Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Fiscal Year

Our fiscal year is a 52/53 week year ending on the Saturday closest to January 31. Unless otherwise stated, references to years 2011, 2010, and 2009 relate respectively to the fiscal years ended January 28, 2012, January 29, 2011, and January 30, 2010.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, in the United States of America, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain assets and liabilities as of the financial statement reporting date in addition to the reported amounts of certain revenues and expenses for the reporting period. The assumptions used by management in future estimates could change significantly due to changes in circumstances and actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We had cash and cash equivalents of $70.6 million at January 28, 2012 and $60.2 million at January 29, 2011. Credit and debit card receivables (which generally settle within three days) totaling $4.5 million and $5.3 million were included in cash equivalents at January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, respectively.

We consider all certificates of deposit and other short-term investments with an original maturity date of three months or less to be cash equivalents. As of January 28, 2012, all invested cash was held in two money market accounts. While these investments are not considered by management to be at significant risk, they could be impacted if the underlying financial institutions fail or are subject to other adverse conditions in the financial markets. To date, we have experienced no loss or lack of access to either invested cash or cash held in our bank operating accounts.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Our financial assets as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011 included cash and cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to its short-term nature. We did not have any financial liabilities measured at fair value for these periods. Non-financial assets measured at fair value included on our consolidated balance sheet as of January 28, 2012 were those long-lived assets for which an impairment charge has been recorded. We did not have any non-financial liabilities measured at fair value for this period. See Note 3 – “Fair Value Measurements” for further discussion.

Merchandise Inventories and Cost of Sales

Merchandise inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market (LCM) using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. For determining market value, we estimate the future demand and related sale price of merchandise contained in inventory as of the balance sheet date. The stated value of merchandise inventories contained on our consolidated balance sheets also includes freight, certain capitalized overhead costs and reserves. Factors considered in determining if our inventory is properly stated at LCM includes, among others, recent sale prices, the length of time merchandise has been held in inventory, quantities of various styles held in inventory, seasonality of merchandise, expected consideration to be received from our vendors and current and expected future sales trends. We reduce the value of our inventory to its estimated net realizable value where cost exceeds the estimated future selling price. Material changes in the factors previously noted could have a significant impact on the actual net realizable value of our inventory and our reported operating results.

Cost of sales includes the cost of merchandise sold, buying, distribution, and occupancy costs, inbound freight expense, provision for inventory obsolescence, inventory shrink and credits and allowances from merchandise vendors. With the launch of our e-commerce site in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, cost of sales now also includes the charges related to our utilization of a third party fulfillment agent in addition to the freight expense for delivering merchandise to our customer.

Property and Equipment-Net

Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements are taken on the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the applicable lease terms. Lives used in computing depreciation and amortization range from two to twenty years. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures, which materially increase values, improve capacities or extend useful lives are capitalized. Upon sale or retirement, the costs and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are eliminated from the respective accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in operations.

We periodically evaluate our long-lived assets if events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The carrying value of long-lived assets is considered impaired when the carrying value of the assets exceeds the expected future cash flows to be derived from their use. Assets are grouped, and the evaluation performed, at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows, which is generally at a store level. If the estimated future cash flows for a store are determined to be less than the carrying value of the store's assets, an impairment loss is recorded for the difference between estimated fair value and carrying value. Assets subject to impairment are adjusted to estimated fair value and, if applicable, an impairment loss is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses. We estimate the fair value of our long-lived assets using store specific cash flow assumptions discounted by a rate commensurate with the risk involved with such assets while incorporating marketplace assumptions. Our assumptions and estimates used in the evaluation of impairment, including current and future economic trends for stores, are subject to a high degree of judgment. If actual operating results or market conditions differ from those anticipated, the carrying value of certain of our assets may prove unrecoverable and we may incur additional impairment charges in the future. Our evaluations resulted in the recording of non-cash impairment charges of $338,000, $1.7 million and $90,000 in fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Insurance Reserves

We self-insure a significant portion of our workers' compensation, general liability and employee health care costs and also maintain insurance in each area of risk, protecting us from individual and aggregate losses over specified dollar values. We review the liability reserved for our self-insured portions on a quarterly basis, taking into consideration a number of factors, including historical claims experience, severity factors, statistical trends and, in certain instances, valuation assistance provided by independent third parties. Self-insurance reserves include estimates of claims filed, carried at their expected ultimate settlement value, and claims incurred but not yet reported. As of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, our self-insurance reserves totaled $2.4 million and $2.5 million, respectively. While we believe that the recorded amounts are adequate, there can be no assurance that changes to management's estimates will not occur due to limitations inherent in the estimating process. If actual results are not consistent with our estimates or assumptions, we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material.

Deferred Lease Incentives

All cash incentives received from landlords are recorded as deferred income and amortized over the life of the lease on a straight-line basis as a reduction of rental expense.

