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Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	LAWSON PRODUCTS INC/NEW/DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000703604
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 104,875,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		8,888,028

Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 4,416	$ 10,421
Restricted cash	800	800
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $476 and $454, respectively	38,575	30,200
Inventories	50,928	42,561
Miscellaneous receivables and prepaid expenses	3,728	3,788
Total current assets	98,447	87,770
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization	27,333	30,907
Cash value of life insurance	11,964	10,051
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	11,813	844
Goodwill	19,614	5,520
Deferred income taxes	21,248	20
Other assets	248	195
Total assets	190,667	135,307
Current liabilities:
Revolving line of credit	14,543	841
Accounts payable	12,394	11,307
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	33,040	27,289
Total current liabilities	59,977	39,437
Security bonus plan	12,981	14,216
Financing lease obligation	6,420	7,543
Deferred compensation	5,476	4,830
Deferred rent liability	3,512	3,676
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	3,115	0
Other liabilities	5,696	4,472
Total liabilities	97,177	74,174
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Authorized - 500,000 shares, Issued and outstanding - None	0	0
Authorized - 35,000,000 shares Issued – 8,921,302 and 8,864,929 shares, respectively Outstanding – 8,888,028 and 8,832,623 shares, respectively	8,921	8,865
Capital in excess of par value	13,005	11,055
Retained earnings	71,453	41,943
Treasury stock – 33,274 and 32,306 shares held, respectively	(711)	(691)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	822	(39)
Total stockholders’ equity	93,490	61,133
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 190,667	$ 135,307

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 476	$ 454
Preferred stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	500,000	500,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 1.00	$ 1.00
Common stock, shares authorized	35,000,000	35,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	8,921,302	8,864,929
Common stock, shares outstanding	8,888,028	8,832,623
Treasury Stock, Shares	33,274	32,306

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 3.35	$ (0.19)	$ 0.03
Net sales	$ 305,907	$ 276,573	$ 275,834
Cost of goods sold	122,889	108,511	106,710
Gross profit	183,018	168,062	169,124
Operating expenses:
Selling Expense	98,025	92,908	90,093
General and Administrative Expense	80,479	76,611	75,979
Selling, general and administrative expenses	178,504	169,519	166,072
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property	(5,422)	0	0
Environmental remediation expense	0	0	931
Operating expenses	173,082	169,519	167,003
Operating income (loss)	9,936	(1,457)	2,121
Interest expense	(622)	(496)	(766)
Other income (expenses), net	780	422	(203)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(10,094)	1,531	(1,152)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(19,594)	98	855
Net Income (loss)	$ 29,688	$ (1,629)	$ 297
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 3.25	$ (0.19)	$ 0.03
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	8,864	8,780	8,726
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements	267	0	150
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	9,131	8,780	8,876
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net income (loss)	$ 29,688	$ (1,629)	$ 297
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Adjustment for foreign currency translation	861	427	(1,892)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 30,549	$ (1,202)	$ (1,595)

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($)	Total	Common Stock, $1 par value	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 61,855,000	$ 8,720,000	$ 8,701,000	$ 43,275,000	$ (267,000)	$ 1,426,000
Net income (loss)	297,000			297,000
Adjustment for foreign currency translation	(1,892,000)					(1,892,000)
Stock based compensation	1,252,000	0	1,252,000
Shares issued		76,000	(76,000)
Share repurchase	(248,000)				(248,000)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2015	61,264,000	8,796,000	9,877,000	43,572,000	(515,000)	(466,000)
Net income (loss)	(1,629,000)			(1,629,000)
Adjustment for foreign currency translation	427,000					427,000
Stock based compensation	1,247,000	0	1,247,000
Shares issued		69,000	(69,000)
Share repurchase	(176,000)				(176,000)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2016	61,133,000	8,865,000	11,055,000	41,943,000	(691,000)	(39,000)
Deferred Tax Expense from Stock Options Exercised	200,000
Net income (loss)	29,688,000
Adjustment for foreign currency translation	861,000
Stock based compensation	2,006,000	0	2,006,000
Shares issued		56,000	(56,000)
Share repurchase	(20,000)				(20,000)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2017	93,490,000	$ 8,921,000	$ 13,005,000	$ 71,453,000	$ (711,000)	$ 822,000
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	$ (178,000)

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Common stock, par value	$ 1.00	$ 1.00

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Operating activities:
Net Income (loss)	$ 29,688	$ (1,629)	$ 297
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	(6,770)	(8,066)	(8,543)
Stock based compensation	(3,106)	(2,469)	(2,093)
Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment	(5,422)	0	0
Increase (Decrease) in Deferred Income Taxes	(21,229)	31	0
Environmental Remediation Expense	0	0	931
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(5,275)	(3,252)	3,285
Inventories	(1,713)	2,229	(116)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(1,226)	(45)	418
Accounts payable and other liabilities	(1,846)	(573)	6,133
Other	525	194	215
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,070	8,636	9,533
Investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(1,256)	(3,112)	(2,342)
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	32,286	6,030	441
Proceeds from sale of property	6,177	0	3
Net cash used in investing activities	(27,365)	(9,142)	(2,780)
Financing activities:
Net borrowings on revolving line of credit	13,595	(84)	925
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	20	0	50
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(20)	(176)	(248)
Payments of Merger Related Costs, Financing Activities	(80)	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	13,515	(260)	727
Discontinued operations:
Effect of Exchange Rate on Cash and Cash Equivalents	775	422	(922)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(6,005)	(344)	6,558
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	10,421	10,765	4,207
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 4,416	$ 10,421	$ 10,765

