Pier 1 2012 Annual Report Download - page 11

The Company owns a number of federally registered trademarks and service marks under which Pier 1
Imports stores conduct business. Additionally, the Company has registered and has applications pending for the
registration of certain other Pier 1 Imports trademarks and service marks in the United States, Canada and other
foreign countries. The Company believes that its marks have significant value and are important in its marketing
efforts. The Company maintains a policy of pursuing registration of its marks and opposing any infringement of
its marks.
The Company operates in the highly competitive specialty home retail business and competes primarily
with specialty sections of large department stores, furniture and decorative home furnishings retailers, small
specialty stores and mass merchandising discounters.
The Company allows customers to return merchandise within a reasonable time after the date of purchase
without limitation as to reason. Most returns occur within 30 days of the date of purchase. The Company
monitors the level of returns and maintains a reserve for future returns based on historical experience and other
known factors.
On February 25, 2012, the Company employed approximately 19,700 associates in the United States and
Canada, of which approximately 3,500 were full-time employees and 16,200 were part-time employees.
(d) Financial Information about Geographic Areas.
Information required by this Item is found in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
(e) Available Information.
The Company makes available free of charge through its Internet website address (www.pier1.com) its
annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to
those reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files such material with,
or furnishes such material to, the SEC.
Certain statements contained in Item 1, Item 1A, Item 7, Item 7A, Item 8 and elsewhere in this report may
constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company may also make forward-looking statements
in other reports filed with the SEC and in material delivered to the Company’s shareholders. Forward-looking
statements provide current expectations of future events based on management’s assumptions and assessments in
light of past experience and trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments, and
other relevant factors. These statements encompass information that does not directly relate to any historical or
current fact and often may be identified with words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,”
“intends,” “plans,” “projects” and other similar expressions. Management’s expectations and assumptions
regarding planned store openings and closings, financing of Company obligations from operations, success of its
marketing, merchandising and store operations strategies, the development and implementation of its
e-Commerce business, and other future results are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the
forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that may affect Company operations and performance
include, among others, the effects of terrorist attacks or other acts of war, conflicts or war involving the United
States or its allies or trading partners, labor strikes, weather conditions or natural disasters, volatility of fuel and
utility costs, the actions taken by the United States and other countries to stimulate the economy, the general
strength of the economy and levels of consumer spending, consumer confidence, suitable store sites and
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