses and uncertainty as to the ultimate results of their restructuring.  Accordingly, an additional non-cash charge of $1.0 million was recorded.  Additionally, the Company wrote-off $1.1 million in receivables from Ridemakerz.  The combination of these charges reduced the book value of the Company’s investment to zero.  All of these charges are included in “Losses from investment in affiliate” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and are part of the Retail segment.  No income or loss allocations, impairments or other charges related to Ridemakerz were recorded in fiscal 2011 or 2010

As of December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, outstanding receivables from Ridemakerz were $-0-.