Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

v3.22.0.1
Note A - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Jan. 01, 2022
Notes to Financial Statements  
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]

NOTE A—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

COVID-19

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted economies, businesses, sales practices, supply chains, and consumer behavior around the world. While the overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operations has not been material, these factors and other events related to the pandemic have created meaningful disruptions in both the Company's sales and operations for fiscal 2021 and 2020. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the impact that COVID-19 will have on its business, financial position and operating results in future periods due to numerous uncertainties and is closely monitoring the impact of the pandemic on all aspects of its business.

 

The Company

 

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. develops and manufactures high quality, science-based nutritional and personal care products that are sold internationally through a direct selling channel. The Consolidated Financial Statements (the “Financial Statements”) include the accounts and operations of the Company, which are grouped and presented in two geographic regions: (1) Asia Pacific, and (2) Americas and Europe. Asia Pacific is further divided into three sub-regions: (i) Greater China, (ii) Southeast Asia Pacific, and (iii) North Asia.

 

 

(1)

Asia Pacific –

 

 

(i)

Greater China – Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China. The Company’s business in China is conducted by BabyCare Holdings, Ltd. (“BabyCare”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary.

 

 

(ii)

Southeast Asia Pacific – Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia.

 

 

(iii)

North Asia – Japan and South Korea.

 

 

(2)

Americas and Europe – United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

 

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts and operations of the Company. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”).

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates may be adjusted as more current information becomes available, and any adjustment could be significant.

 

Fiscal Year

 

The Company operates on a 52/53-week year, ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal years 2021 and 2019 were 52-week years. Fiscal year 2020 was a 53-week year. Fiscal year 2021 covered the period January 3, 2021 to January 1, 2022 (hereinafter 2021). Fiscal year 2020 covered the period December 29, 2019 to January 2, 2021 (hereinafter 2020). Fiscal year 2019 covered the period December 30, 2018 to December 28, 2019 (hereinafter 2019).

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company measures at fair value certain of its financial and non-financial assets and liabilities by using a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, essentially an exit price, based on the highest and best use of the asset or liability. The levels of the fair value hierarchy are:

 

 

Level 1 inputs are quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that are accessible at the measurement date.

 

 

Level 2 inputs are from other than quoted market prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

 

 

Level 3 inputs are unobservable and are used to measure fair value in situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.

 

As of  January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, the following financial assets and liabilities were measured at fair value on a recurring basis using the type of inputs shown:

 

           

Fair Value Measurements Using

 
   

January 1,

   

Inputs

 
   

2022

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Money market funds included in cash equivalents

  $ 163,619     $ 163,619     $     $  

Foreign currency contracts included in other current liabilities

    (461 )           (461 )      
    $ 163,158     $ 163,619     $ (461 )   $  

 

           

Fair Value Measurements Using

 
   

January 2,

   

Inputs

 
   

2021

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Money market funds included in cash equivalents

  $ 224,092     $ 224,092     $     $  

Foreign currency contracts included in other current liabilities

    (1,470 )           (1,470 )      
    $ 222,622     $ 224,092     $ (1,470 )   $  

 

There were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities between levels of the fair value hierarchy for the periods indicated.

 

The majority of the Company’s non-financial assets, which include long-lived assets, are not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis. However, if an impairment charge is required, a non-financial asset would be written down to fair value. As of  January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, there were no non-financial assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

As of  January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, the Company’s financial instruments include cash equivalents, restricted cash, and foreign currency contracts. The recorded values of cash equivalents and restricted cash approximate their fair values, based on their short-term nature. 

 

Translation of Foreign Currencies

 

The functional currency of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries is the local currency of their country of domicile. Assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollar amounts at month-end exchange rates. Revenue and expense accounts are translated at the weighted-average rates for the monthly accounting period to which they relate. Equity accounts are translated at historical rates. Foreign currency translation adjustments are accumulated as a component of other comprehensive income. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in the “Other, net” component of Other income (expense) in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents as of January 1, 2022 and  January 2, 2021 consisted primarily of money market fund investments and amounts receivable from credit card processors. 

 

Amounts receivable from credit card processors and other forms of electronic payment are considered cash equivalents because they are both short-term and highly liquid in nature and are typically converted to cash within three days of the sales transaction. Amounts receivable from credit card processors as of  January 1, 2022 and  January 2, 2021 totaled $11,123 and $15,424, respectively.

 

Restricted Cash

 

The Company is required to maintain cash deposits with banks in certain subsidiary locations for various operating purposes. The most significant of these cash deposits relates to a deposit held at a bank in China, the balance of which was $3,146 as of January 1, 2022, and $3,062 as of January 2, 2021. This deposit is required for the application of direct sales licenses by the Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration of Market Regulation (“SAMR”) of the People’s Republic of China, and will continue to be restricted during the periods while the Company holds these licenses. 

