2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), include the accounts of the Company and each of its subsidiaries, including WW Holding Corporation, Boot Barn Holding Corporation, Boot Barn, Inc., RCC Western Stores, Inc. (“RCC”), Baskins Acquisition Holdings, LLC (“Baskins”), Sheplers Inc. and Sheplers Holding Corporation (collectively with Sheplers, Inc. “Sheplers”) and Boot Barn International (Hong Kong) Limited (“Hong Kong”). All intercompany accounts and transactions among the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation.

Fiscal Year

The Company reports its results of operations and cash flows on a 52‑ or 53‑week basis, and its fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of March unless April 1st is a Saturday, in which case the fiscal year ends on April 1st. The years ended March 26, 2016 (“fiscal 2016”) and March 28, 2015 (“fiscal 2015”) each consisted of 52 weeks. The year ended April 1, 2017 (“fiscal 2017”) consisted of 53 weeks.

Comprehensive Income

The Company does not have any components of other comprehensive income recorded within its consolidated financial statements and, therefore, does not separately present a statement of comprehensive income in its consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting

GAAP has established guidance for reporting information about a company’s operating segments, including disclosures related to a company’s products and services, geographic areas and major customers. The Company operates in a single operating segment, which includes net sales generated from its retail stores and e‑commerce websites. The vast majority of the Company’s identifiable assets are in the U.S.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with 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 financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Among the significant estimates affecting the Company’s consolidated financial statements are those relating to revenue recognition, inventories, goodwill, intangible and long‑lived assets, stock‑based compensation and income taxes. Management regularly evaluates its estimates and assumptions based upon historical experience and various other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. To the extent actual results differ from those estimates, the Company’s future results of operations may be affected.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents also include receivables from credit card sales. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents represent their fair values.

Accounts Receivable

The Company’s accounts receivable consist of amounts due from commercial customers for merchandise sold, as well as receivables from suppliers under co‑operative arrangements. The Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts was less than $0.1 million for both the fiscal years ending April 1, 2017 and March 26, 2016.

Inventories

Inventory consists primarily of purchased merchandise and is valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined on a first‑in, first‑out basis and includes the cost of merchandise and import related costs, including freight, duty and agent commissions. The Company assesses the recoverability of inventory through a periodic review of historical usage and present demand. When the inventory on hand exceeds the foreseeable demand, the value of inventory that, at the time of the review, is not expected to be sold is written down to its estimated net realizable value.

The Company recorded fair value adjustments to reflect the acquired cost of inventory related to its acquisitions of Baskins and Sheplers. These amounts were amortized over the period that the related inventory was sold. Amortization of the acquired cost of inventory was zero for both fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2015, and $0.5 million for fiscal 2016.

Debt Issuance Costs and Debt Discounts

Debt issuance costs are capitalized and amortized to interest expense over the terms of the applicable loan agreements using the effective interest method. Those costs related to the issuance of debt are presented as a reduction to the principal amount of the debt. Debt issuance costs incurred with the issuance of revolving credit lines are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets.

 

Debt discounts arise when transaction fees are paid to the lending institution. Debt discounts are recorded as a reduction to the principal amount of the debt. Amortization of debt discounts is recorded as an increase to the net principal amount of the debt and as a charge to interest expense over the term of the applicable loan agreement using the effective interest method.

Property and Equipment, net

Property and equipment consists of leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, software and vehicles. Property and equipment is subject to depreciation and is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Expenditures for major remodels and improvements are capitalized while minor replacements, maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend the life of such assets are charged to expense. Gains or losses on disposal of fixed assets, when applicable, are reflected in operations. Depreciation is computed using the straight‑line method over the estimated useful lives, ranging from five to ten years. Machinery and equipment is depreciated over five years. Furniture and fixtures are depreciated over seven years. Software and vehicles are depreciated over five years. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the terms of the leases or ten years.