Description of Business	12 Months Ended
Description of Business	Dec. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business Lawson Products, Inc. (“Lawson” or the “Company”) is a North American distributor of products and services to the industrial, commercial, institutional and government maintenance, repair and operations (“MRO”) marketplace. The Company has two operating segments. The Lawson operating segment distributes MRO products to customers primarily through a network of sales representatives offering VMI service to customers throughout the United States and Canada. In October 2017 the Company acquired The Bolt Supply House, Ltd. ("Bolt"), an MRO distributor located in western Canada. The Bolt operating segment distributes MRO products primarily through its 13 branches located in Western Canada.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation — The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include the accounts and transactions of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications have no effect on net income as previously reported. Revenue Recognition — Net sales include product sales and billings for freight and handling charges. Sales and associated cost of goods sold are generally recognized when products are shipped and title passes to customers. We accrue for returns based on historical evidence of return rates. Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amount of the Company’s cash equivalents at December 31, 2017 approximates fair value. Allowance for Doubtful Accounts — The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filings, substantial down-grading of credit ratings), a specific reserve for bad debts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for bad debts based on the Company’s historical experience of bad debt write-offs as a percent of accounts receivable outstanding. If circumstances change (e.g., higher than expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations), the estimates of the recoverability of amounts due the Company could be revised by a material amount. Inventories — Inventories principally consist of finished goods stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in-first-out method. To reduce the cost basis of inventory to a lower of cost or net realizable value, a reserve is recorded for slow-moving and obsolete inventory based on historical experience and monitoring of current inventory activity. Estimates are used to determine the necessity of recording these reserves based on periodic detailed analysis using both qualitative and quantitative factors. As part of this analysis, the Company considers several factors including the inventories length of time on hand, historical sales, product shelf life, product life cycle, product category and product obsolescence. Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation expense is computed primarily by the straight-line method for its buildings, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures and vehicles. The Company estimates useful lives of 20 to 30 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures and vehicles. Amortization of financing and capital leases is included in depreciation expense. Depreciation expense was $4.7 million, $4.7 million and $4.6 million for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Capitalized software is amortized over estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years using the straight-line method. Amortization expense of capitalized software was $1.6 million, $3.1 million and $3.8 million for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cash Value of Life Insurance — The Company has invested funds in life insurance policies on certain current and former employees. The cash surrender value of the policies is invested in various investment instruments and is recorded as an asset on our consolidated financial statements. The Company records these funds at contractual value. The change in the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies, which is recorded as a component of General and administrative expenses, is the change in the policies' contractual values. Deferred Compensation — The Company’s Executive Deferral Plan (“Deferral Plan”) allows certain executives to defer payment of a portion of their earned compensation. The deferred compensation is recorded in an Account Balance, which is a bookkeeping entry made by the Company to measure the amount due to the participant. The Account Balance is equal to the participant’s deferred compensation, adjusted for increases and/or decreases in the amount that the participant has designated to one or more bookkeeping portfolios that track the performance of certain mutual funds. Lawson adjusts the deferred compensation liability to equal the contractual value of the participants’ Account Balances. These adjustments are the changes in contractual value of the individual plans and are recorded as a component of General and administrative expenses. Stock-Based Compensation — Compensation based on the share value of the Company’s common stock is valued at its fair value at the grant date and the expense is recognized over the vesting period. Fair value is re-measured each reporting period for liability-classified awards that may be redeemable in cash. Goodwill — The Company had $19.6 million and $5.5 million of goodwill in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Goodwill represents the cost of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is allocated to the appropriate reporting unit, which are the same as the operating segments as reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker responsible for reviewing operating performance and allocating resources. The Company reviews goodwill for potential impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or when an event or other circumstance changes that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value. The first step in the multi-step process to determine if goodwill has been impaired and to what degree is to review the relevant qualitative factors that could cause the fair value of the reporting unit to decrease below the carrying value of the reporting unit. After reviewing the qualitative factors relevant to the reporting units, including conditions surrounding the industry we operate in compared to when the acquisitions were completed, the financial performance of the reporting units compared to our projected results, and macroeconomic conditions as a whole, we have determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting units exceed their carrying value, therefore goodwill has not been impaired and no further steps need to be taken. Intangible Assets — The Company's intangible assets consists of trade names, and customer relationships. Intangible assets are amortized over weighted average 15 and 11 year estimated useful lives for trade names and customer relationships, respectively. Impairment of Long-Lived Assets — The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and definite life intangibles, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of these assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of the assets' carrying amount to their expected future undiscounted net cash flows. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured based on the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. In 2016 the Company determined that a triggering event had occurred when it announced a plan to close its distribution center located in Fairfield, New Jersey. Based on independent offers obtained for the facility, the Company determined that no impairment had occurred. No additional triggering events or impairments occurred in 2017. Income Taxes — Deferred tax assets or liabilities reflect temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. Such amounts are adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect changes in enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. A valuation allowance is established to offset any deferred tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not (i.e. greater than 50% likely) that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The determination of the amount of a valuation allowance to be provided on recorded deferred tax assets involves estimates regarding (1) the timing and amount of the reversal of taxable temporary differences, (2) expected future taxable income, (3) the impact of tax planning strategies and (4) the ability to carry back deferred tax assets to offset prior taxable income. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including past operating results, projections of future taxable income and the feasibility of ongoing tax planning strategies. The projections of future taxable income include a number of estimates and assumptions regarding our volume, pricing and costs. Additionally, valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be impacted by changes to tax laws. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions as well as deferred tax asset and liability balances, including the estimation of valuation allowances and the evaluation of tax positions. In 2012, due to historical cumulative losses, we had determined it was more likely than not that we would not be able to utilize our deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income. Therefore, substantially all of our deferred tax assets were subject to a tax valuation allowance. We have continued to generate pre-tax profits and have utilized some of our net operating loss carryforwards over the last two years and are now in a three year cumulative income position in the U.S. Based on available evidence, including the utilization of $18.0 million of net operating loss carryforwards in 2017, we have reached a point of increased confidence in our ability to sustain profit levels and we now believe it is more likely than not that we will be able to utilize a substantial amount of our deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income. Therefore, a large portion of our U.S. valuation allowances were released in 2017. Earnings from the Company's foreign subsidiaries are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. A distribution of these non-U.S. earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise would subject the Company to foreign withholding taxes and may subject the Company to U.S. federal and state taxes. The Company recognizes the benefit of tax positions when a benefit is more likely than not (i.e., greater than 50% likely) to be sustained on its technical merits. Recognized tax benefits are measured at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained, based on cumulative probability, in final settlement of the position. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense. Leases — Leases are categorized as either operating or capital leases at inception. Operating lease costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. An asset and a corresponding liability for the capital lease obligation are established for the cost of capital leases. The capital lease obligation is amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term. The Company purchased $0.3 million and $0.2 million of assets financed by capital leases in 2017 and 2016, respectively, in non-cash transactions that were not reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For build-to-suit financing leases, the Company establishes an asset and liability for the estimated construction costs incurred to the extent that it is involved in the construction of structural improvements or takes construction risk prior to the commencement of the lease. Upon occupancy of facilities under build-to-suit leases, the Company assesses whether these arrangements qualify for sales recognition under the sale-leaseback accounting guidance. If a lease does not meet the criteria to qualify for a sale-leaseback transaction, the established asset and liability remain on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. This asset is depreciated over the life of the lease and the liability is reduced by the non-interest portion of the lease payments for costs allocated to the building and on a straight line basis for costs allocated to land. Sub-leases — If the Company is relieved of its primary obligation under the original lease then the original lease is considered to be terminated, otherwise if the Company retains primary obligation under the original lease then the Company continues to account for the original lease and also accounts for the new sub-lease as lessor. At the time the sub-lease is executed, the Company records a gain or loss equal to the difference between the total cash payments to be made for gross rent under the original lease agreement over the life of the sub-lease plus executory costs and total gross rent proceeds expected to be received over the life of the sub-lease. Earnings per Share — Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution from the exercise or conversion of outstanding stock options, market stock units and restricted stock awards into common stock. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, stock options to purchase 80,000, 40,000 and 40,000, respectively of the Company's common stock were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common stock. The dilutive effect of outstanding securities of approximately 164,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as the Company recorded a loss for those periods and therefore the effect would have been anti-dilutive. Foreign Currency — The accounts of foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. All balance sheet amounts are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the applicable period end. Components of income or loss are translated using the average exchange rate for each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from changes in the exchange rates from translation of the subsidiary accounts in local currency to U.S. dollars are reported as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses resulting from the effect of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are included as a component of net income or loss upon settlement of the transaction. Gains and losses resulting from intercompany transactions are included as a component of net income or loss each reporting period unless the transactions are of a long-term-investment nature and settlement is not planned or anticipated in the foreseeable future, in which case the gains and losses are recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive or loss in the consolidated balance sheets. Treasury Stock —The Company repurchased 968, 7,162 and 11,261 shares of its common stock in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, from employees upon the vesting of restricted stock to offset the income taxes owed by those employees. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of stockholders’ equity. The value of the treasury stock repurchased of $20 thousand, $176 thousand and $248 thousand in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Acquisitions — The Company recognizes identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions for the purchase price allocation process to value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Use of Estimates — Preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for allowance for doubtful accounts. inventory reserves, goodwill and intangible assets valuation, and income taxes in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. ASU 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting Effective January 1, 2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718)” (“ASU 2016-09”). Prior to January 1, 2017, the Company recognized excess tax benefits or deficiencies of stock-based compensation expense, to the extent that there were sufficient recognized excess tax benefits previously recognized, as a component of additional paid-in capital. ASU 2016-09 requires the Company to account for excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur. The adoption was applied on a modified retrospective basis. Deferred tax assets related to stock-based compensation were fully reserved and, therefore, there was no net effect on the Company's beginning balance sheet for 2017 and a $0.2 million benefit to the Company's results of operations. As a result of including the income tax effects from excess tax benefits in income tax expense, the effects of the excess tax benefits are no longer included in the calculation of diluted shares outstanding, resulting in an increase in the number of diluted shares outstanding. The Company adopted this change in the method of calculating diluted shares outstanding on a prospective basis. ASU 2016-09 also permits entities to make an accounting policy election related to how forfeitures will impact the recognition of compensation cost for stock-based compensation to either estimate the total number of awards for which the requisite service period will not be rendered, as currently required, or to account for forfeitures as they occur. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-09, the Company elected to change its accounting policy to account for forfeitures as they occur. The change was applied on a modified retrospective basis with a cumulative effect adjustment to reduce retained earnings by $178 thousand, as of January 1, 2017. Additionally, ASU 2016-09 addressed the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows. The Company is now required to present the cost of shares withheld from the employee to satisfy the employees’ income tax liability as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as an operating cash flow. The Company adopted this change retrospectively. The Company withheld shares with a value of $20 thousand, $176 thousand and $248 thousand to satisfy employee taxes in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which is intended to help companies evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses by providing a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. This ASU will be effective commencing with our quarter ending March 31, 2018. Although we do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption, it may have a material impact if applicable transactions occur. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This standard eliminates a step from the goodwill impairment test and instead requires an entity to recognize a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which the goodwill carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. This guidance is effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. This guidance must be applied on a prospective basis. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2017. The adoption of this guidance had no material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash, which requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the total beginning and ending amounts for the periods shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (including interim periods within those periods) using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company does not expect the impact on its consolidated financial statements to be material. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) in order to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. ASU 2016-02 requires that a lessee should recognize a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (including interim periods within those periods) using a modified retrospective approach and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 in the first quarter of 2019. While the effect of the pronouncement has not yet been quantified, the Company is continuing to evaluate the impact of recording the right-of-use-assets and liabilities on its financial position. The Company anticipates it will be required to record assets and liabilities for leases currently classified as operating leases. In November, 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. This update simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring all entities that present a classified balance sheet to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as a noncurrent amount. The objective of this ASU is to reduce the cost and complexity of recording deferred taxes without affecting the usefulness of financial statement information. The pronouncement is effective for public entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years and the guidance may be applied on either a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company adopted ASU 2015-07 on a prospective basis in 2017. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, which consists of the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable cost of completion, disposal, and transportation. This pronouncement is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance is to be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company adopted ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017 and it had no material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2014-09), which supersedes nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, more judgment and estimates may be required within the revenue recognition process than are required under existing U.S. GAAP. The new standard is effective for the Company's interim and annual periods beginning with the first quarter of 2018. The standard is to be applied using one of two retrospective application methods. The ASU also requires disclosures sufficient to enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. Numerous updates were issued in 2016 that provide clarification on a number of specific issues as well as requiring additional disclosures. The Company established a team to address the effect of the new accounting standard. The team has reviewed the terms and conditions included in a representative sample of its contracts with customers and, as a result of this review, determined that the terms of the majority of its contracts are similar in nature. Therefore, the Company will adopt the standard through the application of the portfolio approach in which a representative sample of customer contracts that are characteristically representative of all contracts are selected and are assessed under the guidance of the new standard. In applying the standard to the terms of these contracts, the Company identified that its Vendor Managed Inventory ("VMI") service in the Lawson segment is a separate performance obligation associated with its written and implied contracts. The VMI performance obligation is generally completed within a short period of time subsequent to control of the product passing to the customer. The amount of revenue associated with the VMI service will be deferred until the time that the VMI performance obligation has been completed. Under the portfolio method, the Company has developed a methodology to estimate the dollar amount of this deferral. The methodology, as a practical expedient, uses certain assumptions to estimate the amount of revenue to be deferred. These estimates include, among others, the percentage of customers that take advantage of the VMI services offered, the amount of revenue to be allocated to the VMI service based on the value of the service to its customers, and the amount of time after control of the product passes to the customer that the VMI service obligation is completed. The Company will apply this methodology to calculate the impact of the pronouncement on its consolidated financial statements. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2014-09 January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. Under this method, a cumulative effect adjustment will be recorded based on applying the guidance to the customer contracts that were not completed at the date of initial application. As a result, prior periods will not be adjusted to reflect application of the new guidance. Although the calculation has not yet been finalized, the Company anticipates that it will record a one-time increase in deferred revenue and a decrease to retained earnings of approximately $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2018 due to the adoption of the standard. The estimated impact of adopting ASC 606 is based on the Company's best estimate at the time of the preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The actual impact is subject to change prior to the first quarter 2018 filing. After initial adoption, the effect on consolidated revenue and expenses in subsequent periods is not expected to be significant. However, additional quantitative and qualitative presentations and disclosures will be required on identified revenue streams and performance obligations.

Restricted Cash Restricted Cash	12 Months Ended
Restricted Cash Restricted Cash	Dec. 31, 2017
Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Restricted Assets Disclosure [Text Block]	Restricted Cash The Company has agreed to maintain $0.8 million in a money market account as collateral for an outside party that is providing certain commercial card processing services for the Company. The Company is restricted from withdrawing this balance without the prior consent of the outside party during the term of the agreement.

Inventories

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventories

Inventories, net

Inventories, net, consisting primarily of purchased goods which are offered for resale, were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017			2016
Inventories, gross	$	56,492		$	48,038
Reserve for obsolete and excess inventory	(5,564		)	(5,477		)
Inventories, net	$	50,928		$	42,561

Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Property, Plant and Equipment

Components of property, plant and equipment were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017			2016
Land	$	2,752		$	2,721
Buildings and improvements	16,973			18,981
Machinery and equipment	23,277			22,837
Capitalized software	21,947			21,371
McCook Facility	12,961			12,961
Furniture and fixtures	5,634			5,714
Capital leases	806			534
Vehicles	214			166
Construction in progress	375			571
	84,939			85,856
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(57,606		)	(54,949		)
	$	27,333		$	30,907

In 2017, the Company received net cash proceeds of $6.2 million and recognized a gain of $5.4 million from the sale of its Fairfield, New Jersey distribution center.

Acquisitions (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

Acquisitions

2017

In October, 2017, the Company acquired The Bolt Supply House Ltd., based in Calgary, Canada, for a purchase price of approximately $32.3 million, The purchase price was funded with cash on hand and utilization of Lawson Products’ existing credit facility. Bolt is a leading Canadian distributor of high quality fasteners, power tools and industrial MRO supplies, with 13 branch locations throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, Canada. The acquisition was made to add to the Company's revenue and earnings and expand distribution coverage in Western Canada.

The purchase price of the acquisition was allocated to the fair market value of Bolt's assets and liabilities on the acquisition date. The fair market value appraisals of the majority of the assets and liabilities were determined third party valuation firms including intangible assets of $7.2 million for trade names and $4.2 million for customers relationships and their estimated useful lives of 15 and 12 years, respectively. The $14.2 million allocated to goodwill reflects the purchase price less the fair market value of the identifiable net assets. The appropriate fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and the related tax balances, are based on preliminary estimates and assumptions. These preliminary estimates and assumptions could change significantly during the purchase price measurement period as the Company finalizes the valuations of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and the related tax balances. Such changes could result in material variances between the Company's future financial results and the amounts presented in the unaudited pro forma information, including variances in the estimated purchase price, fair values recorded and expenses associated with these items. Further operating details related to the operations of Bolt subsequent to the acquisition are included in Note 16 - Segment information.

2016

Primarily to expand its sales coverage and retain experienced sales representatives, the Company completed three acquisitions in 2016. In November, the Company acquired the assets of Mattic Industries Limited ("Mattic") an industrial parts distributor located in western Canada, for approximately $3.5 million in cash and $0.3 million in contingent consideration. In May, the Company acquired the assets of F.B. Feeney Hardware ("F. B. Feeney") in Ontario, Canada, for approximately $1.3 million in cash and $0.1 million in contingent consideration. And, in March, the Company acquired the assets of Perfect Products Company of Michigan ("Perfect Products"), an auto parts distributor for approximately $1.3 million in cash and $30 thousand in contingent consideration.

The Company allocated $0.7 million of the purchase price of the three acquisitions to an intangible asset for customer relationships which will be amortized over five years. Total contingent consideration of $0.4 million was not reflected in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

2015

The Company acquired one Company in 2015, West Coast Fasteners LTD (West Coast"), an auto parts distributor located in western Canada for approximately $0.4 million in cash.