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using a standard costing system, which approximates the first-in, first-out method. The components of inventory cost include raw materials, labor, and overhead.  Net realizable value is determined using various assumptions with regard to excess or slow-moving inventories, non-conforming inventories, expiration dates, current and future product demand, production planning, and market conditions.  A change in any of these variables could result in an adjustment to inventory.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses inherent in its accounts receivable portfolio. In establishing the required allowance, management considers historical losses adjusted to take into account current market conditions and our customers’ financial condition, the amount of receivables in dispute, and the current receivables aging and current payment patterns. The Company reviews its allowance for doubtful accounts regularly. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. Accounts Receivable is included in the “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” line item in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method, which requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of the differences between the financial statement assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates that are expected to apply to taxable income in the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax law is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  Deferred tax expense or benefit is the result of changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

 

The Company evaluates the probability of realizing the future benefits of its deferred tax assets and provides a valuation allowance for the portion of any deferred tax assets where the likelihood of realizing an income tax benefit in the future does not meet the “more-likely-than-not” criteria for recognition.  The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position.  The tax benefits recognized in the Financial Statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate resolution.  The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income taxes.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Maintenance, repairs, and renewals, which neither materially add to the value of the property nor appreciably prolong its life, are charged to expense as incurred. Depreciation is provided in amounts sufficient to relate the cost of depreciable assets to operations over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The straight-line method of depreciation and amortization is followed for financial statement purposes. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the life of the respective lease or the useful life of the improvements. Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances exist that indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is included in the results of operations for the respective period.

 

Leases

 

With the exception of the Company’s headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, and its facilities in New South Wales, Australia, and in Beijing and Tianjin, China, the Company leases its facilities. Each of the facility lease agreements is a non-cancelable operating lease generally structured with renewal options and expires prior to or during 2027. In connection with the production facilities in Beijing and Tianjin, China, the Company has prepaid land use rights, which represents a lease with the associated prepayment recorded as a Right-of-Use (“ROU”) asset. The Company also utilizes equipment under non-cancelable operating leases, expiring through 2026.

 

At contract inception, the Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease and whether the lease should be classified as an operating or a financing lease. A contract is or contains a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of the identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control is determined based on the right to obtain all of the economic benefits from use of the identified asset and the right to direct the use of the identified asset. ROU assets for operating leases represent the right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and operating lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments.

 

Lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at the commencement date for leases exceeding 12 months. Minimum lease payments include only the fixed lease component of the agreement, as well as any variable rate payments that depend on an index, initially measured using the index at the lease commencement date. Non-lease components are accounted for separately from the fixed lease component for all leases. Most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate that can readily be determined. Therefore, the applied discount rate is based on the Company’s incremental borrowing rate, which is determined using its credit rating and other information available as of the commencement date and is the rate of interest it would have to pay on a collateralized basis to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments under similar terms. Lease terms may include options to renew, which the Company factors into the determination of the lease term when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The ROU asset is measured at the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred less any lease incentives received.

 

Operating lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is included in “Cost of sales” and “Selling, general and administrative” line items in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet, and the expense for these short-term leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

 

The Company monitors for events or changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of its leases. When a reassessment results in the remeasurement of a lease liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the ROU asset unless doing so would reduce the ROU asset to an amount less than zero, in which case the remaining adjustment would be recorded in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair market value of identifiable net assets of acquired companies.  Goodwill is not amortized, but rather is tested at the reporting unit level at least annually for impairment or more frequently if triggering events or changes in circumstances indicate impairment.  Initially, qualitative factors are considered to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Some of these qualitative factors may include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, a change in financial performance, entity-specific events, a sustained decrease in share price, and consideration of the difference between the fair value and carrying amount of a reporting unit as determined in the most recent quantitative assessment. If, through this qualitative assessment, the conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that a reporting unit’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment analysis is performed. This analysis involves estimating the fair value of a reporting unit using widely accepted valuation methodologies including the income and market approaches, which requires the use of estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions include revenue growth rates, discounts rates, and determination of appropriate market comparables. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the reporting unit, not to exceed the carrying amount of the goodwill. During 2021, 2020, and 2019, no impairment of goodwill was recorded.