Accrued Rent

We are party to various lease agreements, which require scheduled rent increases over the initial lease term. Rent expense for such leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term beginning the earlier of the start date of the lease or when we take possession of the property. The difference between rent based upon scheduled monthly payments and rent expense recognized on a straight-line basis is recorded as accrued rent.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from sales of merchandise at our store locations is recognized at the time of sale. We record revenue from our e-commerce sales, including shipping and handling fees, based on an estimated customer receipt date. Our sales are recorded exclusive of sales tax. In the regular course of business, we offer our customers sales incentives including coupons, discounts, and free merchandise. Sales are recorded net of such incentives and returns and allowances. If an incentive involves free merchandise, that merchandise is recorded as a zero sale and the cost is included in cost of sales. Gift card revenue is recognized at the time of redemption.

Consideration Received From a Vendor

Consideration is primarily received from merchandise vendors. Consideration is either recorded as a reduction of the price paid for the vendor's products and recorded as a reduction of our cost of sales or if the consideration represents a reimbursement of a specific, incremental and identifiable cost then it is recorded as an offset to the same financial statement line item.

Consideration received from our vendors includes co-operative advertising/promotion, margin assistance, damage allowances and rebates earned for a specific level of purchases over a defined period. Consideration principally takes the form of credits that we can apply against trade amounts owed.

Consideration received after the related merchandise has been sold is recorded as an offset to cost of sales in the period negotiations are finalized. For consideration received on merchandise still in inventory, the allowance is recorded as a reduction to the cost of on-hand inventory and recorded as a reduction of our cost of sales at the time of sale. Allowances received from vendors representing a reimbursement of specific, incremental and identifiable costs are offset to the same financial statement line item. Should the allowances received exceed the incremental cost then the excess consideration is recorded as a reduction to the cost of on-hand inventory and allocated to cost of sales in future periods utilizing an average inventory turn rate.

Store Opening and Start-up Costs

Non-capital expenditures, such as advertising, payroll and supplies, incurred prior to the opening of a new store are charged to expense in the period they are incurred.

Advertising Costs

Print, television, radio, outdoor and digital media costs are generally expensed when incurred. Internal production costs are expensed when incurred and external production costs are expensed in the period the advertisement first takes place. Advertising expenses included in selling, general and administrative expenses were $33.5 million, $31.1 million and $29.1 million in fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Segment Information

We have identified each retail store and our e-commerce site as individual operating segments. Our operating segments have been aggregated and are reported as one reportable segment based on the similar nature of products sold, merchandising and distribution processes involved, target customers and economic characteristics.

Income Taxes

We compute income taxes using the asset and liability method, under which deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities. We account for uncertain tax positions in accordance with current authoritative guidance and report a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We recognize interest expense and penalties, if any, related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.

Net Income Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share as shown on the face of the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income.

(In thousands except per share data)	2011		2010		2009
Numerator
Net income	$	26,382	$	26,821	$	15,166
Less amount allocable to participating securities		554		0		0
Net income available for basic common shares		25,828		26,821		15,166
Adjustment for dilutive potential common shares		0		0		0
Net income available for diluted common shares	$	25,828	$	26,821	$	15,166

Denominator
Weighted average common shares – basic		13,016		12,724		12,513
Adjustment for dilutive potential common shares		113		336		147
Weighted average common shares – diluted		13,129		13,060		12,660

Net income per common share
Basic	$	1.98	$	2.11	$	1.21
Diluted	$	1.97	$	2.05	$	1.20

Our basic and diluted earnings per share are computed using the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation that determines net income per share for each class of common stock and participating securities according to participation rights in undistributed earnings. Non-vested stock awards that include non-forfeitable rights to dividends are considered participating securities. Per share amounts are computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during each period. Options to purchase 224,700 shares of common stock for fiscal 2009 were not included in the computation of diluted shares because the options' exercise prices were greater than the average market price of our common stock for the period. There were no anti-dilutive options in fiscal 2011 or fiscal 2010.

Stock-Based Compensation

We recognize compensation expense for stock-based awards based on the fair value of the awards. Stock-based awards may include stock option grants, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock grants and certain transactions under our stock-based compensation plans. Additionally, we recognize stock-based compensation expense for the discount on shares sold to employees through our employee stock purchase plan. This discount represents the difference between the market price and the employee purchase price. Stock-based compensation expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense.

We apply an estimated forfeiture rate in calculating the stock-based compensation expense for the period. Forfeiture estimates are adjusted periodically based on the extent to which actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from previous estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance which amends certain accounting and disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. For fair value measurements categorized as Level 3, a reporting entity should disclose quantitative information of the unobservable inputs and assumptions, a description of the valuation processes and a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value to changes in unobservable inputs. The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011, with early adoption prohibited. We do not believe the guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.