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Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Consolidated Financial Statements

Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Fossil, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries (the "Company"). The Company reports on a fiscal year reflecting the retail-based calendar (containing 4-4-5 week calendar quarters). References to 2011, 2010 and 2009 are for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011, January 1, 2011, and January 2, 2010, respectively. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. The Company is a leader in the design, development, marketing and distribution of contemporary, high quality fashion accessories on a global basis. The Company's products are sold primarily through department stores, specialty retailers and Company-owned retail stores worldwide.

Effective January 3, 2010, the Company made changes to the presentation of reportable segments to reflect changes in the way its chief operating decision maker evaluates the performance of its operations, develops strategy and allocates capital resources. The Company's reportable segments consist of the following: North America wholesale, Europe wholesale, Asia Pacific wholesale and Direct to consumer. Prior to January 3, 2010, the Company's reportable segments consisted of the following: United States wholesale, Europe wholesale, Other International wholesale and Direct to consumer.

These changes included the reclassification of the Company's wholesale operations in Canada and Mexico and its U.S. export business, all of which were previously recorded within the Company's Other International wholesale segment, to the North America wholesale segment. The Company's U.S. domestic wholesale operations previously recorded within the United States wholesale segment, were also reclassified to the North America wholesale segment. The Company's Asia Pacific wholesale operations, previously recorded within the Other International wholesale segment, were reclassified to the Asia Pacific wholesale segment. The Company's operations related to its joint venture with Fossil, Spain S.A., previously recorded within the Other International wholesale segment, were reclassified to the Europe wholesale segment. The Company's historical segment disclosures were recast to be consistent with the current presentation.
Uses Of Estimates

Use of Estimates are required in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to product returns, allowance for bad debt, inventories, long-lived assets, goodwill and trade names, income taxes, warranty costs, hedge accounting, litigation, reserves and stock-based compensation. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. Management estimates form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of the assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Concentration Of Risk

Concentration of Risk involves financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentration of credit risk and consist primarily of cash investments and accounts receivable. The Company places its cash investments with high-credit quality financial institutions and currently invests primarily in corporate debt securities and money market funds with major banks and financial institutions. Accounts receivable are generally diversified due to the number of entities comprising the Company's customer base and their dispersion across many geographic regions. The Company believes no significant concentration of credit risk exists with respect to these cash investments and accounts receivable.

A significant portion of sales of the Company's products are supplied by manufacturers located outside of the U.S., primarily in Asia. While the Company is not dependent on any single manufacturer outside the U.S., the Company could be adversely affected by political or economic disruptions affecting the business or operations of third-party manufacturers located outside of the U.S. In fiscal years 2011 and 2010, three of the Company's majority-owned assembly factories accounted for more than 60% of the Company's total watch assembly and jewelry production.
Cash Equivalents

Cash Equivalents are considered all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase.
Restricted Cash

Restricted Cash at December 31, 2011 was primarily comprised of $5.9 million in cash pledged as collateral to secure bank guarantees on behalf of the Company for payments related to prospective value added tax liabilities. This restricted cash is reported in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a component of current assets. The Company also has $2.1 million in cash pledged as collateral to secure bank guarantees for the purpose of obtaining retail space. This restricted cash is reported in intangible and other assets-net in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a component of long-term assets.
Securities Available For Sale

Securities Available for Sale consists of debt securities with original maturities exceeding three months and investments in publicly traded equity securities. By policy, the Company invests primarily in high-grade, marketable securities. Unrealized holding gains (losses) are included in accumulated other comprehensive income in the Company's consolidated balance sheets as a component of stockholders' equity. In fiscal year 2011, the Company sold the bonds at their approximate carrying value for $8.1 million.
Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable are stated net of allowances of approximately $61.6 million and $62.7 million for estimated customer returns and approximately $18.2 million and $18.0 million for doubtful accounts at the end of fiscal years 2011 and 2010, respectively. The Company's bad debt allowance has increased over the last three fiscal years due to the challenging global economic environment. As a result of the difficult economic environment, many of the Company's customers both domestically and internationally have experienced financial difficulties including bankruptcy. The Company increased its bad debt allowance to reserve for these bankruptcies, increased risks of non-payment and increased risk of customer charge-backs. The Company's policy is to maintain the reserve balances for bankruptcies until such time as the bankruptcies are actually settled.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of market or average cost, including any applicable duty and freight charges.

Investments

Investments in which the Company has significant influence over the investee are accounted for utilizing the equity method. If the Company does not have significant influence over the investee, the cost method is utilized.
Property, Plant And Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets of thirty years for buildings, five years for furniture and fixtures and three to seven years for computer equipment and software. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the asset's useful life.