A summary of the purchase price allocation of the acquisitions is as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Cash paid and liabilities assumed
Cash paid	$	32,286	$	6,030	$	441
Deferred tax liability	3,065		—		—
Other liabilities	2,434		188		—
Contingent consideration	—		412		—
	$	37,785	$	6,630	$	441

Fair value of assets acquired
Goodwill	$	14,176	$	5,231	$	299
Trade names	7,241		—		—
Inventory	6,315		584		137
Customer relationships	4,186		733		—
Accounts receivable	3,323		—		—
Property, plant and equipment	1,796		—		—
Other assets	748		82		5
	$	37,785	$	6,630	$	441

Additional acquisition expenses of $0.7 million, $0.6 million and $0.3 million were recorded as a component of General and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The following table contains unaudited pro forma net sales and net income (loss) for Lawson Products assuming the Bolt acquisition closed on January 1, 2016, the Mattic, F.B Feeney and Perfect Product acquisitions closed on January 1, 2015 and the West Coast acquisition closed on January 1, 2014.



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016			2015
Net Sales
Actual	$	305,907	$	276,573		$	275,834
Pro forma	$	331,522	$	308,250		$	283,573

Net income (loss)
Actual	$	29,688	$	(1,629	)	$	297
Pro forma	$	31,083	$	(1,148	)	$	317

The pro forma disclosures in the table above include adjustments for, amortization of intangible assets, interest expense, tax expenses and the impact of pro forma adjustments and acquisition costs to reflect results that are more representative of the combined results of the transactions as if the Bolt acquisition closed on January 1, 2016, the Mattic, F.B Feeney and Perfect Product acquisitions closed on January 1, 2015 and the West Coast acquisition closed on January 1, 2014. This pro forma information utilizes certain estimates, is presented for illustrative purposes only and may not be indicative of the results of operation that would have actually occurred. In addition, future results may vary significantly from the results reflected in the pro forma information. The unaudited pro forma financial information does not reflect the impact of future events that may occur after the acquisition, such as anticipated cost savings from operating synergies.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period, including background, timing, and recognized assets and liabilities. The disclosure may include leverage buyout transactions (as applicable).

+ References

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Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Goodwill (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Goodwill [Abstract]

Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block]

Goodwill

Goodwill activity related to these acquisitions is included in the table below:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017			2016
Beginning balance	$	5,520		$	319
Acquisition	14,176			5,231
Impact of foreign exchange	(9		)	(30		)
Adjustment to prior year allocation ⁽¹⁾	(73		)	—
Ending balance	$	19,614		$	5,520


(1)	The reduction of $0.1 million in 2017 resulted from a non-cash adjustment to the estimated purchase price allocation to inventory originally recorded in 2016.

Goodwill was tested for impairment in the fourth quarter of 2017 and no adjustment was deemed necessary.

Intangible assets (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

Intangible assets

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization by intangible asset class were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Trade names	$	8,182	$	(957	)	$	7,225	$	1,000	$	(787	)	$	213
Customer relationships	4,911		(323		)	4,588		716		(85		)	631
	$	13,093	$	(1,280	)	$	11,813	$	1,716	$	(872	)	$	844

Amortization expense of $0.4 million, $0.1 million and $0.1 million related to intangible assets was recorded in General and administrative expenses for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years are as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
Year	Amortization
2018	$	875
2019	1,111
2020	1,254
2021	1,363
2022	1,154
Thereafter	6,056
	$	11,813

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization by intangible asset class were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Trade names	$	8,182	$	(957	)	$	7,225	$	1,000	$	(787	)	$	213
Customer relationships	4,911		(323		)	4,588		716		(85		)	631
	$	13,093	$	(1,280	)	$	11,813	$	1,716	$	(872	)	$	844

Income Tax

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

Income (loss) from operations before income taxes consisted of the following:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
United States	$	10,159		$	(708	)	$	3,583
Canada	(65		)	(823		)	(2,431		)
	$	10,094		$	(1,531	)	$	1,152

Provision (benefit) for income taxes from operations for the years ended December 31, consisted of the following:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Current income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	$	296		$	97		$	(461	)
U.S. state	129			(33		)	75
Canada	1,209			3			1,241
Total	$	1,634		$	67		$	855
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	$	(17,971	)	$	—		$	—
U.S. state	(3,257		)	31			—
Canada	—			—			—
Total	$	(21,228	)	$	31		$	—
Total income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	$	(17,675	)	$	97		$	(461	)
U.S. state	(3,128		)	(2		)	75
Canada	1,209			3			1,241
Total	$	(19,594	)	$	98		$	855

The reconciliation between the effective income tax rate and the statutory federal rate for operations was as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Statutory federal rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
Change in valuation allowance - reversal	(210.5	)	—		—
Change in valuation allowance - federal tax rate change	(126.4	)	—		—
Change in valuation allowance - current period activity	(65.7	)	14.5		(86.4	)
Federal tax rate change	126.4		—		—
Foreign income inclusion	29.2		—		—
Change in uncertain tax positions	7.7		0.6		56.2
State and local taxes, net	4.7		(17.4	)	10.4
Alternative minimum tax	3.6		(6.3	)	7.6
Meals & entertainment	1.4		(9.0	)	11.6
Executive life insurance	0.9		(3.1	)	2.4
Provision to return differences	(0.7	)	(4.5	)	24.4
Captive insurance income	0.3		(3.0	)	—
Foreign tax rate differential	0.1		(14.3	)	17.9
Other items, net	(0.1	)	1.1		(4.9	)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)	(194.1	)%	(6.4	)%	74.2	%

The Company paid income taxes of $0.3 million, $0.2 million and $0.1 million in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively. At December 31, 2017, the Company had $28.8 million of U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards which are subject to expiration beginning in 2030 and $23.4 million of various state net operating loss carryforwards which expire at varying dates through 2034.

In the second quarter of 2017, the Company increased its deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance by $7.6 million that may arise from future settlement of uncertain tax positions in Canada. There was no impact to the Company's consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, balance sheets or statements of cash flows, as at the time the Company had valuation allowances equal to the value of the deferred tax assets. That amount was reduced to $4.6 million as of December 31, 2017 primarily as a result of the lower U.S. federal rate.

Primarily due to the cumulative losses that were incurred over several years, management determined in 2012 that it was more likely than not that the company would not be able to utilize its deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income. Valuation allowances ("VA’s") were recorded against virtually all the gross deferred tax assets at that time. At each reporting date since 2012, Lawson management has considered new evidence, both positive and negative, that could impact management’s view with regard to the realization of its deferred tax assets and the reversal of the corresponding valuation allowances. If the company was able to demonstrate that it can consistently generate income it may lead to a determination that there is sufficient positive evidence to conclude that it is more likely than not that the company will be able to utilize its deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income.

We have continued to generate pre-tax profits and have utilized some of our net operating loss carryforwards over the last two years and are now in a three year cumulative income position in the U.S. Based on available evidence, including the utilization of $18.0 million of net operating loss carryforwards in 2017, we have reached a point of increased confidence in our ability to sustain profit levels and we now believe it is more likely than not that we will be able to utilize a substantial amount of our deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income. Therefore, a large portion of our U.S. valuation allowances were released in 2017.

Certain valuation allowances mostly pertaining to the deferred tax assets related to our foreign operations will remain. The Company will continue to monitor all positive and negative evidence related to the remaining valuation of deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted into law on December 22, 2017. Among its provisions, the law reduced the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018, requiring the Company to re-measure its net U.S. deferred tax assets to reflect the reduction in the tax rate. The impact of the change resulted in a reduction to deferred tax assets of $12.6 million offset by the same decrease in the valuation allowance. The income tax benefit recorded in 2017 of $19.6 million was primarily the result of the valuation allowance reversal of $21.2 million recorded at December 31, 2017.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act also requires that a US shareholder of a specified foreign corporation ("SFC") to include in gross income, at the end of the SFC’s last tax year beginning before January 1, 2018, the US shareholder’s pro-rata share of certain of the SFC’s undistributed and previously untaxed post-1986 foreign earnings and profits ("E&P"). The U.S. shareholder’s income inclusion is taxed at an effective U.S. federal income tax rate of either 15.5% or 8%. The 15.5% rate applies to the extent that the SFC’s hold cash and certain other assets, and the 8% rate applies to the extent the income inclusion exceeds the foreign cash position. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company utilized $8.4 million of net operating losses to offset its E&P.

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") recently issued SAB 118 (Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) which allows registrants to record provisional amounts during a measurement period. The SAB allows a company to recognize provisional amounts when it does not have the necessary information prepared in reasonable detail to calculate the effect of the change in tax law. Per the SAB, a company should report provisional amounts when the accounting is not complete, but for which a reasonable estimate can be determined. Lawson has included in its 2017 taxable income calculation a provisional amount of approximately $8.4 million representing previously untaxed foreign earnings and profits. The Company will not accrue any federal income tax on this amount as the company is able to utilize federal net operating losses to offset the income.

As a result of acquisitions completed in 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company recorded $19.6 million of tax deductible goodwill that may result in a tax benefit in future periods.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities contain the following temporary differences:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017			2016
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforward	$	12,120		$	17,518
Compensation and benefits	7,828			12,126
Inventory reserve	1,689			2,750
Capital loss carryforward	1,326			2,210
Accounts receivable reserve	130			183
Other	1,155			1,770
Total deferred tax assets	24,248			36,557
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	3,115			—
Property, plant and equipment	41			433
Other	403			688
Total deferred liabilities	3,559			1,121
Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	20,689			35,436
Valuation allowance	(2,556		)	(35,416		)
Net deferred tax assets	$	18,133		$	20

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017		2016
Balance at beginning of year	$	3,249	$	3,136
Additions for tax positions of current year	865		544
Additions for tax positions of prior years	141		116
Reductions for tax positions of prior year	—		(547		)
Balance at end of year	$	4,255	$	3,249

The recognition of the unrecognized tax benefits would have a favorable effect on the effective tax rate. Due to the uncertainty of both timing and resolution of income tax examinations, the Company is unable to determine whether any amounts included in the December 31, 2017 balance of unrecognized tax benefits represent tax positions that could significantly change during the next twelve months. The unrecognized tax benefits are recorded as a component of Other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recorded as a component of income tax expense.

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state and foreign jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2017, the Company was subject to U.S federal income tax examinations for the years 2014 through 2016 and income tax examinations from various other jurisdictions for the years 2011 through 2016.

Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities

Accrued expenses and other liabilities consisted of the following:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017		2016

Accrued compensation	$	9,044	$	5,465
Accrued stock-based compensation (stock performance rights)	8,712		7,859
Accrued and withheld taxes, other than income taxes	1,136		1,149
Financing lease obligation	1,123		996
Accrued profit sharing	894		627
Accrued health benefits	657		676
Accrued severance	483		1,428
Other	10,991		9,089
	$	33,040	$	27,289

Loan Agreement

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Revolving Line of Credit

Loan Agreements

Lawson Loan Agreement

In 2012, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with CIBC Bank USA, formerly known as The PrivateBank and Trust Company. The Loan Agreement consists of a $40.0 million revolving line of credit facility, which includes a $10.0 million sub-facility for letters of credit. Certain terms of the original Loan Agreement were revised in December 2013 and in September 2016. The Loan Agreement, as amended, expires in August 2020. Due to the lock box arrangement and a subjective acceleration clause contained in the Loan Agreement, any outstanding borrowings under the revolving line of credit are classified as a current liability.

Credit available under the Loan Agreement is based upon:


a)	85% of the face amount of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable, generally less than 60 days past due, and


b)	the lesser of 60% of the lower of cost or market value of the Company’s eligible inventory, generally inventory expected to be sold within 18 months, or $20.0 million.

The applicable interest rates for borrowings are the Prime rate or, if the Company elects, the LIBOR rate plus 1.50% to 1.85% based on the Company’s debt to EBITDA ratio, as defined in the amended Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement is secured by a first priority perfected security interest in substantially all existing assets of the Company. Dividends are restricted so as not to exceed $7.0 million annually.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had $13.6 million outstanding balance under its revolving line of credit facility and additional borrowing availability of $22.8 million. The carrying amount of the Company’s debt at December 31, 2017 approximates its fair value. The Company paid interest of $0.6 million, $0.2 million and $0.5 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The weighted average interest rate was 3.2% in 2017. The Company had $1.7 million of outstanding letters of credit as of December 31, 2017.