Goodwill and Indefinite‑Lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill is recorded as the difference between the aggregate consideration paid for an acquisition and the fair value of the acquired net tangible and intangible assets. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter or more frequently if indicators of impairment exist, in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350, Goodwill and Other. This guidance provides the option to first assess qualitative factors such as macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance and other relevant entity-specific events to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value (a “Step 0” analysis). If, based on a review of qualitative factors it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs “Step 1” of the traditional two-step goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount.

If the Company proceeds to conduct a two‑step goodwill impairment test, the first step of the impairment test involves comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying value. Management evaluates the fair value of the reporting unit using a market‑based analysis to review market capitalization as well as reviewing a discounted cash flow analysis using management’s assumptions. The Company’s entire operations represent one reporting unit. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting unit using the income approach and market approach to valuation, as well as other generally accepted valuation methodologies. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, the Company performs the second step of the goodwill impairment test, which involves comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to the carrying value of that goodwill. The amount by which the carrying value of the goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, if any, will be recognized as an impairment loss. The Company concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill during fiscal 2017, 2016 or 2015.

Intangible assets with indefinite lives, which include the Boot Barn, Sheplers and Country Outfitter trademarks, are not amortized but instead are measured for impairment at least annually, or when events indicate that impairment may exist. The Company calculates impairment as the excess of the carrying value of indefinite‑lived intangible assets over their estimated fair value. If the carrying value exceeds the estimate of fair value, an impairment charge is recorded. The Company concluded there was no impairment of intangible assets with indefinite lives during fiscal 2017, 2016 or 2015.

Definite‑Lived Intangible Assets

Definite‑lived intangible assets consist of certain trademarks, customer lists, non‑compete agreements, and below‑market leases. Definite‑lived intangible assets are amortized utilizing the straight‑line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives, with the exception of customer lists, which are amortized based on the estimated attrition rate. The period of amortization for customer lists is three to five years, non‑compete agreements is four to five years and below‑market leases is four to 19 years.

Long‑Lived Assets

Long‑lived assets consist of property and equipment and definite‑lived intangible assets. The Company assesses potential impairment of its long‑lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset or asset group’s carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors that are considered important that could trigger an impairment review include a current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses and a projection or forecast that demonstrates continuing losses or insufficient income associated with the use of a long‑lived asset or asset group. Other factors include a significant change in the manner of the use of the asset or a significant negative industry or economic trend. This evaluation is performed based on estimated undiscounted future cash flows from operating activities compared with the carrying value of the related assets. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized, measured by the difference between the carrying value, and the estimated fair value of the assets, with such estimated fair values determined using the best information available and in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements. During fiscal 2017, the Company recorded an asset impairment charge of $1.2 million related to three of its stores. Long-lived assets held and used with a carrying value of $1.5 million were written down to their fair value of $0.3 million, resulting in an asset impairment charge of $1.2 million. The fair values of these three locations were calculated based on the projected discounted cash flows at a similar rate that would be used by market participants in valuing these assets or prices of similar assets. There were no impairments of long‑lived assets during fiscal 2016 or 2015.

Stock‑Based Compensation

Stock‑based compensation is accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”). The Company accounts for all stock‑based compensation transactions using a fair‑value method and recognizes the fair value of each award as an expense over the service period. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted using the Black‑Scholes option‑pricing model. The use of the Black‑Scholes model requires a number of estimates, including the expected option term, the expected volatility in the price of the Company’s common stock, the risk‑free rate of interest and the dividend yield on the Company’s common stock. Judgment is required in estimating the number of share‑based awards that the Company expects will ultimately vest upon the fulfillment of service conditions (such as time‑based vesting). The fair value of the Company’s restricted stock awards and restricted stock units is the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The consolidated financial statements include amounts that are based on the Company’s best estimates and judgments. The Company classifies compensation expense related to these awards in the consolidated statements of operations based on the department to which the recipient reports.