Property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or conditions indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on expected undiscounted cash flows related to the asset. Impairment losses related to underperforming Company-owned retail stores of approximately $1.0 million, $1.8 million and $2.5 million were recorded in fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and are included in selling and distribution expenses in the Company's consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. The Company also recorded a $3.7 million impairment loss related to a Company-owned office building in fiscal 2010, which was included in general and administrative expenses in the Company's consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. No impairment losses were recorded on Company-owned office buildings in fiscal years 2011 or 2009.  
Goodwill And Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets include the cost in excess of net tangible assets acquired (goodwill), trademarks, trade names, customer lists and patents. Trademarks, customer lists and patents are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which are generally seven to twenty years. Goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, such as trade names acquired in business combinations, are evaluated for impairment annually as of the end of the fiscal year rather than amortized. Additionally, if events or conditions were to indicate the carrying value of a reporting unit or an indefinite-lived intangible asset may not be recoverable, the Company would evaluate the asset for impairment at that time. Impairment testing compares the carrying amount of the asset with its fair value. When the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment charge is recorded.

The Company has three reporting units for which it evaluates goodwill for impairment. These reporting units are North America wholesale, Europe wholesale and Asia Pacific wholesale. The fair value of each reporting unit is estimated using market comparable information. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, no impairment charge is recorded. As of December 31, 2011, the fair value of each of these reporting units substantially exceeded its carrying value.

Judgments and assumptions are inherent in the Company's estimate of future cash flows used to determine the estimate of the reporting unit's fair value. The most significant assumptions associated with the fair value calculations include net sales growth rates and discount rates. If the actual future sales results do not meet the assumed growth rates, future impairments of goodwill may be incurred.

The Company estimates the fair value of its trade names using discounted cash flow methodologies. Due to the inherent uncertainties involved in making the estimates and assumptions used in the fair value analysis, actual results may differ, which could alter the fair value of the trade names and possibly result in impairment charges in future periods. The Company has completed the required annual impairment testing for trade names for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009. No impairment charge was recorded in fiscal year 2011 and impairment charges of $1.8 million and $2.7 million were recorded in fiscal years 2010 and 2009, respectively. See Note 7-Intangible and Other Assets, for more information regarding impairment to the Company's trade names.
Accrued Expenses Other

Accrued Expenses Other includes liabilities relating to duty, deferred compensation, forward contracts, taxes, deferred rent, and other liabilities which are current in nature.
Warranty Liability

Warranty Liability is recorded using historical warranty repair experience. As changes in warranty costs are experienced, the warranty accrual is adjusted as necessary. The warranty liability at the end of fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $11.0 million, $8.5 million and $6.4 million, respectively.
Cumulative Translation Adjustment

Cumulative Translation Adjustment is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reflects the adjustments resulting from translating the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries. The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates which is generally the local currency of the country. Accordingly, assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at fiscal year end exchange rates. Income and expense items are translated at daily or average monthly exchange rates. Changes in exchange rates that affect cash flows and the related receivables or payables are recognized as transaction gains and losses in determining net income. The Company incurred net foreign currency transaction losses, including losses associated with the settlement of forward contracts, of approximately $20.7 million in fiscal year 2011 and gains of $5.2 million and $5.8 million in fiscal years 2010 and 2009, respectively, which have been included in other (expense) income-net.
Forward Contracts

Forward Contracts are entered into by the Company principally to hedge the future payment of intercompany inventory transactions by its non-U.S. subsidiaries. These cash flow hedges are stated at estimated fair value and changes in fair value are reported as a component of other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes. If the Company were to settle its Euro, Canadian Dollar, Japanese Yen, British Pound, Australian Dollar, and Mexican Peso based contracts at fiscal year end 2011, the result would have been a net gain of approximately $4.8 million, net of taxes. This unrealized gain is recognized in other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes. Additionally, to the extent that any of these contracts are not considered to be perfectly effective in offsetting the change in the value of the cash flows being hedged, any changes in fair value relating to the ineffective portion of these contracts would be recognized in other (expense) income-net. See Note 8-Derivatives and Risk Management for more information regarding the Company's use of forward contracts.
Litigation Reserves