In addition to other customary representations, warranties and covenants, and if the excess capacity is below $10.0 million, the Company is required to meet a minimum trailing twelve month EBITDA to fixed charges ratio, as defined in the amended Loan Agreement. On December 31, 2017, the Company's borrowing capacity exceeded $10.0 million, therefore, the Company was not subject to these financial covenants, however, for informational purposes the results of the financial covenant is provided below:



Quarterly Financial Covenants	Requirement	Actual
EBITDA to fixed charges ratio	1.10 : 1.00	3.62 : 1.00

The Company was in compliance with all covenants as of December 31, 2017.

Commitment Letter

Bolt has a Commitment Letter with BMO Bank of Montreal ("BMO") dated March 30, 2017 which allows Bolt to access up to $5.5 million Canadian dollars in the form of either an overdraft facility or as commercial letters of credit. The Commitment Letter is cancellable at any time at BMOs sole discretion and is secured by substantially all of Bolt’s assets. It carries an interest rate of the bank's prime rate plus 0.25%. At December 31, 2017, Bolt had $1.2 million Canadian dollars of outstanding borrowings and remaining borrowing availability of $4.3 million Canadian dollars. The Commitment Letter is subject to a working capital ratio of 1.35:1, a maximum ratio of debt to tangible net worth of 2.5:1 of the Bolt assets and Debt Service Coverage Ratio 1.25:1 as defined in the Commitment Letter. At December 31, 2017, Bolt was in compliance with all covenants which are subject to periodic review, at least annually, with the next review due by August 31, 2018.

Reserve for Severance

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Severance Reserve [Abstract]

Reserve for Severance

Severance costs are primarily related to management realignment and reorganization. The table below reflects the activity in the Company’s reserve for severance and related payments.



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Beginning balance	$	1,710		$	697		$	311
Charged to earnings	738			2,376			1,273
Cash paid	(1,965		)	(1,363		)	(887		)
Ending balance	$	483		$	1,710		$	697

The remaining severance liabilities outstanding as of December 31, 2017 will be paid by the end of 2018, and are included in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Retirement and Security Bonus Plans	12 Months Ended
Retirement and Security Bonus Plans	Dec. 31, 2017
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Retirement and Security Bonus Plans	Retirement and Security Bonus Plans The Company provides a 401(k) defined contribution plan to allow employees a pre-tax investment vehicle to save for retirement. The Company made contributions to the 401(k) plan of $3.1 million, $3.1 million and $2.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company provides a profit sharing plan for certain sales, office and warehouse employees. The amounts of the Company’s annual contributions are determined annually by the Board of Directors. Expenses incurred for the profit sharing plan were $0.9 million, $0.6 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company has a security bonus plan which was previously created for the benefit of its independent sales representatives, under the terms of which participants are credited with a percentage of their annual net commissions. The aggregate amounts credited to participants’ accounts vest 25% after five years, and an additional 5% vests each year thereafter upon qualification for the plan. On January 1, 2013, the Company converted all of its U.S. independent sales representatives to employees. The security bonus for those converted employees continue to vest, but their accounts are no longer credited with a percentage of net commissions. For financial reporting purposes, amounts are charged to operations over the vesting period. Expenses incurred for the security bonus plan were $0.5 million, $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The security bonus plan is partially funded by a $4.5 million investment in the cash surrender value in life insurance of certain employees. Of the $13.2 million total liability, $0.2 million is classified as a current liability and the remaining $13.0 million is classified as long-term. Bolt provides its employees with a Registered Retirement Savings Plan ("RRSP") which is a tax deferred defined contribution retirement investment. Bolt contributes 4.0% of the employees pre-tax compensation. In the three months they were owned by Lawson, Bolt contributed $42 thousand to the RRSP.

Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitments

Total rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 amounted to $2.6 million, $2.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively. Of the $13.9 million future minimum operating lease commitments outstanding at December 31, 2017, $6.4 million relates to a lease for the Company's headquarters which expires in March 2023. The lease commitment is partially offset by a portion of the headquarters that has been sub-leased through March 2023 and includes total future minimum lease proceeds of $0.5 million.

The Company has a financing lease for the McCook Facility which expires in June 2022 and includes future minimum lease payments, related to the building, of $6.2 million.

The Company’s future minimum lease commitments, principally for facilities and equipment, as of December 31, 2017, were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
Year ended December 31,	Operating Leases		Financing Lease		Capital Leases
2018	$	2,910	$	1,348	$	169
2019	2,590		1,395		112
2020	2,464		1,444		72
2021	2,451		1,493		36
2022	2,255		542		—
Thereafter	1,202		—		—
Total	$	13,872	$	6,222	$	389

At December 31, 2017, the cost and accumulated depreciation of the asset related to the financing lease were $13.0 million and $7.2 million, respectively, and the cost and accumulated amortization of the assets related to capital leases were $0.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

Litigation, regulatory and tax matters

The Company is involved in legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business. It is the opinion of management that the resolution of any currently pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Environmental matter

In 2012, the Company identified that a site it owns in Decatur, Alabama contains hazardous substances in the soil and groundwater as a result of historical operations prior to the Company's ownership. The Company retained an environmental consulting firm to further investigate the contamination including the measurement and monitoring of the site. In August 2013, the site was enrolled in Alabama's voluntary cleanup program. On October 30, 2014, the Company received estimates from its environmental consulting firm for three potential remediation solutions. The estimates included a range of viable remedial approaches. The first solution included limited excavation and removal of the contaminated soil along with an extensive monitoring period. The second solution included the first solution plus the installation of a groundwater extraction system. The third scenario included the first and second solutions plus treatment injections to reduce the degradation time. The estimated expenditures over the life of the three scenarios ranged from $0.3 million to $1.4 million. As the Company had determined that a loss was probable and no scenario was more likely than the other at that time, a liability in the amount of $0.3 million was established in 2014.

During 2015, after further evidence had been collected and analyzed, the Company concluded that it was probable that future remediation would be required, and accordingly accrued an additional $0.9 million for the estimated costs.

In 2017 the Company received estimates from its environmental consulting firm for two new remediation solutions based on a chemical injection process. The first solution would consist of chemical injections throughout the entire site to directly eliminate the hazardous substances in the soil and groundwater. The second solution would consist of chemical injections around the perimeter of the site to prevent the migration of the hazardous chemicals off-site. Neither solution would require additional excavation or repairs to be made to the property. Additionally, the estimated required monitoring period would be substantially reduced. The estimated expenditures over an 18 month period under the two injection scenarios ranged from $0.9 million to $2.0 million. The Company does not expect to capitalize any amounts related to these remediation options.

The Company has determined that it will initially proceed with the method of injecting chemicals around the perimeter of the site to prevent the migration of the hazardous chemicals off-site. As of December 31, 2017, approximately $1.0 million remains accrued for this remediation in other long-term liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. This estimate was based on the information provided to date and as the remediation efforts proceed, additional information may impact the final cost. As of December 31, 2017, agreement with Alabama’s voluntary cleanup program on viable treatment of the property has not yet been reached and the Company continues to evaluate potential remediation alternatives that could impact the ultimate cost of remediation.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Stock Compensation Plans

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Plan Administration

The Company's Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Compensation Plan (“Equity Plan”) provides for the grant of nonqualified and incentive stock options, stock awards and stock units to officers and employees of the Company. The Equity Plan also provides for the grant of option rights and restricted stock to non-employee directors. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had approximately 140,000 shares of common stock still available under the Equity Plan with no participant allowed a grant of more than 40,000 shares of common stock in any calendar year. The Equity Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or its designee, which as administrator of the plan, has the authority to select plan participants, grant awards, and determine the terms and conditions of the awards.

The Company also has a Stock Performance Rights Plan (“SPR Plan”) that provides for the issuance of Stock Performance Rights (“SPRs”) that allow non-employee directors, officers and key employees to receive cash awards, subject to certain restrictions, equal to the appreciation of the Company's common stock. The SPR Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

Stock Performance Rights

SPRs entitle the recipient to receive a cash payment equal to the excess of the market value of the Company's common stock over the SPR exercise price when the SPRs are surrendered. Expense, equal to the fair market value of the SPR at the date of grant and remeasured each reporting period, is recorded ratably over the vesting period. Compensation expense or benefit is included in General and administrative expense. A majority of the outstanding SPRs have a seven to ten year life and vest over one to three years beginning on the first anniversary of the date of the grant.

On December 31, 2017, the SPRs outstanding were re-measured at fair value using the Black-Scholes valuation model. This model requires the input of subjective assumptions that may have a significant impact on the fair value estimate. The weighted-average estimated value of SPRs outstanding as of December 31, 2017 was $9.83 per SPR using the following assumptions:



Expected volatility	20.5% to 44.2%
Risk-free rate of return	1.2% to 2.2%
Expected term (in years)	0.1 to 4.5
Expected annual dividend	$0

The expected volatility was based on the historic volatility of the Company's stock price commensurate with the expected life of the SPR. The risk-free rate of return reflects the interest rate offered for zero coupon treasury bonds over the expected life of the SPR. The expected life represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding and was calculated using the simplified method allowed by the SEC due to insufficient historical data. The estimated annual dividend was based on the recent dividend payout trend.

Compensation expense of $1.2 million, $1.2 million and $0.9 million was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cash in the amount of $0.3 million, $0.3 million and $1.0 million was paid out for SPR exercises in 2017, 2016 and 2015. A liability of $8.7 million reflecting the estimated fair value of future pay-outs has been included as a component of Accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheets.

Activity related to the Company’s SPRs during the year ended December 31, 2017 was as follows:



	Number of SPRs		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	946,701		$	19.60
Granted	78,948		25.12
Exercised	(34,095	)	12.99
Cancelled	(30,000	)	36.71
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	961,554		9.76

Exercisable on December 31, 2017	702,438		$	17.66

The SPRs outstanding had an intrinsic value of $6.3 million as of December 31, 2017. Unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested SPRs was $1.7 million at December 31, 2017, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years. During the year ended December 31, 2017, 152,232 SPRs with a fair value of $0.8 million vested. At December 31, 2017, the weighted average remaining contractual term was 4.7 years for all outstanding SPRs and 4.4 years for all exercisable SPRs.

Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock awards ("RSAs") generally vest over a one to three year period beginning on the first anniversary of the date of the grant. Upon vesting, the vested restricted stock awards are exchanged for an equal number of the Company’s common stock. The participants have no voting or dividend rights with the restricted stock awards. The restricted stock awards are valued at the closing price of the common stock on the date of grant and the expense is recorded ratably over the vesting period.

Compensation expense of $0.9 million, $0.6 million and $0.6 million related to the RSAs was recorded in General and administrative expenses for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Activity related to the Company’s RSAs during the year ended December 31, 2017 was as follows:



	Restricted Stock Awards
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	31,897
Granted	104,920
Exchanged for shares	(31,897	)
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	104,920

As of December 31, 2017, there was $1.7 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to RSAs that will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years. The awards granted in 2017 had a weighted average grant date fair value of $22.73 per share.

Market Stock Units

Market Stock Units ("MSUs") are exchangeable for between 0% to 150% of the Company's common shares at the end of the vesting period based on the trailing 60 day average closing price of the Company's common stock. The value of the MSUs was determined using a geometric brownian motion model that, based on certain variables, generates a large number of random trials simulating the price of the common stock over the measurement period. Expense of $0.9 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million related to MSUs was recorded in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Activity related to the Company’s MSUs during the year ended December 31, 2017 was as follows:



	Number of Market Stock Units		Maximum Shares Potentially Issuable
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	149,532		224,298
Granted	98,243		147,365
Cancelled	(25,839	)	(38,759	)
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	221,936		332,904

Stock Options

Each stock option can be exchanged for one share of the Company’s common stock at the stated exercise price. Activity related to stock options during the year ended December 31, 2017 was as follows:



	Number of Stock Options		Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	45,910		26.55
Granted	40,000		27.01
Exercised	(1,434	)	14.04
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	84,476		26.98

Expense related to stock options was $0.2 million in 2017 and unrecognized compensation at December 31, 2017 was $0.1 million.