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets represent amortized and indefinite-lived intangible assets acquired in connection with the purchase of the Company’s China subsidiary in 2010.  Amortized intangible assets are amortized over their related useful lives, using a straight-line or accelerated method consistent with the underlying expected future cash flows related to the specific intangible asset.  Amortized intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances exist that indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When indicators of impairment exist, an estimate of undiscounted net cash flows is used in measuring whether the carrying amount of the asset or related asset group is recoverable. Measurement of the amount of impairment, if any, is based upon the difference between the asset or asset group’s carrying value and fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques, including market and income approaches as considered necessary.

 

Indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized; however, they are tested at least annually for impairment or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances exist that may indicate impairment. Initially, qualitative factors are considered to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If, through this qualitative assessment, the conclusion is made that it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset’s fair value is less than its carrying amount, a quantitative impairment analysis is performed by comparing the indefinite-lived intangible asset’s carrying amount to its fair value. The fair value for indefinite-lived intangible assets is determined through various valuation techniques, including market and income approaches as considered necessary. The amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the impaired asset. During 2021, 2020, and 2019, no impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets was recorded.

 

Investment in Equity Securities

 

Equity securities (“securities”) without readily determinable fair value that are not eligible to be measured in accordance with the net asset value practical expedient qualify for an election to initially estimate fair value using the measurement alternative at its cost. During 2020, the Company entered into a strategic collaboration and made a minority investment in a privately held company, which totaled $20,000 and is included in the “Other assets” line item on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company, at the time of the investment, elected to apply the measurement alternative, which may be applied to an equity interest on an instrument-by-instrument basis. Dividends received are reported in earnings.

 

The initial value of the securities are remeasured to fair value if the securities are impaired or if observable price changes occur. These events are continually monitored and assessed at each reporting period. If a readily determinable fair value becomes available for the securities or observable price changes for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer occur, the securities are measured at fair value as of the date the observable change occurred. Any resulting gains or losses on the securities for which the observable price changes occur will be recorded in net earnings. During 2021 and 2020, no such observable price changes occurred.

 

At each reporting period a qualitative assessment is made to consider impairment indicators to determine whether the securities are impaired. Impairment indicators may include but are not limited to earnings performance, business prospects by the investee, cash flows from operations, working capital, and noncompliance with debt covenants. If this qualitative assessment indicates impairment, fair value is determined and an impairment loss equal to the difference between the fair value of the investment and its carrying amount is recognized in net income. During 2021 and 2020, no impairment of securities was recorded.

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation

 

In 2021, the Company created a non-qualified deferred compensation plan for a select group of management and highly compensated individuals. The plan permits the deferral of up to 50% of a participant's base salary and/or 80% of a participant's annual incentive bonus. The deferrals are held in an irrevocable rabbi trust (the "Rabbi Trust"), which has been established to administer the plan. The Rabbi Trust is intended to be used as a source of funds to match respective funding obligations to participants. The assets of the trust are subject to the claims of the Company's creditors in the event that the Company becomes insolvent. Consequently, the Rabbi Trust qualifies as a grantor trust for income tax purposes. The Company makes periodic payments into company-owned life insurance policies held in this Rabbi trust to fund the expected obligations arising under this plan. There are no contractual restrictions on the Company's ability to surrender a policy. The assets and liabilities of the plan are included in "Other assets" and "Other long-term liabilities" respectively in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the deferred compensation balances are recorded to compensation expense and reflected within the "Selling, general and administrative" line in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. As of January 1, 2022, the trustee held total assets, and deferred compensation liabilities of $382, and $390, respectively. 

 

Self-Insurance

 

The Company is self-insured, up to certain limits, for employee group health claims. The Company has purchased stop-loss insurance on both an individual and an aggregate basis, which will reimburse the Company for individual claims in excess of $175 and aggregate claims that are greater than $13,390. A liability is accrued for all unpaid claims. Total expense under this self-insurance program was $12,349, $11,798, and $11,846 in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company’s risk management strategy includes the select use of derivative instruments to reduce the effects of volatility in foreign currency exchange exposure on operating results and cash flows. In accordance with the Company’s risk management policies, the Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet at their respective fair values. When the Company becomes a party to a derivative instrument and intends to apply hedge accounting, the Company formally documents the hedge relationship and the risk management objective for undertaking the hedge, the nature of risk being hedged, and the hedged transaction, which includes designating the instrument for financial reporting purposes as a fair value hedge, a cash flow hedge, or a net investment hedge. The Company also documents how the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the hedged risk will be assessed prospectively and retrospectively, and a description of the method used to measure ineffectiveness.

 

The Company periodically uses derivative instruments to hedge the foreign currency exposure of its net investment in foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. Initially, the Company records derivative assets on a gross basis in its consolidated balance sheets. Subsequently the fair value of derivatives is measured for each reporting period. The effective portion of gains and losses attributable to these net investment hedges is recorded to foreign currency translation adjustment (“FCTA”) within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) to offset the change in the carrying value of the net investment being hedged, and will subsequently be reclassified to net earnings in the period in which the hedged investment is either sold or substantially liquidated.