Noncontrolling Interest

Until June 8, 2014, certain investors held approximately 5.0% of the outstanding shares of Boot Barn Holding Corporation. Noncontrolling interests were recorded based on an allocation of subsidiary earnings based on the relative ownership interest. On June 8, 2014, as a result of the Reorganization discussed in Note 1, the minority stockholders that formerly held 5.0% of Boot Barn Holding Corporation became holders of 5.0% of the Company.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recorded for store sales upon the purchase of merchandise by customers. E‑commerce sales are recorded when the customer takes title of the merchandise and assumes risk of loss, collection of the relevant receivable is reasonably assured, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable, which generally occurs upon delivery of the product. Shipping and handling revenues are included in total net sales. Shipping costs incurred by the Company are included as cost of goods sold.

Revenue is recorded net of estimated and actual sales returns and deductions for coupon redemptions, estimated future award redemption and other promotions. The sales return reserve reflects an estimate of sales returns based on projected merchandise returns determined through the use of historical average return percentages. The total reserve for returns was $1.5 million, $1.3 million, and $0.7 million as of fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively and is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The following table provides a reconciliation of the activity related to the Company’s sales returns reserve:

 

The Company maintains a customer loyalty program. Under the program, customers accumulate points based on purchase activity. For customers to maintain their active point balance, they must make a qualifying purchase of merchandise at least once in a 365‑day period. Once a loyalty program member achieves a certain point level, the member earns awards that may be redeemed for credits on merchandise purchases. To redeem awards, the member must make a qualifying purchase of merchandise within 60 days of the date the award was granted. Unredeemed awards and accumulated partial points are accrued as unearned revenue and as an adjustment to net sales. The unearned revenue for this program is recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and was $2.1 million and $2.0 million as of April 1, 2017 and March 26, 2016, respectively. The following table provides a reconciliation of the activity related to the Company’s customer loyalty program:

Proceeds from the sale of gift cards are deferred until the customers use the cards to acquire merchandise. Gift cards, gift certificates and store credits do not have expiration dates, and unredeemed gift cards, gift certificates and store credits are subject to state escheatment laws. The Company retains the percentage of the value of such unredeemed gift cards, gift certificates and store credits not escheated, and recognizes these amounts in net sales. The Company defers recognition of a layaway sale and its related profit to the accounting period when the customer receives the layaway merchandise. Income from the redemption of gift cards, gift card breakage, and the sale of layaway merchandise is included in net sales. In fiscal 2014, the Company elected to participate in a voluntary disclosure program with the State of Delaware in order to settle past due unclaimed property obligations. The Company agreed with the State of Delaware to settle all unreported escheatment liabilities in the amount of $0.3 million. These amounts were recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities in fiscal 2014 based upon preliminary settlement amounts. The final settlement was reached with, and amounts were paid to, the State of Delaware in May 2014.

Cost of Goods Sold

Cost of goods sold includes the cost of merchandise, obsolescence and shrink provisions, store and warehouse occupancy costs (including rent, depreciation and utilities), inbound and outbound freight, supplier allowances, occupancy‑related taxes, compensation costs for merchandise purchasing and warehouse personnel and other inventory acquisition‑related costs.

Store Opening Costs

Store opening costs consist of costs incurred prior to opening a new store and primarily consist of manager and other employee payroll, travel and training costs, marketing expenses, initial opening supplies and costs of transporting initial inventory and certain fixtures to store locations, as well as occupancy costs incurred from the time that we take possession of a store site to the opening of that store. Occupancy costs are included in cost of goods sold and the other store opening costs are included in selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses. All of these costs are expensed as incurred.

Advertising Costs

Certain advertising costs, including pay-per-click, direct mail, television and radio promotions, event sponsorship, in‑store photographs and other promotional advertising are expensed when the marketing campaign commences. The Company had prepaid advertising costs of $0.4 million and $0.6 million as of April 1, 2017 and March 26, 2016, respectively. All other advertising costs are expensed as incurred. The Company recognized $24.7 million, $22.0 million and $11.5 million in advertising costs during fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. 