Stock Awards

During 2017, 40,000 stock awards were exercised resulting in the issuance of 23,042 common shares. At December 31, 2017, no stock awards remained outstanding.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for compensation-related costs for equity-based compensation, which may include disclosure of policies, compensation plan details, allocation of equity compensation, incentive distributions, equity-based arrangements to obtain goods and services, deferred compensation arrangements, employee stock ownership plan details and employee stock purchase plan details.

+ References + Details

Segment Information

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

Information

With the acquisition of Bolt in 2017, the Company now operates in two reportable segments. The businesses were determined to be separate reportable segments because of differences in their financial characteristics and the methods they employ to deliver product to customers. The operating segments are reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker responsible for reviewing operating performance and allocating resources. The Lawson segment primarily relies on its large network of sales representatives to visit the customer at the customers' work location and provide VMI service and produce sales orders for product that is then shipped to the customer. The Bolt segment primarily sells product to customers when the customers visit one of Bolt's 13 branch locations and the product is delivered to the customers at the spot of sale.

Financial information for the Company's reportable segments follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Net sales
Lawson	$	297,953		$	276,573		$	275,834
Bolt	7,954			—			—
Consolidated total	$	305,907		$	276,573		$	275,834

Gross profit
Lawson	$	179,578		$	168,062		$	169,124
Bolt	3,440			—			—
Consolidated total	$	183,018		$	168,062		$	169,124

Operating Income (loss)
Lawson	$	3,958		$	(1,457	)	$	3,052
Bolt	556			—			—
Gain on sale of property	5,422			—			—
Environmental remediation expense	—			—			(931		)
Consolidated total	9,936			(1,457		)	2,121
Interest expense	(622		)	(496		)	(766		)
Other income (expense), net	780			422			(203		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	10,094		$	(1,531	)	$	1,152

Capital expenditures
Lawson	$	1,251		$	3,112		$	2,342
Bolt	5			—			—
Consolidated total	$	1,256		$	3,112		$	2,342

Depreciation and amortization
Lawson	$	6,486		$	8,066		$	8,543
Bolt	284			—			—
Consolidated total	$	6,770		$	8,066		$	8,543

Total assets
Lawson	$	161,076		$	135,307		$	133,094
Bolt	38,423			—			—
Intercompany note receivable	(8,832		)	—			—
Consolidated total	$	190,667		$	135,307		$	133,094

Financial information related to the Company’s continuing operations by geographic area follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Net sales⁽¹⁾
United States	$	266,994	$	250,824	$	251,129
Canada	38,913		25,749		24,705
Consolidated total	$	305,907	$	276,573	$	275,834

Long-lived assets⁽²⁾
United States	$	24,686	$	30,041	$	33,813
Canada	34,322		7,425		242
Consolidated total	$	59,008	$	37,466	$	34,055

(1) Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of customers.

(2) Long-lived assets primarily consist of property, plant and equipment, goodwill, intangibles and other assets.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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+ Details

Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations

Unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 are summarized below:



	(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	2017 Quarter Ended
	Dec. 31			Sep. 30		Jun. 30		Mar. 31
Net sales	$	80,633		$	75,651	$	75,006	$	74,617
Gross profit	$	46,993		$	46,005	$	45,141	$	44,879
Net income	$	20,237		$	1,321	$	7,273	$	857

Basic income per share of common stock	$	2.28		$	0.15	$	0.82	$	0.10
Diluted income per share of common stock⁽¹⁾	$	2.21		$	0.14	$	0.80	$	0.09


	(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	2016 Quarter Ended
	Dec. 31			Sep. 30		Jun. 30		Mar. 31
Net sales	$	67,315		$	70,199	$	69,348	$	69,711
Gross profit	$	40,504		$	42,573	$	42,526	$	42,459
Net income (loss)	$	(4,643	)	$	1,825	$	172	$	1,017

Basic income (loss) per share of common stock⁽¹⁾	$	(0.53	)	$	0.21	$	0.02	$	0.12
Diluted income (loss) per share of common stock⁽¹⁾	$	(0.53	)	$	0.20	$	0.02	$	0.11


(1)	The sum of the quarterly earnings per share amounts may not equal the total annual earnings per share due to rounding and the uneven timing of earnings throughout the year compared to the weighted average shares outstanding.

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]

Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block]

Schedule II -Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

The roll forward of valuation accounts were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
Description	Balance at Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses			Deductions				Balance at End of Period
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
Year ended December 31, 2017	$	454	$	499		$	(477	)	⁽¹⁾	$	476
Year ended December 31, 2016	543		361			(450		)	⁽¹⁾	454
Year ended December 31, 2015	733		353			(543		)	⁽¹⁾	543

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets:
Year ended December 31, 2017	$	35,416	$	(32,860	)	$	—			$	2,556
Year ended December 31, 2016	36,516		(1,100		)	—				35,416
Year ended December 31, 2015	36,675		(159		)	—				36,516


(1)	Uncollected receivables written off, net of recoveries and translation adjustments.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of consolidation	The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include the accounts and transactions of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period presentation. Such reclassifications have no effect on net income as previously reported.
Revenue recognition	Net sales include product sales and billings for freight and handling charges. Sales and associated cost of goods sold are generally recognized when products are shipped and title passes to customers. We accrue for returns based on historical evidence of return rates.
Cash equivalents	The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. The carrying amount of the Company’s cash equivalents at December 31, 2017 approximates fair value.
Allowance for doubtful accounts	The Company evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. In circumstances where the Company is aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filings, substantial down-grading of credit ratings), a specific reserve for bad debts is recorded against amounts due to reduce the receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes will be collected. For all other customers, the Company recognizes reserves for bad debts based on the Company’s historical experience of bad debt write-offs as a percent of accounts receivable outstanding. If circumstances change (e.g., higher than expected defaults or an unexpected material adverse change in a major customer’s ability to meet its financial obligations), the estimates of the recoverability of amounts due the Company could be revised by a material amount.
Inventories	Inventories principally consist of finished goods stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in-first-out method. To reduce the cost basis of inventory to a lower of cost or net realizable value, a reserve is recorded for slow-moving and obsolete inventory based on historical experience and monitoring of current inventory activity. Estimates are used to determine the necessity of recording these reserves based on periodic detailed analysis using both qualitative and quantitative factors. As part of this analysis, the Company considers several factors including the inventories length of time on hand, historical sales, product shelf life, product life cycle, product category and product obsolescence.
Property, plant and equipment	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation expense is computed primarily by the straight-line method for its buildings, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures and vehicles. The Company estimates useful lives of 20 to 30 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures and vehicles. Amortization of financing and capital leases is included in depreciation expense. Depreciation expense was $4.7 million, $4.7 million and $4.6 million for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Capitalized software is amortized over estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years using the straight-line method. Amortization expense of capitalized software was $1.6 million, $3.1 million and $3.8 million for 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Cash value of life insurance	The Company has invested funds in life insurance policies on certain current and former employees. The cash surrender value of the policies is invested in various investment instruments and is recorded as an asset on our consolidated financial statements. The Company records these funds at contractual value. The change in the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies, which is recorded as a component of General and administrative expenses, is the change in the policies' contractual values.
Deferred compensation	The Company’s Executive Deferral Plan (“Deferral Plan”) allows certain executives to defer payment of a portion of their earned compensation. The deferred compensation is recorded in an Account Balance, which is a bookkeeping entry made by the Company to measure the amount due to the participant. The Account Balance is equal to the participant’s deferred compensation, adjusted for increases and/or decreases in the amount that the participant has designated to one or more bookkeeping portfolios that track the performance of certain mutual funds. Lawson adjusts the deferred compensation liability to equal the contractual value of the participants’ Account Balances. These adjustments are the changes in contractual value of the individual plans and are recorded as a component of General and administrative expenses.
Stock-based compensation	Compensation based on the share value of the Company’s common stock is valued at its fair value at the grant date and the expense is recognized over the vesting period. Fair value is re-measured each reporting period for liability-classified awards that may be redeemable in cash.
Goodwill	Goodwill — The Company had $19.6 million and $5.5 million of goodwill in 2017 and 2016, respectively. Goodwill represents the cost of business acquisitions in excess of the fair value of identifiable net tangible and intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is allocated to the appropriate reporting unit, which are the same as the operating segments as reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision maker responsible for reviewing operating performance and allocating resources. The Company reviews goodwill for potential impairment annually during the fourth quarter, or when an event or other circumstance changes that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the asset below its carrying value. The first step in the multi-step process to determine if goodwill has been impaired and to what degree is to review the relevant qualitative factors that could cause the fair value of the reporting unit to decrease below the carrying value of the reporting unit. After reviewing the qualitative factors relevant to the reporting units, including conditions surrounding the industry we operate in compared to when the acquisitions were completed, the financial performance of the reporting units compared to our projected results, and macroeconomic conditions as a whole, we have determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting units exceed their carrying value, therefore goodwill has not been impaired and no further steps need to be taken. Intangible Assets — The Company's intangible assets consists of trade names, and customer relationships. Intangible assets are amortized over weighted average 15 and 11 year estimated useful lives for trade names and customer relationships, respectively.
Impairment of long-lived assets	The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and definite life intangibles, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of these assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by a comparison of the assets' carrying amount to their expected future undiscounted net cash flows. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured based on the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. In 2016 the Company determined that a triggering event had occurred when it announced a plan to close its distribution center located in Fairfield, New Jersey. Based on independent offers obtained for the facility, the Company determined that no impairment had occurred. No additional triggering events or impairments occurred in 2017.
Income taxes	Deferred tax assets or liabilities reflect temporary differences between amounts of assets and liabilities for financial and tax reporting. Such amounts are adjusted, as appropriate, to reflect changes in enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. A valuation allowance is established to offset any deferred tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is more likely than not (i.e. greater than 50% likely) that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The determination of the amount of a valuation allowance to be provided on recorded deferred tax assets involves estimates regarding (1) the timing and amount of the reversal of taxable temporary differences, (2) expected future taxable income, (3) the impact of tax planning strategies and (4) the ability to carry back deferred tax assets to offset prior taxable income. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including past operating results, projections of future taxable income and the feasibility of ongoing tax planning strategies. The projections of future taxable income include a number of estimates and assumptions regarding our volume, pricing and costs. Additionally, valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be impacted by changes to tax laws. Significant judgment is required in determining income tax provisions as well as deferred tax asset and liability balances, including the estimation of valuation allowances and the evaluation of tax positions. In 2012, due to historical cumulative losses, we had determined it was more likely than not that we would not be able to utilize our deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income. Therefore, substantially all of our deferred tax assets were subject to a tax valuation allowance. We have continued to generate pre-tax profits and have utilized some of our net operating loss carryforwards over the last two years and are now in a three year cumulative income position in the U.S. Based on available evidence, including the utilization of $18.0 million of net operating loss carryforwards in 2017, we have reached a point of increased confidence in our ability to sustain profit levels and we now believe it is more likely than not that we will be able to utilize a substantial amount of our deferred tax assets to offset future taxable income. Therefore, a large portion of our U.S. valuation allowances were released in 2017. Earnings from the Company's foreign subsidiaries are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. A distribution of these non-U.S. earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise would subject the Company to foreign withholding taxes and may subject the Company to U.S. federal and state taxes. The Company recognizes the benefit of tax positions when a benefit is more likely than not (i.e., greater than 50% likely) to be sustained on its technical merits. Recognized tax benefits are measured at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be sustained, based on cumulative probability, in final settlement of the position. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.
Leases	Leases are categorized as either operating or capital leases at inception. Operating lease costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. An asset and a corresponding liability for the capital lease obligation are established for the cost of capital leases. The capital lease obligation is amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term. The Company purchased $0.3 million and $0.2 million of assets financed by capital leases in 2017 and 2016, respectively, in non-cash transactions that were not reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. For build-to-suit financing leases, the Company establishes an asset and liability for the estimated construction costs incurred to the extent that it is involved in the construction of structural improvements or takes construction risk prior to the commencement of the lease. Upon occupancy of facilities under build-to-suit leases, the Company assesses whether these arrangements qualify for sales recognition under the sale-leaseback accounting guidance. If a lease does not meet the criteria to qualify for a sale-leaseback transaction, the established asset and liability remain on the Company's consolidated balance sheet. This asset is depreciated over the life of the lease and the liability is reduced by the non-interest portion of the lease payments for costs allocated to the building and on a straight line basis for costs allocated to land.
Sub-leases [Policy Text Block]	Sub-leases — If the Company is relieved of its primary obligation under the original lease then the original lease is considered to be terminated, otherwise if the Company retains primary obligation under the original lease then the Company continues to account for the original lease and also accounts for the new sub-lease as lessor. At the time the sub-lease is executed, the Company records a gain or loss equal to the difference between the total cash payments to be made for gross rent under the original lease agreement over the life of the sub-lease plus executory costs and total gross rent proceeds expected to be received over the life of the sub-lease.
Earnings per share	Earnings per Share — Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution from the exercise or conversion of outstanding stock options, market stock units and restricted stock awards into common stock.
Foreign Currency	The accounts of foreign subsidiaries are measured using the local currency as the functional currency. All balance sheet amounts are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates in effect at the applicable period end. Components of income or loss are translated using the average exchange rate for each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from changes in the exchange rates from translation of the subsidiary accounts in local currency to U.S. dollars are reported as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income or loss in the consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses resulting from the effect of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are included as a component of net income or loss upon settlement of the transaction. Gains and losses resulting from intercompany transactions are included as a component of net income or loss each reporting period unless the transactions are of a long-term-investment nature and settlement is not planned or anticipated in the foreseeable future, in which case the gains and losses are recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive or loss in the consolidated balance sheets.
Treasury stock	The Company repurchased 968, 7,162 and 11,261 shares of its common stock in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, from employees upon the vesting of restricted stock to offset the income taxes owed by those employees. The Company accounts for treasury stock using the cost method and includes treasury stock as a component of stockholders’ equity. The value of the treasury stock repurchased of $20 thousand, $176 thousand and $248 thousand in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Acquisitions	Acquisitions — The Company recognizes identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions for the purchase price allocation process to value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill.
Use of estimates	Use of Estimates — Preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported for allowance for doubtful accounts. inventory reserves, goodwill and intangible assets valuation, and income taxes in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which is intended to help companies evaluate whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses by providing a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. This ASU will be effective commencing with our quarter ending March 31, 2018. Although we do not expect the adoption of this ASU to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption, it may have a material impact if applicable transactions occur. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This standard eliminates a step from the goodwill impairment test and instead requires an entity to recognize a goodwill impairment charge for the amount by which the goodwill carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. This guidance is effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. This guidance must be applied on a prospective basis. We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2017. The adoption of this guidance had no material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash, which requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the total beginning and ending amounts for the periods shown on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-08 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (including interim periods within those periods) using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company does not expect the impact on its consolidated financial statements to be material. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) in order to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. ASU 2016-02 requires that a lessee should recognize a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on the balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 (including interim periods within those periods) using a modified retrospective approach and early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 in the first quarter of 2019. While the effect of the pronouncement has not yet been quantified, the Company is continuing to evaluate the impact of recording the right-of-use-assets and liabilities on its financial position. The Company anticipates it will be required to record assets and liabilities for leases currently classified as operating leases. In November, 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. This update simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring all entities that present a classified balance sheet to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as a noncurrent amount. The objective of this ASU is to reduce the cost and complexity of recording deferred taxes without affecting the usefulness of financial statement information. The pronouncement is effective for public entities in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years and the guidance may be applied on either a prospective or retrospective basis. The Company adopted ASU 2015-07 on a prospective basis in 2017. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, which requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, which consists of the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable cost of completion, disposal, and transportation. This pronouncement is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance is to be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company adopted ASU 2015-11 on January 1, 2017 and it had no material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Inventories (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Components of inventories