 

During 2021, 2020, and 2019, the Company entered into and settled European options designated as net investment hedges with notional amounts of $98,684, $90,000, and $110,000, respectively. The Company realized a loss of $1,555 in 2021 and realized a gain of $846 and $276 in 2020 and 2019, respectively, which is recorded to FCTA within AOCI. The Company assessed hedge effectiveness under the forward rate method, determining the hedging instruments were highly effective. As of  January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, there were no derivatives outstanding for which the Company has applied hedge accounting.  

 

Subsequent to January 1, 2022, on January 13, 2022 the Company entered into a forward contract designated as a net investment hedge with a notional amount of $98,930.

 

Common Stock Share Repurchases

 

The Company has a stock repurchase plan in place that has been authorized by the Board of Directors. As of  January 1, 2022, $108,221 is available to repurchase shares under this plan. The excess of the repurchase price over par value is allocated between additional paid-in capital and retained earnings on a pro-rata basis. There currently is no expiration date on the remaining approved repurchase amount and no requirement for future share repurchases.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue is recognized when, or as, control of a promised product or service transfers to a customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring those products or services.  Revenue excludes taxes that have been assessed by governmental authorities and that are directly imposed on revenue-producing transactions between the Company and its customers, including sales, use, value-added, and some excise taxes. Revenue recognition is evaluated through the following five-step process:

 

 

1)

identification of the contract with a customer;

 

2)

identification of the performance obligations in the contract;

 

3)

determination of the transaction price;

 

4)

allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and

 

5)

recognition of revenue when or as a performance obligation is satisfied.

 

Product Revenue

 

A majority of the Company’s sales are for products sold at a point in time and shipped to customers, for which control is transferred to the customer as goods are delivered to the third party carrier for shipment. The Company receives payment, primarily via credit card, for the sale of products at the time customers place orders and payment is required prior to shipment. The Company does not recognize assets associated with costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer.

 

The Company’s product sales contracts include terms that could cause variability in the transaction price for items such as discounts, product promotions, credits, or sales returns, which are a reduction of revenue. Accordingly, the transaction price for product sales includes estimates of variable consideration to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue recognized will not occur. At the time of sale, the Company estimates a refund liability for the variable consideration based on historical experience, which is recorded within the “Other current liabilities” line item in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Initial product orders with a new customer may include multiple performance obligations related to sales discounts earned under the Company’s initial order reward program. Under this program, the customer receives an option to apply the discounts earned on the initial order to two subsequent Auto Orders, which conveys a material right to the customer. As such, the initial order transaction price is allocated to each separate performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price and is recognized as revenue as each performance obligation is satisfied.

 

Associate incentives represent consideration paid to an Associate for distinct services provided in the sale of the Company's products and include all forms of commissions, and other incentives paid to our Associates. The Company may provide Associate incentive promotions which are earned by Associates for distinct services rendered. Associate incentive promotions are recorded as the incentives are earned by the Associates. With the exception of commissions paid to Associates on personal purchases, which are considered a sales discount and are reported as a reduction to net sales, Associate incentives are recorded as an operating expense. The amounts paid to Associates are commensurate with the fair value received for the distinct services rendered by Associates and are recorded as an operating expense when revenue for the goods is recognized.

 

Shipping and handling activities are performed upon delivery to the third party carrier for shipment. The Company accounts for these activities as fulfillment costs. Therefore, the Company recognizes the costs of these activities when revenue for the goods is recognized. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales for all periods presented.

 

With respect to will-call orders, the Company periodically assesses the likelihood that customers will exercise their contractual right to pick up orders and revenue is recognized when the likelihood that customers will pick up orders is remote.

 

Other Revenue

 

Other types of revenue include fees, which are paid by the customer at the beginning of the service period, for access to online customer service applications and annual account renewal fees for Associates, for which control is transferred over time as services are delivered and are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective contracts.

 

The following table presents Other Revenue for the periods indicated:

 

   

Year Ended

 
   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Other Revenue

 

$

3,825

   

$

3,805

   

$

3,059

 

 

Revenue Disaggregation

 

Disaggregation of revenue by geographical region and major product line is included in Note L – Segment Information.

 

Contract Balances

 

When the timing of our provision of goods or services is different from the timing of the payments made by our customers, we recognize either a contract asset (performance precedes contractual due date) or a contract liability (customer payment precedes performance).

