Essendant (ESND) Inactive 10-K19 Feb 142013 FY Annual reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 14, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Trading Symbol	'USTR	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'UNITED STATIONERS INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000355999	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	39,620,287	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$1,337

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_INC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net sales	$5,085,293	$5,080,106	$5,005,501
Cost of goods sold	4,295,715	4,305,502	4,265,422
Gross profit	789,578	774,604	740,079
Operating expenses:	'	'	'
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses	580,428	573,693	541,752
Operating income	209,150	200,911	198,327
Interest expense	12,233	23,619	27,592
Interest income	-593	-343	-223
Other (income) expense, net	'	'	-1,918
Income before income taxes	197,510	177,635	172,876
Income tax expense	74,340	65,805	63,880
Net income	$123,170	$111,830	$108,996
Net income per share-basic:	'	'	'
Net income per share-basic	$3.11	$2.77	$2.49
Average number of common shares outstanding-basic	39,650	40,337	43,822
Net income per share-diluted:	'	'	'
Net income per share-diluted	$3.06	$2.73	$2.42
Average number of common shares outstanding-diluted	40,236	40,991	45,014

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	$34,125	$40,501	$34,670	$13,874	$32,925	$36,764	$27,029	$15,112	$123,170	$111,830	$108,996
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Unrealized translation adjustment	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-901	1,567	-2,143
Minimum pension liability adjustments	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	13,194	-4,645	-20,285
Unrealized interest rate swap adjustments	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,584	5,719	9,189
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	13,877	2,641	-13,239
Comprehensive income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$137,047	$114,471	$95,757

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$22,326	$30,919
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $20,608 in 2013 and $22,716 in 2012	643,379	658,760
Inventories	830,295	767,206
Other current assets	29,255	30,118
Total current assets	1,525,255	1,487,003
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:	'	'
Land	13,185	13,250
Buildings	62,235	61,722
Fixtures and equipment	318,013	301,444
Leasehold improvements	28,860	28,762
Capitalized software costs	83,026	77,308
Total property, plant and equipment	505,319	482,486
Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization	362,269	338,963
Net property, plant and equipment	143,050	143,523
Intangible assets, net	65,502	67,192
Goodwill	356,811	357,226
Other long-term assets	25,576	20,260
Total assets	2,116,194	2,075,204
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	476,113	495,278
Accrued liabilities	191,531	205,228
Current maturities of long-term debt	373	'
Total current liabilities	668,017	700,506
Deferred income taxes	29,552	18,054
Long-term debt	533,324	524,376
Other long-term liabilities	59,787	94,176
Total liabilities	1,290,680	1,337,112
Stockholders' equity:	'	'
Common stock, $0.10 par value; authorized-100,000,000 shares, issued-74,435,628 shares at December 31, 2013 and 2012	7,444	7,444
Additional paid-in capital	411,954	404,196
Treasury stock, at cost-34,714,083 and 34,116,220 shares at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively	-998,234	-963,220
Retained earnings	1,444,238	1,343,437
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-39,888	-53,765
Total stockholders' equity	825,514	738,092
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$2,116,194	$2,075,204

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts	$20,608	$22,716
Common stock, par value	$0.10	$0.10
Common stock, authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, issued	74,435,628	74,435,628
Treasury stock, shares	34,714,083	34,116,220