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017			2016
Inventories, gross	$	56,492		$	48,038
Reserve for obsolete and excess inventory	(5,564		)	(5,477		)
Inventories, net	$	50,928		$	42,561

Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Components of property, plant and equipment

Components of property, plant and equipment were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017			2016
Land	$	2,752		$	2,721
Buildings and improvements	16,973			18,981
Machinery and equipment	23,277			22,837
Capitalized software	21,947			21,371
McCook Facility	12,961			12,961
Furniture and fixtures	5,634			5,714
Capital leases	806			534
Vehicles	214			166
Construction in progress	375			571
	84,939			85,856
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(57,606		)	(54,949		)
	$	27,333		$	30,907

Acquisitions (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Acquisitions [Abstract]

Finite-Lived and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets Acquired as Part of Business Combination [Table Text Block]

A summary of the purchase price allocation of the acquisitions is as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Cash paid and liabilities assumed
Cash paid	$	32,286	$	6,030	$	441
Deferred tax liability	3,065		—		—
Other liabilities	2,434		188		—
Contingent consideration	—		412		—
	$	37,785	$	6,630	$	441

Fair value of assets acquired
Goodwill	$	14,176	$	5,231	$	299
Trade names	7,241		—		—
Inventory	6,315		584		137
Customer relationships	4,186		733		—
Accounts receivable	3,323		—		—
Property, plant and equipment	1,796		—		—
Other assets	748		82		5
	$	37,785	$	6,630	$	441

Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustments [Table Text Block]



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016			2015
Net Sales
Actual	$	305,907	$	276,573		$	275,834
Pro forma	$	331,522	$	308,250		$	283,573

Net income (loss)
Actual	$	29,688	$	(1,629	)	$	297
Pro forma	$	31,083	$	(1,148	)	$	317

Goodwill (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Goodwill [Abstract]

Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]

Goodwill activity related to these acquisitions is included in the table below:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017			2016
Beginning balance	$	5,520		$	319
Acquisition	14,176			5,231
Impact of foreign exchange	(9		)	(30		)
Adjustment to prior year allocation ⁽¹⁾	(73		)	—
Ending balance	$	19,614		$	5,520


(1)	The reduction of $0.1 million in 2017 resulted from a non-cash adjustment to the estimated purchase price allocation to inventory originally recorded in 2016.

Goodwill was tested for impairment in the fourth quarter of 2017 and no adjustment was deemed necessary.

Intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Intangible Assets [Abstract]

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years are as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
Year	Amortization
2018	$	875
2019	1,111
2020	1,254
2021	1,363
2022	1,154
Thereafter	6,056
	$	11,813

Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

Intangible assets

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization by intangible asset class were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Trade names	$	8,182	$	(957	)	$	7,225	$	1,000	$	(787	)	$	213
Customer relationships	4,911		(323		)	4,588		716		(85		)	631
	$	13,093	$	(1,280	)	$	11,813	$	1,716	$	(872	)	$	844



	(Dollars in thousands)
Year	Amortization
2018	$	875
2019	1,111
2020	1,254
2021	1,363
2022	1,154
Thereafter	6,056
	$	11,813

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization by intangible asset class were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Trade names	$	8,182	$	(957	)	$	7,225	$	1,000	$	(787	)	$	213
Customer relationships	4,911		(323		)	4,588		716		(85		)	631
	$	13,093	$	(1,280	)	$	11,813	$	1,716	$	(872	)	$	844

Intangible assets Schedule of intangible assets (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]

Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]

Intangible assets

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization by intangible asset class were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Trade names	$	8,182	$	(957	)	$	7,225	$	1,000	$	(787	)	$	213
Customer relationships	4,911		(323		)	4,588		716		(85		)	631
	$	13,093	$	(1,280	)	$	11,813	$	1,716	$	(872	)	$	844



	(Dollars in thousands)
Year	Amortization
2018	$	875
2019	1,111
2020	1,254
2021	1,363
2022	1,154
Thereafter	6,056
	$	11,813

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization by intangible asset class were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31, 2017							December 31, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Value
Trade names	$	8,182	$	(957	)	$	7,225	$	1,000	$	(787	)	$	213
Customer relationships	4,911		(323		)	4,588		716		(85		)	631
	$	13,093	$	(1,280	)	$	11,813	$	1,716	$	(872	)	$	844

Intangible assets Future amortization expense (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Future intangible asset amortization expense [Abstract]

Schedule of Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Future Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the next five years are as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
Year	Amortization
2018	$	875
2019	1,111
2020	1,254
2021	1,363
2022	1,154
Thereafter	6,056
	$	11,813

Income Taxes Income Tax (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

Income (loss) from operations before income taxes consisted of the following:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
United States	$	10,159		$	(708	)	$	3,583
Canada	(65		)	(823		)	(2,431		)
	$	10,094		$	(1,531	)	$	1,152

Components of provision (benefit) for income taxes

Provision (benefit) for income taxes from operations for the years ended December 31, consisted of the following:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Current income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	$	296		$	97		$	(461	)
U.S. state	129			(33		)	75
Canada	1,209			3			1,241
Total	$	1,634		$	67		$	855
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	$	(17,971	)	$	—		$	—
U.S. state	(3,257		)	31			—
Canada	—			—			—
Total	$	(21,228	)	$	31		$	—
Total income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	$	(17,675	)	$	97		$	(461	)
U.S. state	(3,128		)	(2		)	75
Canada	1,209			3			1,241
Total	$	(19,594	)	$	98		$	855

Reconciliation between effective income tax rate and statutory federal rate

The reconciliation between the effective income tax rate and the statutory federal rate for operations was as follows:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Statutory federal rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
Change in valuation allowance - reversal	(210.5	)	—		—
Change in valuation allowance - federal tax rate change	(126.4	)	—		—
Change in valuation allowance - current period activity	(65.7	)	14.5		(86.4	)
Federal tax rate change	126.4		—		—
Foreign income inclusion	29.2		—		—
Change in uncertain tax positions	7.7		0.6		56.2
State and local taxes, net	4.7		(17.4	)	10.4
Alternative minimum tax	3.6		(6.3	)	7.6
Meals & entertainment	1.4		(9.0	)	11.6
Executive life insurance	0.9		(3.1	)	2.4
Provision to return differences	(0.7	)	(4.5	)	24.4
Captive insurance income	0.3		(3.0	)	—
Foreign tax rate differential	0.1		(14.3	)	17.9
Other items, net	(0.1	)	1.1		(4.9	)
Provision for income taxes (benefit)	(194.1	)%	(6.4	)%	74.2	%

Deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities contain the following temporary differences:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017			2016
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforward	$	12,120		$	17,518
Compensation and benefits	7,828			12,126
Inventory reserve	1,689			2,750
Capital loss carryforward	1,326			2,210
Accounts receivable reserve	130			183
Other	1,155			1,770
Total deferred tax assets	24,248			36,557
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets	3,115			—
Property, plant and equipment	41			433
Other	403			688
Total deferred liabilities	3,559			1,121
Net deferred tax assets before valuation allowance	20,689			35,436
Valuation allowance	(2,556		)	(35,416		)
Net deferred tax assets	$	18,133		$	20

Reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017		2016
Balance at beginning of year	$	3,249	$	3,136
Additions for tax positions of current year	865		544
Additions for tax positions of prior years	141		116
Reductions for tax positions of prior year	—		(547		)
Balance at end of year	$	4,255	$	3,249

Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Payables and Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of accrued expenses and other liabilities

Accrued expenses and other liabilities consisted of the following:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	December 31,
	2017		2016

Accrued compensation	$	9,044	$	5,465
Accrued stock-based compensation (stock performance rights)	8,712		7,859
Accrued and withheld taxes, other than income taxes	1,136		1,149
Financing lease obligation	1,123		996
Accrued profit sharing	894		627
Accrued health benefits	657		676
Accrued severance	483		1,428
Other	10,991		9,089
	$	33,040	$	27,289

Revolving Line of Credit (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Debt covenants [Table Text Block]



Quarterly Financial Covenants	Requirement	Actual
EBITDA to fixed charges ratio	1.10 : 1.00	3.62 : 1.00

Reserve for Severance (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Severance Reserve [Abstract]

Changes in the reserve for severance

The table below reflects the activity in the Company’s reserve for severance and related payments.