Litigation Reserves are estimated amounts for claims that are probable and can be reasonably estimated and are recorded as liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The likelihood of a material change in these estimated reserves would be dependent on new claims that may arise, changes in the circumstances used to estimate amounts for prior period claims and favorable or unfavorable final settlements of prior period claims. As additional information becomes available, the Company assesses the potential liability related to new claims and existing claims and revises estimates as appropriate. As new claims arise or circumstances change relative to prior claim assessments, revisions in estimates of the potential liability could materially impact the Company's results of consolidated operations and financial position.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation is accounted for in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation ("ASC 718"). The Company utilizes the Black-Scholes model to determine the fair value of stock options and stock appreciation rights on the date of grant. The model requires the Company to make assumptions concerning (i) the length of time employees will retain their vested stock options before exercising them ("expected term"), (ii) the volatility of the Company's common stock price over the expected term, and (iii) the number of stock options that will be forfeited. Changes in these assumptions can materially affect the estimate of fair value of stock-based compensation and, consequently, the related expense amounts recognized on the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

Revenues

Revenues are recognized at the point title and the risks and rewards of ownership have passed to the customer, based on the terms of sale. The Company accepts limited returns and may request that a customer return a product if the customer has an excess of any style that the Company has identified as being a poor performer for that customer or geographic location. The Company continually monitors returns and maintains a provision for estimated returns based upon historical experience and any specific issues identified. Product returns are accounted for as reductions to revenue, cost of sales, accounts receivable and an increase in inventory to the extent the returned product is resalable. While returns have historically been within management's expectations and the provisions established, future return rates may differ from those experienced in the past. In the event that the Company's products are performing poorly in the retail market and/or it experiences product damages or defects at a rate significantly higher than the historical rate, the resulting returns could have an adverse impact on the operating results for the period or periods in which such returns materialize. Taxes imposed by governmental authorities on the Company's revenue-producing activities with customers, such as sales taxes and value added taxes, are excluded from net sales.

Cost Of Sales

Cost of Sales includes raw material costs, assembly labor, assembly overhead including depreciation expense, assembly warehousing costs and shipping and handling costs related to the movement of finished goods from assembly locations to sales distribution centers and from sales distribution centers to customer locations. Additionally, cost of sales includes customs duties, product packaging cost, royalty cost associated with sales of licensed products, the cost of molding and tooling and inventory shrinkage and damages.

Selling, Distribution, General And Administrative Expenses

Selling and Distribution Expenses include sales and distribution labor costs, sales distribution center and warehouse facility costs, depreciation expense related to sales distribution and warehouse facilities, the four-wall operating costs of the Company's retail stores, point-of-sale expenses, advertising expenses and art, design and product development labor costs.

General and Administrative Expenses include administrative support labor and "back office" or support costs such as treasury, legal, information services, accounting, internal audit, human resources and executive management costs. General and administrative expenses also include costs associated with stock-based compensation.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Costs for in-store and media advertising as well as co-op advertising, catalog costs, product displays, show/exhibit costs, advertising royalty related to the sales of licensed brands, internet costs associated with affiliation fees, printing costs and promotional allowances are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs were approximately $156.5 million, $123.8 million and $85.6 million for fiscal years 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling Interest is recognized as equity in the consolidated balance sheets, is reflected in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in consolidated net income and is captured within the summary of changes in equity attributable to controlling and noncontrolling interests. Noncontrolling interests represent ownership interests in subsidiaries not held by the Company.

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

Earnings Per Share ("EPS"). Basic EPS is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted EPS adjusts basic EPS for the effects of dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during each period using the treasury stock method.

 

The following table reconciles the numerators and denominators used in the computations of both basic and diluted EPS (in thousands except per share data):

 

Fiscal Year

    2011      2010      2009  

Numerator:

         

Net income attributable to Fossil, Inc.

    $ 294,702       $ 255,205       $ 139,188   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Denominator:

         

Basic EPS computations:

         

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

      63,298         66,701         66,684   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Basic EPS

    $ 4.66       $ 3.83       $ 2.09   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Diluted EPS computation:

         

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

      63,298         66,701         66,684   

Stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units

      667         986         469   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

      63,965         67,687         67,153   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Diluted EPS

    $ 4.61       $ 3.77       $ 2.07   
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

  

Approximately 40,000 and 812,000 weighted average shares issuable under stock-based awards were not included in the diluted EPS calculation in fiscal years 2011 and 2009, respectively, because they were antidilutive. There were no antidilutive shares in fiscal year 2010.
Income Taxes

Income Taxes are provided for under the asset and liability method for temporary differences in the recognition of certain revenues and expenses for tax and financial reporting purposes. The Company applies the provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes, which addresses how the benefit of tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Tax benefits associated with uncertain tax positions are recognized in the period in which one of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) the more likely than not recognition threshold is satisfied; (ii) the position is ultimately settled through negotiation or litigation; or (iii) the statute of limitations for the taxing authority to examine and challenge the position has expired. Tax benefits associated with an uncertain tax position are derecognized in the period in which the more likely than not recognition threshold is no longer satisfied.