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$759,598	$7,444	($772,698)	$400,910	($43,167)	$1,167,109
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	'	74,435,628	-28,247,906	'	'	'
Net income	108,996	'	'	'	'	108,996
Unrealized translation adjustments	-2,143	'	'	'	-2,143	'
Minimum pension liability adjustments, net of tax benefit (loss) of $12,644, $2,847, $8,397 in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	-20,285	'	'	'	-20,285	'
Unrealized benefit on interest rate swaps, net of tax loss of $5,728, $3,505 and $1,008 in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	9,189	'	'	'	9,189	'
Comprehensive income	95,757	'	'	'	-13,239	108,996
Cash dividend declared, $0.52 per share, $0.53 per share and $0.56 per share in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	-22,987	'	'	'	'	-22,987
Acquisition of treasury stock	-159,547	'	-159,547	'	'	'
Acquisition of treasury stock (in shares)	'	'	-5,004,690	'	'	'
Stock compensation	31,858	'	23,578	8,280	'	'
Stock compensation (in shares)	970,749	'	970,749	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	704,679	7,444	-908,667	409,190	-56,406	1,253,118
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	'	74,435,628	-32,281,847	'	'	'
Net income	111,830	'	'	'	'	111,830
Unrealized translation adjustments	1,567	'	'	'	1,567	'
Minimum pension liability adjustments, net of tax benefit (loss) of $12,644, $2,847, $8,397 in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	-4,645	'	'	'	-4,645	'
Unrealized benefit on interest rate swaps, net of tax loss of $5,728, $3,505 and $1,008 in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	5,719	'	'	'	5,719	'
Comprehensive income	114,471	'	'	'	2,641	111,830
Cash dividend declared, $0.52 per share, $0.53 per share and $0.56 per share in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	-21,511	'	'	'	'	-21,511
Acquisition of treasury stock	-69,908	'	-69,908	'	'	'
Acquisition of treasury stock (in shares)	-2,454,037	'	-2,454,037	'	'	'
Stock compensation	10,361	'	15,355	-4,994	'	'
Stock compensation (in shares)	619,664	'	619,664	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	738,092	7,444	-963,220	404,196	-53,765	1,343,437
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	74,435,628	-34,116,220	'	'	'
Net income	123,170	'	'	'	'	123,170
Unrealized translation adjustments	-901	'	'	'	-901	'
Minimum pension liability adjustments, net of tax benefit (loss) of $12,644, $2,847, $8,397 in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	13,194	'	'	'	13,194	'
Unrealized benefit on interest rate swaps, net of tax loss of $5,728, $3,505 and $1,008 in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	1,584	'	'	'	1,584	'
Comprehensive income	137,047	'	'	'	13,877	123,170
Cash dividend declared, $0.52 per share, $0.53 per share and $0.56 per share in 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively	-22,369	'	'	'	'	-22,369
Acquisition of treasury stock	-62,056	'	-62,056	'	'	'
Acquisition of treasury stock (in shares)	-1,684,365	'	-1,684,365	'	'	'
Stock compensation	34,800	'	27,042	7,758	'	'
Stock compensation (in shares)	1,086,502	'	1,086,502	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$825,514	$7,444	($998,234)	$411,954	($39,888)	$1,444,238
Balance (in Shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	'	74,435,628	-34,714,083	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Minimum pension liability adjustment, tax benefit	$8,397	$2,847	$12,644
Unrealized benefit on interest rate swaps, tax loss	1,008	3,505	5,728
Cash dividend per share	$0.56	$0.53	$0.52
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	'	'	'
Minimum pension liability adjustment, tax benefit	8,397	2,847	12,644
Unrealized benefit on interest rate swaps, tax loss	$1,008	$3,505	$5,728
Retained Earnings [Member]	'	'	'
Cash dividend per share	$0.56	$0.53	$0.52

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:	'	'	'
Net income	$123,170	$111,830	$108,996
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation	32,153	29,994	28,927
Amortization of intangible assets	6,985	6,083	5,126
Share-based compensation	10,808	8,746	15,734
Amortization of capitalized financing costs	1,021	995	974
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	-3,977	-648	-6,858
(Gain) loss on the disposition of property, plant and equipment	-57	122	59
Asset impairment charge	1,183	'	1,635
Deferred income taxes	-3,921	-6,713	20,914
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:	'	'	'
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable	14,735	21,820	-31,686
(Increase) decrease in inventories	-66,627	10,374	-58,376
(Increase) decrease in other assets	-4,224	21,105	-18,656
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable	-40,634	16,264	89,195
Increase (decrease) in checks in-transit	21,348	-32,008	-11,803
(Decrease) increase in accrued liabilities	-3,648	276	-1,228
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities	-13,578	1,574	-12,590
Net cash provided by operating activities	74,737	189,814	130,363
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	-33,789	-32,787	-27,981
Proceeds from the disposition of property, plant and equipment	3,516	775	63
Acquisitions and investment, net of cash acquired	'	-75,254	'
Net cash used in investing activities	-30,273	-107,266	-27,918
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:	'	'	'
Net (repayments) borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility	-31,378	-123,633	91,757
Borrowings under Receivables Securitization Program	40,700	150,000	'
Repayments of debt	'	'	-376,800
Proceeds from the issuance of debt	'	'	340,000
Net proceeds from the exercise of stock options	19,895	864	9,264
Acquisition of treasury stock, at cost	-62,056	-69,908	-162,674
Payment of cash dividends	-22,309	-21,285	-17,517
Excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation	3,977	648	6,858
Payment of debt issuance costs	-1,889	-143	-2,817
Net cash used in financing activities	-53,060	-63,457	-111,929
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3	45	-34
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	-8,593	19,136	-9,518
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	30,919	11,783	21,301
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$22,326	$30,919	$11,783