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Beginning balance	$	1,710		$	697		$	311
Charged to earnings	738			2,376			1,273
Cash paid	(1,965		)	(1,363		)	(887		)
Ending balance	$	483		$	1,710		$	697

Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of future minimum lease payments

The Company’s future minimum lease commitments, principally for facilities and equipment, as of December 31, 2017, were as follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
Year ended December 31,	Operating Leases		Financing Lease		Capital Leases
2018	$	2,910	$	1,348	$	169
2019	2,590		1,395		112
2020	2,464		1,444		72
2021	2,451		1,493		36
2022	2,255		542		—
Thereafter	1,202		—		—
Total	$	13,872	$	6,222	$	389

Stock-Based Compensation Plans Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Valuation assumptions

The weighted-average estimated value of SPRs outstanding as of December 31, 2017 was $9.83 per SPR using the following assumptions:



Expected volatility	20.5% to 44.2%
Risk-free rate of return	1.2% to 2.2%
Expected term (in years)	0.1 to 4.5
Expected annual dividend	$0

Activity related to SPRs

Activity related to the Company’s SPRs during the year ended December 31, 2017 was as follows:



	Number of SPRs		Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	946,701		$	19.60
Granted	78,948		25.12
Exercised	(34,095	)	12.99
Cancelled	(30,000	)	36.71
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	961,554		9.76

Exercisable on December 31, 2017	702,438		$	17.66

Activity related to RSAs

Activity related to the Company’s RSAs during the year ended December 31, 2017 was as follows:



	Restricted Stock Awards
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	31,897
Granted	104,920
Exchanged for shares	(31,897	)
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	104,920

MSU Rollforward



	Number of Market Stock Units		Maximum Shares Potentially Issuable
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	149,532		224,298
Granted	98,243		147,365
Cancelled	(25,839	)	(38,759	)
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	221,936		332,904

Stock Option Activity Table

Stock Options



	Number of Stock Options		Weighted average exercise price
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	45,910		26.55
Granted	40,000		27.01
Exercised	(1,434	)	14.04
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	84,476		26.98

Expense related to stock options was $0.2 million in 2017 and unrecognized compensation at December 31, 2017 was $0.1 million.

Segment Information Geographic Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Geographic Information [Abstract]

Schedule of Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Long-Lived Assets in Individual Foreign Countries by Country [Table Text Block]

Financial information related to the Company’s continuing operations by geographic area follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Net sales⁽¹⁾
United States	$	266,994	$	250,824	$	251,129
Canada	38,913		25,749		24,705
Consolidated total	$	305,907	$	276,573	$	275,834

Long-lived assets⁽²⁾
United States	$	24,686	$	30,041	$	33,813
Canada	34,322		7,425		242
Consolidated total	$	59,008	$	37,466	$	34,055

(1) Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of customers.

(2) Long-lived assets primarily consist of property, plant and equipment, goodwill, intangibles and other assets.

Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

Financial information for the Company's reportable segments follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015
Net sales
Lawson	$	297,953		$	276,573		$	275,834
Bolt	7,954			—			—
Consolidated total	$	305,907		$	276,573		$	275,834

Gross profit
Lawson	$	179,578		$	168,062		$	169,124
Bolt	3,440			—			—
Consolidated total	$	183,018		$	168,062		$	169,124

Operating Income (loss)
Lawson	$	3,958		$	(1,457	)	$	3,052
Bolt	556			—			—
Gain on sale of property	5,422			—			—
Environmental remediation expense	—			—			(931		)
Consolidated total	9,936			(1,457		)	2,121
Interest expense	(622		)	(496		)	(766		)
Other income (expense), net	780			422			(203		)
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	10,094		$	(1,531	)	$	1,152

Capital expenditures
Lawson	$	1,251		$	3,112		$	2,342
Bolt	5			—			—
Consolidated total	$	1,256		$	3,112		$	2,342

Depreciation and amortization
Lawson	$	6,486		$	8,066		$	8,543
Bolt	284			—			—
Consolidated total	$	6,770		$	8,066		$	8,543

Total assets
Lawson	$	161,076		$	135,307		$	133,094
Bolt	38,423			—			—
Intercompany note receivable	(8,832		)	—			—
Consolidated total	$	190,667		$	135,307		$	133,094

Financial information by geographic area, continuing operations

Financial information related to the Company’s continuing operations by geographic area follows:



	(Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
Net sales⁽¹⁾
United States	$	266,994	$	250,824	$	251,129
Canada	38,913		25,749		24,705
Consolidated total	$	305,907	$	276,573	$	275,834

Long-lived assets⁽²⁾
United States	$	24,686	$	30,041	$	33,813
Canada	34,322		7,425		242
Consolidated total	$	59,008	$	37,466	$	34,055

Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of unaudited quarterly results

Unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 are summarized below:



	(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	2017 Quarter Ended
	Dec. 31			Sep. 30		Jun. 30		Mar. 31
Net sales	$	80,633		$	75,651	$	75,006	$	74,617
Gross profit	$	46,993		$	46,005	$	45,141	$	44,879
Net income	$	20,237		$	1,321	$	7,273	$	857

Basic income per share of common stock	$	2.28		$	0.15	$	0.82	$	0.10
Diluted income per share of common stock⁽¹⁾	$	2.21		$	0.14	$	0.80	$	0.09


	(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	2016 Quarter Ended
	Dec. 31			Sep. 30		Jun. 30		Mar. 31
Net sales	$	67,315		$	70,199	$	69,348	$	69,711
Gross profit	$	40,504		$	42,573	$	42,526	$	42,459
Net income (loss)	$	(4,643	)	$	1,825	$	172	$	1,017

Basic income (loss) per share of common stock⁽¹⁾	$	(0.53	)	$	0.21	$	0.02	$	0.12
Diluted income (loss) per share of common stock⁽¹⁾	$	(0.53	)	$	0.20	$	0.02	$	0.11


(1)	The sum of the quarterly earnings per share amounts may not equal the total annual earnings per share due to rounding and the uneven timing of earnings throughout the year compared to the weighted average shares outstanding.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Depreciation	$ 4,700,000	$ 4,700,000	$ 4,600,000
Amortization expense of capitalized software	$ 1,600,000	$ 3,100,000	$ 3,800,000
Treasury stock, shares acquired	968	7,162	11,261
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	$ 178,000
non-cash purchase of assets	300,000	$ 200,000
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(20,000)	(176,000)	$ (248,000)
Goodwill	19,614,000	5,520,000	319,000
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	$ (20,000)	(176,000)	(248,000)
Buildings and improvements \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	20 years
Buildings and improvements \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	30 years
Machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, and vehicles \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	3 years
Machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, and vehicles \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	10 years
Capitalized software \| Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	3 years
Capitalized software \| Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	5 years
Treasury Stock
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Value, Acquired, Cost Method	$ (20,000)	$ (176,000)	$ (248,000)
Stock Compensation Plan [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	40,000	80,000	40,000
Anti dilutive securities excluded from EPS computation due to net loss	164,000
Trade Names [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period	15 years
Customer Relationships [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Remaining Amortization Period	11 years

Restricted Cash Restricted Cash (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Restricted Cash [Abstract]
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current	$ 800	$ 800

Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Components of inventories
Total	$ 56,492	$ 48,038
Reserve for obsolete and excess inventory	(5,564)	(5,477)
Inventories, net	$ 50,928	$ 42,561

Property, Plant and Equipment Property, Plant and Equipment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 84,939	$ 85,856
Accumulated depreciation and amortization,	(57,606)	(54,949)
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation and amortization	27,333	30,907
Land
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	2,752	2,721
Buildings and improvements
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	16,973	18,981
Machinery and equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	23,277	22,837
Capitalized software
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	21,947	21,371
McCook facility
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,961	12,961
Accumulated depreciation and amortization,	(7,200)
Furniture and fixtures
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	5,634	5,714
Capital leases
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	806	534
Accumulated depreciation and amortization,	(400)
Vehicles
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	214	166
Construction in progress
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$ 375	$ 571

Property, Plant and Equipment Fairfielf Disposal (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fairfield Disposal [Abstract]
Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment	$ 6,177	$ 0	$ 3
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property	$ 5,422	$ 0	$ 0

Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Acquisitions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 32,286	$ 6,030	$ 441
Finite-Lived Customer Relationships, Gross	$ 4,186	733	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	5 years
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	$ 0	412	$ 0
Bolt [Member] [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	32,286
Mattic [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	3,454
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	298
Feeney [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	1,326
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	84
Perfect Products [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	1,250
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability	$ 30
West Coast [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross		$ 441

Acquisitions Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Pro Forma [Abstract]
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 32,286	$ 6,030	$ 441
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Deferred Tax Liabilities	3,065	0	0
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	0	412	0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	2,434	188	0
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	37,785	6,630	441
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	14,176	5,231	299
Finite-Lived Trade Names, Gross	7,241	0	0
Finite-Lived Customer Relationships, Gross	4,186	733	0
Business Combination, Acquired Receivables, Fair Value	3,323	0	0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Property, Plant, and Equipment	1,796	0	0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Inventory	6,315	584	137
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Other	$ 748	$ 82	$ 5

Acquisitions Pro Forma Results (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Pro Forma [Abstract]
Revenue, Net	$ (80,633)	$ (75,651)	$ (75,006)	$ (74,617)	$ (67,315)	$ (70,199)	$ (69,348)	$ (69,711)	$ (305,907)	$ (276,573)	$ (275,834)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue									331,522	308,250	283,573
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 20,237	$ 1,321	$ 7,273	$ 857	$ (4,643)	$ 1,825	$ 172	$ 1,017	$ 29,688	(1,629)	297
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)										$ (1,148)	$ 317

Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 19,614	$ 5,520	$ 319
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	14,176	5,231	$ 299
Goodwill, Translation and Purchase Accounting Adjustments	(9)	(30)
Goodwill, Purchase Accounting Adjustments	$ (73)	$ 0

Intangible assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Intangible assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Intangible Assets [Abstract]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 400	$ 100	$ 100
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months	$ 875

Intangible assets Schedule of intangibles (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	$ 13,093	$ 1,716
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(1,280)	(872)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	11,813	844
Trade Names [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	8,182	1,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(957)	(787)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	7,225	213
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	4,911	716
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	(323)	(85)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$ 4,588	$ 631

Intangible assets Future intangible amortization schedule (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Future intangible amortization schedule [Abstract]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Next Twelve Months	$ 875
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Two	1,111
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Three	1,254
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Four	1,363
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Year Five	1,154
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, after Year Five	6,056
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$ 11,813	$ 844

Income Taxes Components of income tax (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
United States	$ 10,159	$ (708)	$ 3,583
Canada	(65)	(823)	(2,431)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	10,094	(1,531)	1,152
Current income tax expense (benefit):
U.S. Federal	296	97	(461)
U.S. state	129	(33)	75
Canada	1,209	3	1,241
Total	1,634	67	855
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(17,971)	0	0
Deferred State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(3,257)	31	0
Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	0	0	0
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(21,228)	31	0
Total income tax expense (benefit):
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	(17,675)	97	(461)
State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	(3,128)	(2)	75
Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	1,209	3	1,241
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	$ (19,594)	$ 98	$ 855

Income Taxes Reconciliation of effective tax rate (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations, Tax Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]
Statutory Federal rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance reversal	(210.50%)	0.00%	0.00%
Change in deferred tax asset valuation allowance - federal tax rate change	(126.40%)	0.00%	0.00%
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
State and local taxes, net	4.70%	(17.40%)	10.40%
Change in valuation allowance	(65.70%)	14.50%	(86.40%)
Change in federal tax rate	126.40%	0.00%	0.00%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Repatriation of Foreign Earnings, Percent	29.20%	0.00%	0.00%
Foreign tax rate differential	0.10%	(14.30%)	17.90%
Meals & entertainment	1.40%	(9.00%)	11.60%
Alternative minimum tax	3.60%	(6.30%)	7.60%
Provision to return differences	(0.70%)	(4.50%)	24.40%
Executive life insurance	0.90%	(3.10%)	2.40%
Captive insurance income	0.30%	(3.00%)	0.00%
Change in uncertain tax positions	7.70%	0.60%	56.20%
Other items, net	(0.10%)	1.10%	(4.90%)
Provision for income taxes	(194.10%)	(6.40%)	74.20%