Leases

The Company recognizes rent expense for operating leases on a straight‑line basis (including the effect of reduced or free rent and rent escalations) over the lease term. The difference between the cash paid to the landlord and the amount recognized as rent expense on a straight‑line basis is recognized as an adjustment to deferred rent in the consolidated balance sheets. Cash reimbursements received from landlords for leasehold improvements and other cash payments received from landlords as lease incentives are recorded as deferred rent and are amortized using the straight‑line method over the lease term as an offset to rent expense. Contingent rent, determined based on a percentage of sales in excess of specified levels, is recognized as rent expense when the achievement of the specified sales that triggers the contingent rent is probable.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), which requires the asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting of income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to differences between financial statement and income tax reporting. Deferred tax assets, net of any valuation allowances, represent the future tax return consequences of those differences and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, which will be deductible when the assets are recovered. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is deemed more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, we consider whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. We consider the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. It prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. Such changes in recognition or measurement might result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision in the period.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within the income tax expense line in the consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest and penalties, if incurred, are included within accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. There were no accrued interest or penalties for the fiscal years ended April 1, 2017 or March 26, 2016. 

Per Share Information

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of outstanding shares of common stock. In computing diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding is adjusted to reflect the effect of potentially dilutive securities such as stock options. In accordance with ASC 718, the Company utilizes the treasury stock method to compute the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units.

Fair Value of Certain Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, (“ASC 820”) which requires disclosure of the estimated fair value of certain assets and liabilities defined by the guidance as financial instruments. The Company’s financial instruments consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt. ASC 820 defines the fair value of financial instruments as the price that would be received from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820 establishes a three‑level hierarchy for disclosure that is based on the extent and level of judgment used to estimate the fair value of assets and liabilities.

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are classified according to the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. As a result, the asset or liability could be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 even though there may be certain significant inputs that are readily observable. The Company believes that the recorded value of its financial instruments approximate their current fair values because of their nature and respective relatively short maturity dates or duration.

Although market quotes for the fair value of the outstanding debt arrangements discussed in Note 8 “Revolving credit facilities and long‑term debt” are not readily available, the Company believes its carrying value approximates fair value due to the variable interest rates, which are Level 2 inputs. There were no financial assets or liabilities requiring fair value measurements as of April 1, 2017 on a recurring basis.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents. At times, such amounts held at banks may be in excess of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits, and the Company mitigates such risk by utilizing multiple banks.

Supplier Concentration Risk

The Company purchases merchandise inventories from several hundred suppliers worldwide. Sales of products from the Company’s three largest suppliers totaled approximately 38% of net sales in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, and approximately 40% of net sales in fiscal 2015.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) jointly issued a new revenue recognition standard, ASU No. 2014‑09, Revenue From Contracts with Customers, that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The revenue recognition standard will allow for the recognition of revenue when a company transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard permits the use of either a full retrospective or retrospective with cumulative effect transition method. Early adoption is not permitted. On August 8, 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 by one year, and permits early adoption as long as the adoption date is not before the original public entity effective date. The standard is effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that the updated standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes: Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (“ASU 2015-17”). ASU 2015-17 eliminates the requirement to bifurcate deferred taxes between current and non-current on the balance sheet and requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. ASU 2015-17 is effective for public entities in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and for interim periods within those annual periods. The amendments for ASU-2015-17 can be applied retrospectively or prospectively and early adoption is permitted. This accounting standard will be effective for the Company beginning in the quarter ending July 1, 2017 and will be adopted prospectively. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The FASB issued this ASU to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases classified as operating leases under current U.S. GAAP and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. For public entities, ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. This accounting standard will be effective for the Company beginning in the quarter ending July 1, 2017 and the Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business, included in ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, which revises the definition of a business and provides a new framework for determining whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The revised definition clarifies that outputs must be the result of inputs and substantive processes that provide goods or services to customers, other revenue, or investment income. The guidance will be effective for the Company's annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the new definition of a business during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, and it did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.