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'

	1. Basis of Presentation

	The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements represent United Stationers Inc. (“USI”) with its wholly owned subsidiary United Stationers Supply Co. (“USSC”), and USSC’s subsidiaries (collectively, “United” or the “Company”). The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and include the accounts of USI and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The Company operates in a single reportable segment as a leading national wholesale distributor of business products, with net sales of approximately $5.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2013. The Company stocks over 140,000 items on a national basis from over 1,600 manufacturers. These items include a broad spectrum of technology products, traditional office products, office furniture, janitorial and breakroom supplies, and industrial supplies. In addition, the Company also offers private brand products. The Company sells its products through a national distribution network of 64 distribution centers to its approximately 25,000 reseller customers, who in turn sell directly to end-consumers. The Company’s customers include independent office products dealers; contract stationers; office products superstores; computer products resellers; office furniture dealers; mass merchandisers; mail order companies; sanitary supply, paper and foodservice distributors; drug and grocery store chains; healthcare distributors; e-commerce merchants; oil field, welding supply and industrial/MRO distributors; and other independent distributors.

	Acquisition of MBS Dev, Inc.

	During the first quarter of 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the capital stock of MBS Dev, Inc. (“MBS Dev”), a software solutions provider to business products resellers. MBS Dev’s solutions allow the Company to accelerate e-business development and enable customers and suppliers to implement more effectively their e-marketing and e-merchandising programs, as well as enhance their back office operations. The purchase price included $12.0 million plus $3.0 million in deferred payments and an additional potential $3.0 million earn-out based upon the achievement of certain financial goals by December 31, 2014. During the first quarter of 2011, the Company paid $1.0 million related to the deferred payments. Subsequently, in the fourth quarter of 2011 the Company agreed to accelerate payment of the $2.0 million remaining in deferred payments in consideration for termination of its obligation to pay the earn-out component. As a result, the remaining $2.0 million was paid in the first quarter of 2012.

	Acquisition of O.K.I. Supply Co.

	During the fourth quarter of 2012, USSC completed the acquisition of all of the capital stock of O.K.I. Supply Co. (OKI), a welding, safety and industrial products wholesaler. This acquisition was completed with a purchase price of $90.0 million. The purchase price includes approximately $4.5 million reserved for as a payable upon completion of a two year indemnification period. In total, the purchase price, net of cash acquired, was $79.8 million. The acquisition extends the Company’s position as the leading pure-wholesale industrial distributor in the United States and brings expanded categories and services to customers. The purchase was financed through the Company’s existing debt agreements.

	The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations, with the excess purchase price over the fair market value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed allocated to goodwill. Based on the final purchase price allocation, the purchase price of $79.8 million, net of cash received, has resulted in goodwill of $28.7 million. As of December 31, 2012, goodwill was preliminarily valued at $29.2 million. The change in the purchase price allocation was due to the finalization of certain estimates used in the valuation. The purchase price allocation was completed in the fourth quarter of 2013.

	The purchase included $22.3 million of intangible assets with definite lives related to trademarks and trade names, content and customer lists, and certain non-compete agreements with the values of $2.9 million, $18.6 million, and $0.8 million, respectively. The weighted average useful lives related to the acquired trademarks and trade names, content and customer lists, and certain non-compete agreements are expected to be approximately 5, 23, and 4 years, respectively. The overall weighted average useful life of these amortizable intangible assets is expected to be 23 years. Neither the goodwill nor the intangible assets are expected to generate a tax deduction. For financial accounting purposes, there were certain items including amortizable intangible assets, the excess of fair value of assets over tax basis, and the undistributed earnings of acquired foreign subsidiaries that were treated as temporary differences. A deferred tax liability of $13.9 million was recorded through purchase accounting for these temporary differences. Additionally, included within other current assets as of December 31, 2012 were $3.2 million of held-for-sale assets which the Company sold in 2013. These assets were valued at their fair-value at the date of acquisition less the estimated cost to sell these assets.