 

Contract liabilities relate to deferred revenue for product sales for customer payments received in advance of shipment, for outstanding material rights under the initial order program, and for services where the performance obligations are satisfied over time as services are delivered. Contract liabilities are recorded as deferred revenue within the "Other current liabilities" line item in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company typically does not have contract assets based on the payment terms included in the Company’s contracts and the balance of contract assets was $0 at  January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021.

 

The following table provides information about contract liabilities from contracts with customers, including significant changes in the contract liabilities balances during the period.

 

   

January 1,

   

January 2,

 
   

2022

   

2021

 

Contract liabilities at beginning of period

  $ 15,952     $ 13,852  

Increase due to deferral of revenue at period end

    19,635       15,952  

Decrease due to beginning contract liabilities recognized as revenue

    (15,952 )     (13,852 )

Contract liabilities at end of period

  $ 19,635     $ 15,952  

 

Product Return Policy

 

All product orders that are unused and returned within the first 30 days following purchase are refunded at 100% of the sales price. All product orders that are unused and resalable are refunded up to one year from the date of purchase at 100% of the sales price. This standard policy differs in a few of our international markets due to the regulatory environment in those markets. Depending upon the conditions under which product was returned, customers may either receive a refund based on their original form of payment, or credit on account for a product exchange. The Company monitors Associate activity to ensure that all such practices are in line with established Company policies. Product returns totaled approximately 0.6% of net sales in 2021, and 0.7% of net sales in, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

 

Associate Incentives

 

Associate incentives expenses include all forms of commissions, and other incentives paid to our Associates, less commissions paid to Associates on personal purchases, which are considered a sales discount and are reported as a reduction to net sales.

 

Selling, General and Administrative

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses include wages and benefits, depreciation and amortization, rents and utilities, Associate event costs, advertising and professional fees, marketing, and research and development expenses.

 

Equity-Based Compensation

 

The Company records compensation expense in the Financial Statements for equity-based awards based on the grant date fair value, which for restricted stock units is the closing market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of the grant. The grant date fair value of each stock-settled stock appreciation right is based upon the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Equity-based compensation expense is recognized under the straight-line method over the period that service is provided, which is generally the vesting term. Further information regarding equity awards can be found in Note K – Equity-Based Compensation.

 

Advertising

 

Advertising costs are charged to expense as incurred and are presented as part of the “Selling, general and administrative” line item. Advertising expense totaled $12,399, $9,853, and $11,615 in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

 

Research and Development

 

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and are presented as part of the “Selling, general and administrative” line item. Research and development expense totaled $11,112, $10,633, and $10,259 in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively.

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per common share ("EPS") are based on the weighted-average number of common shares that were outstanding during each period. Diluted EPS include the effect of potentially dilutive common shares calculated using the treasury stock method, which include in-the-money, equity-based awards that have been granted but have not been issued. When there is a loss, potential common shares are not included in the computation of diluted EPS, because to do so would be anti-dilutive.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Adopted accounting pronouncements

 

In  December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.” ASU 2019-12 is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and clarifying certain aspects of the current guidance to promote consistency among reporting entities. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after  December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. Most amendments within this ASU are required to be applied on a prospective basis, while certain amendments must be applied on a retrospective or modified retrospective basis. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 during the first quarter ended  April 3, 2021 and the adoption of the standard did not have an impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In  January 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-01 “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Scope,” which clarifies that certain optional expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 for contract modifications and hedge accounting apply to derivatives that are affected by the discounting transition. Specifically, certain provisions in Topic 848, if elected by an entity, apply to derivative instruments that use an interest rate for margining, discounting, or contract price alignment that is modified as a result of reference rate reform. Amendments in this ASU to the expedients and exceptions in Topic 848 capture the incremental consequences of the scope clarification and tailor the existing guidance to derivative instruments affected by the discounting transition. The amendments in this ASU do not apply to contract modifications made after  December 31, 2022, new hedging relationships entered into after  December 31, 2022, and existing hedging relationships evaluated for effectiveness in periods after  December 31, 2022, except for hedging relationships existing as of  December 31, 2022, that apply certain optional expedients in which the accounting effects are recorded through the end of the hedging relationship (including periods after  December 31, 2022). The amendments in this ASU are effective immediately for all entities. An entity  may elect to apply the amendments in this ASU on a full retrospective basis as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to  March 12, 2020, or on a prospective basis to new modifications from any date within an interim period that includes or is subsequent to the date of the issuance of a final ASU, up to the date that financial statements are available to be issued. The Company, on  January 7, 2021, adopted ASU 2021-01 on a prospective basis and the adoption of this ASU did not have an impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

No other new accounting pronouncement issued or effective during the fiscal year had, or is expected to have, a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.