Income Taxes Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforward	$ 12,120	$ 17,518
Compensation and benefits	7,828	12,126
Inventory reserve	1,689	2,750
Capital Loss Carryforward	1,326	2,210
Accounts receivable reserve	130	183
Other	1,155	1,770
Total deferred tax assets	24,248	36,557
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Intangible Assets	3,115	0
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment	41	433
Other	403	688
Total deferred liabilities	3,559	1,121
Net deferred assets before valuation allowance	20,689	35,436
Valuation allowance	(2,556)	(35,416)
Net deferred assets	$ 18,133	$ 20

Income Taxes Other information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Tax (Textual) [Abstract]
Income taxes paid		$ 300	$ 200	$ 100
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount	$ 4,600
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Domestic	18,000	18,000
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	(8,400)	(8,400)
Goodwill	19,614	19,614	5,520	319
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year		3,249	3,136
Additions for tax positions of current year		865	544
Additions for tax positions of prior years		141	116
Reductions for tax positions of prior years		0	(547)
Balance at end of year	4,255	4,255	$ 3,249	$ 3,136
State
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	23,400	23,400
US Federal
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	$ 28,800	$ 28,800

Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Accrued stock based compensation	$ 8,712	$ 7,859
Accrued compensation	9,044	5,465
Accrued severance	483	1,428
Accrued and withheld taxes, other than income taxes	1,136	1,149
Financing lease obligation	1,123	996
Accrued health benefits	657	676
Accrued profit sharing	894	627
Other	10,991	9,089
Accrued Liabilities, Current	$ 33,040	$ 27,289

Loan Agreement Quarterly Financial Covenants (Details) - Minimum	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017
Required Minimum Value [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
EBITDA to Fixed Charges	1.00
Actual Value [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
EBITDA to Fixed Charges	1.00

Loan Agreement Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Loan Agreement Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Bank Overdrafts	$ 5,500,000
Secured Debt, Current	$ 14,543,000	$ 841,000
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Eligible accounts receivables percentage	85.00%
Eligible accounts receivables past due days	60 days
Eligible inventory percentage	60.00%
Eligible inventory expected to be sold period	18 months
Maximum borrowing amount based on inventory	$ 20,000,000
Interest Paid	$ 600,000	$ 200,000	$ 500,000
Weighted average interest rate	3.20%
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$ 1,700,000
Excess cash capacity	$ 10,000,000
Maximum
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Spread on LIBOR	1.85%
Dividends restricted amount	$ 7,000,000.0
Minimum
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Spread on LIBOR	1.50%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit facility, borrowing capacity	$ 40,000,000
Letter of Credit [Member]
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit facility, borrowing capacity	10,000,000
Lawson [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Secured Debt, Current	13,626,000
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit Facility, remaining borrowing capacity	22,800,000
Bolt [Member] [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Secured Debt, Current	1,153,000
Credit Facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Credit Facility, remaining borrowing capacity	$ 4,300,000

Reserve for Severance Activity in reserve (Details) - Employee Severance [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Reserve for severance and related payments
Balance at beginning of period	$ 1,710	$ 697	$ 311
Charged to earnings current year	738	2,376	1,273
Cash paid and exchange rate variance	(1,965)	(1,363)	(887)
Balance at end of the period	$ 483	$ 1,710	$ 697

Retirement and Security Bonus Plans Retirement and Security Bonus Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
401k Employer matching contributions	$ 3,100	$ 3,100	$ 2,900
Employer contributions, profit sharing retirement plan	900	600	800
Retirement and Security Bonus Plans
Cash Surrender Value, Fair Value Disclosure	4,500
Multiemployer Plans, Plan Assets	$ 42
Security bonus plan
Retirement and Security Bonus Plans
Initial vesting percentage	25.00%
Minimum vesting period	5 years
Annual vesting percentage after initial period	5.00%
Expense recognized	$ 500	$ 400	$ 400

Commitments and Contingencies Future minimum lease payments (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Operating leases:
2017	$ 2,910
2018	2,590
2019	2,464
2020	2,451
2021	2,255
Thereafter	1,202
Liability	13,872
Financing lease:
2017	1,348
2018	1,395
2019	1,444
2020	1,493
2021	542
Thereafter	0
Total	6,222
Capital leases:
2017	169
2018	112
2019	72
2020	36
2021	0
Thereafter	0
Total	$ 389

Commitments and Contingencies Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Total rental expense	$ 2,600	$ 2,200	$ 2,000
Total future minimum operating lease payments	13,872
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable	500
Total future minimum lease payments of McCook facility	6,222
Property, plant and equipment, gross	84,939	85,856
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	57,606	54,949
Environmental Remediation Expense	0	0	$ 931
Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies	1,000
Headquarters
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Total future minimum operating lease payments	6,400
McCook facility
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,961	12,961
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	7,200
Capital leases
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Property, plant and equipment, gross	806	$ 534
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	400
Minimum
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Environmental Exit Costs, Anticipated Cost	300
Maximum
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]
Environmental Exit Costs, Anticipated Cost	$ 1,400

Stock-Based Compensation Plans Plan Administration (Details) - 2009 Equity Compensation Plan	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant	140,000
Maximum number of shares per employee	40,000

Stock-Based Compensation Plans Stock Performance Rights (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Stock Performance Rights
Accrued Employee Benefits, Current	$ 8,712,000	$ 7,859,000
Valuation assumptions:
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 200,000
Number of SPRs
Exercised	(40,000)
Stock Performance Rights
Stock Performance Rights
Weighted average estimated value of SPRs outstanding (per share)	$ 9.83
Valuation assumptions:
Expected volatility, minimum, percent	20.50%
Expected volatility, maximum, percent	44.20%
Risk-free rate of return, minimum	1.20%
Risk-free rate of return, maximum	2.20%
Expected annual dividend	$ 0.00
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,200,000	$ 900,000
Number of SPRs
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	946,701
Granted	78,948
Exercised	(34,095)
Cancelled	(30,000)
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	961,554	946,701
Exercisable on December 31, 2017	702,438
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	$ 19.60
Granted	25.12
Exercised	12.99
Cancelled	36.71
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	9.76	$ 19.60
Exercisable on December 31, 2017	$ 17.66
SPRs outstanding, intrinsic value	$ 6,300,000
Total unrecognized compensation cost	$ 1,700,000
Unrecognized cost, period for recognition	1 year 10 months 24 days
Exercised	152,232
Vested in period, fair value	$ 800,000
Weighted average remaining contractual term, SPRs outstanding	4 years 8 months
Weighted average remaining contractual term, SPRs exercisable	4 years 5 months
Stock Performance Rights \| Minimum
Stock Performance Rights
Life of award	7 years
Award vesting period	1 year
Valuation assumptions:
Expected term	1 month 6 days
Stock Performance Rights \| Maximum
Stock Performance Rights
Life of award	10 years
Award vesting period	3 years
Valuation assumptions:
Expected term	4 years 6 months

Stock-Based Compensation Plans Restricted Stock Awards (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 0.2
Restricted stock awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward]
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	31,897
Granted	104,920
Exchanged for shares	(31,897)
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	104,920	31,897
Total unrecognized compensation cost	$ 1.7
Unrecognized cost, period for recognition	1 year 10 months 24 days
Granted	$ 22.73
2009 Equity Compensation Plan \| Restricted stock awards \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	1 year
2009 Equity Compensation Plan \| Restricted stock awards \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting period	3 years
Selling, general and administrative expenses \| Restricted stock awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 0.9	$ 0.6	$ 0.6

Stock-Based Compensation Plans Market Stock Units (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
MSU Expense	$ 900,000	$ 500,000	$ 500,000
Number of Market Stock Units
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	149,532
Granted	98,243
Cancelled	(25,839)
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	221,936	149,532
Maximum Shares Potentially Issuable
Outstanding on December 31, 2016	224,298
Granted	147,365
Cancelled	(38,759)
Outstanding on December 31, 2017	332,904	224,298
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Potential Shares From MSU Vest	$ 0
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Potential Shares From MSU Vest	$ 1.50
Trading days	60 days

Stock-Based Compensation Plans Stock Options (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 0.2
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options	$ 0.1

Stock-Based Compensation Plans Stock Awards	12 Months Ended
Stock-Based Compensation Plans Stock Awards	Dec. 31, 2017 shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Exercised	40,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Shares Issued in Period	23,042
Stock award
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Outstanding at end of period	0

Segment Information Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, Net	$ 80,633	$ 75,651	$ 75,006	$ 74,617	$ 67,315	$ 70,199	$ 69,348	$ 69,711	$ 305,907	$ 276,573	$ 275,834
Lawson [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, Net									$ 297,953	$ 276,573	$ 275,834

Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Interest Expense									$ 622,000	$ 496,000	$ 766,000
Net sales	$ 80,633,000	$ 75,651,000	$ 75,006,000	$ 74,617,000	$ 67,315,000	$ 70,199,000	$ 69,348,000	$ 69,711,000	305,907,000	276,573,000	275,834,000
Gross Profit	46,993,000	$ 46,005,000	$ 45,141,000	$ 44,879,000	40,504,000	$ 42,573,000	$ 42,526,000	$ 42,459,000	183,018,000	168,062,000	169,124,000
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Plant Equipment, Excluding Oil and Gas Property and Timber Property									5,422,000	0	0
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net									0	0	(931,000)
Operating Income (Loss)									9,936,000	(1,457,000)	2,121,000
Long-Lived Assets	59,008,000				37,466,000				59,008,000	37,466,000	34,055,000
Other Nonoperating Income (Expense)									780,000	422,000	(203,000)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest									10,094,000	(1,531,000)	1,152,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									1,256,000	3,112,000	2,342,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									6,770,000	8,066,000	8,543,000
Assets	190,667,000				135,307,000				190,667,000	135,307,000	133,094,000
Notes Receivable, Related Parties	(8,832,000)				0				(8,832,000)	0	0
United States
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									266,994,000	250,824,000	251,129,000
Long-Lived Assets	24,686,000				30,041,000				24,686,000	30,041,000	33,813,000
Canada
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									38,913,000	25,749,000	24,705,000
Long-Lived Assets	34,322,000				7,425,000				34,322,000	7,425,000	242,000
Lawson [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									297,953,000	276,573,000	275,834,000
Gross Profit									179,578,000	168,062,000	169,124,000
Operating Income (Loss)									3,958,000	(1,457,000)	3,052,000
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									1,251,000	3,112,000	2,342,000
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									6,486,000	8,066,000	8,543,000
Assets	161,076,000				135,307,000				161,076,000	135,307,000	133,094,000
Bolt [Member] [Member]
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]
Net sales									7,954,000	0	0
Gross Profit									3,440,000	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)									556,000	0	0
Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment									5,000	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									284,000	0	0
Assets	$ 38,423,000				$ 0				$ 38,423,000	$ 0	$ 0

Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations Summary of Unaudited Quarterly Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 80,633	$ 75,651	$ 75,006	$ 74,617	$ 67,315	$ 70,199	$ 69,348	$ 69,711	$ 305,907	$ 276,573	$ 275,834
Gross profit	46,993	46,005	45,141	44,879	40,504	42,573	42,526	42,459	183,018	168,062	169,124
Net income (loss)	$ 20,237	$ 1,321	$ 7,273	$ 857	$ (4,643)	$ 1,825	$ 172	$ 1,017	$ 29,688	$ (1,629)	$ 297
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 2.28	$ 0.15	$ 0.82	$ 0.10	$ (0.53)	$ 0.21	$ 0.02	$ 0.12	$ 3.35	$ (0.19)	$ 0.03
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 2.21	$ 0.14	$ 0.80	$ 0.09	$ (0.53)	$ 0.20	$ 0.02	$ 0.11	$ 3.25	$ (0.19)	$ 0.03

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allowance for doubtful accounts:
The roll forward of valuation accounts were as follows:
Balance at beginning of period	$ 454	$ 543	$ 733
Charged to costs and expenses	499	361	353
Deductions	(477)	(450)	(543)
Balance at end of period	476	454	543
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets:
The roll forward of valuation accounts were as follows:
Balance at beginning of period	35,416	36,516	36,675
Charged to costs and expenses	(32,860)	(1,100)	(159)
Deductions	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	$ 2,556	$ 35,416	$ 36,516