	Final Purchase Price Allocation

	(dollars in thousands)



	Purchase Price, net of cash acquired				$	79,754

	Final Allocation of Purchase Price:
	Accounts receivable	$	(20,517	)
	Inventories		(32,170	)
	Other current assets		(3,671	)
	Property, plant and equipment		(7,859	)
	Intangible assets		(22,250	)

	Total assets acquired					(86,467	)
	Trade accounts payable		11,975
	Accrued liabilities		7,683
	Deferred taxes		13,911
	Debt		1,254
	Long-term liabilities		639

	Total liabilities assumed					35,462

	Goodwill				$	28,749


	OKI contributed $20.5 million to the Company’s 2012 net financial sales after its acquisition on November 1, 2012. Had the OKI acquisition been completed as of the beginning of 2011, the Company’s unaudited pro forma net sales for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 would have been $5.2 billion and $5.2 billion, respectively. Had the OKI acquisition been completed as of the beginning of 2011, the Company’s unaudited pro forma net income for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 would have been $112.6 million and $113.6 million, respectively.

	Investments

	During the second quarter of 2010, the Company invested $5.0 million to acquire a minority interest in the capital stock of a managed print services and technology solution business. During the first quarter of 2011, a non-deductible asset impairment charge of $1.6 million was taken based on an independent third-party valuation analysis with respect to the fair value of this investment. Additionally in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company impaired the remaining investment of $1.2 million in the entity. These charges and the Company’s share of the earnings and losses of this investment are included in the Operating Expenses section of the Consolidated Statements of Income.

	Reclassifications

	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications were limited to the Consolidated Balance Sheets and did not impact the Consolidated Statements of Income, Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, or Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'

	2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

	Principles of Consolidation

	The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. For all acquisitions, account balances and results of operations are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements as of the date acquired.



	Use of Estimates

	The 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 in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

	Various assumptions and other factors underlie the determination of significant accounting estimates. The process of determining significant estimates is fact specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, product mix, and in some cases, actuarial techniques. The Company periodically reevaluates these significant factors and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.

	Supplier Allowances

	Supplier allowances (fixed or variable) are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall gross margin. Gross margin is determined by, among other items, file margin (determined by reference to invoiced price), as reduced by customer discounts and rebates as discussed below, and increased by supplier allowances and promotional incentives. Receivables related to supplier allowances totaled $103.2 million and $96.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These receivables are included in “Accounts receivable” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	The majority of the Company’s annual supplier allowances and incentives are variable, based solely on the volume and mix of the Company’s product purchases from suppliers. These variable allowances are recorded based on the Company’s annual inventory purchase volumes and product mix and are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction to cost of goods sold, thereby reflecting the net inventory purchase cost. The remaining portion of the Company’s annual supplier allowances and incentives are fixed and are earned based primarily on supplier participation in specific Company advertising and marketing publications. Fixed allowances and incentives are taken to income through lower cost of goods sold as inventory is sold.

	Supplier allowances and incentives attributable to unsold inventory are carried as a component of net inventory cost. The potential amount of variable supplier allowances often differs based on purchase volumes by supplier and product category. As a result, changes in the Company’s sales volume (which can increase or reduce inventory purchase requirements) and changes in product sales mix (especially because higher-margin products often benefit from higher supplier allowance rates) can create fluctuations in variable supplier allowances.

	Customer Rebates

	Customer rebates and discounts are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall sales and gross margin. Such rebates are reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction of sales. Customer rebates of $52.6 million and $56.3 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are included as a component of “Accrued liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

	Customer rebates include volume rebates, sales growth incentives, advertising allowances, participation in promotions and other miscellaneous discount programs. These rebates are paid to customers monthly, quarterly and/or annually. Estimates for volume rebates and growth incentives are based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company’s customers. The aggregate amount of customer rebates depends on product sales mix and customer mix changes. Reported results reflect management’s current estimate of such rebates. Changes in estimates of sales volumes, product mix, customer mix or sales patterns, or actual results that vary from such estimates may impact future results.

	Revenue Recognition

	Revenue is recognized when a service is rendered or when title to the product has transferred to the customer. Management records an estimate for future product returns related to revenue recognized in the current period. This estimate is based on historical product return trends and the gross margin associated with those returns. Management also records customer rebates that are based on annual sales volume to the Company’s customers. Annual rebates earned by customers include growth components, volume hurdle components, and advertising allowances.

	Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are treated as revenues and recognized at the time title to the product has transferred to the customer. Freight costs are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as a component of cost of goods sold and not netted against shipping and handling revenues. Net sales do not include sales tax charged to customers.



	Additional revenue is generated from the sale of software licenses, delivery of subscription services (including the right to use software and software maintenance services), and professional services. Revenue is recognized when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the fees are fixed and determinable, and collection is considered probable. If collection is not considered probable, the Company recognizes revenue when the fees are collected. If fees are not fixed and determinable, the Company recognizes revenues when the fees become due from the customer.

	Share-Based Compensation

	At December 31, 2013, the Company had two active share-based employee compensation plans covering key associates and/or non-employee directors of the Company. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

	Accounts Receivable

	Generally, the Company extends credit to customers. Accounts receivable, as shown in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, include such trade accounts receivable and are net of allowances for doubtful accounts and anticipated discounts. The Company makes judgments as to the collectability of trade accounts receivable based on historical trends and future expectations. Management estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts, which addresses the collectability of trade accounts receivable. This allowance adjusts gross trade accounts receivable downward to its estimated collectible or net realizable value. To determine the allowance for doubtful accounts, management reviews specific customer risks and the Company’s trade accounts receivable aging. Uncollectible trade receivable balances are written off against the allowance for doubtful accounts when it is determined that the trade receivable balance is uncollectible.

	Goodwill and Intangible Assets

	Goodwill is initially recorded based on the premium paid for acquisitions and is subsequently tested for impairment. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

	Intangible assets are initially recorded at their fair market values determined on quoted market prices in active markets, if available, or recognized valuation models. Intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. Intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested at least annually for impairment or whenever events or circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

	Insured Loss Liability Estimates

	The Company is primarily responsible for retained liabilities related to workers’ compensation, vehicle, and certain employee health benefits. The Company records expense for paid and open claims and an expense for claims incurred but not reported based upon historical trends and certain assumptions about future events. The Company has an annual per-person maximum cap, provided by a third-party insurance company, on certain employee medical benefits. In addition, the Company has a per-occurrence maximum on workers’ compensation and auto claims.

	Leases

	The Company leases real estate and personal property under operating leases. Certain operating leases include incentives from landlords including, landlord “build-out” allowances, rent escalation clauses and rent holidays or periods in which rent is not payable for a certain amount of time. The Company accounts for landlord “build-out” allowances as deferred rent at the time of possession and amortizes this deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

	The Company also recognizes leasehold improvements associated with the “build-out” allowances and amortizes these improvements over the shorter of (1) the term of the lease or (2) the expected life of the respective improvements. The Company accounts for rent escalation and rent holidays as deferred rent at the time of possession and amortizes this deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. As of December 31, 2013, any capital leases to which the Company is a party are immaterial to the Company’s financial statements.

Inventories

Approximately 76% and 77% of total inventory as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively has been valued under the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) accounting method. LIFO results in a better matching of costs and revenues. The remaining inventory is valued under the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) accounting method. Inventory valued under the FIFO and LIFO accounting methods is recorded at the lower of cost or market. If the Company had valued its entire inventory under the lower of FIFO cost or market, inventory would have been $112.4 million and $107.8 million higher than reported as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The annual change in the LIFO reserve as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 resulted in a $4.6 million increase, an $11.7 million increase and an $11.4 million increase, respectively, in cost of sales. The change in the LIFO reserve in 2013 resulted in a $4.6 million increase in cost of goods sold which included a LIFO liquidation relating to a decrement in the Company’s technology LIFO pool. This decrement resulted in liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases. This liquidation resulted in LIFO income of $0.6 million which was more than offset by LIFO expense of $5.2 million related to current inflation for an overall net increase in cost of sales of $4.6 million as referenced above.

The $11.7 million change in the LIFO reserve for 2012 includes the LIFO liquidation impact relating to decrements in the Company’s office products and technology LIFO pools. These decrements resulted in the liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases. These liquidations resulted in LIFO income of $3.3 million which was more than offset by LIFO expense of $15.0 million related to current inflation or a net increase in cost of sales of $11.7 million referenced above.

The $11.4 million change in the LIFO reserve for 2011 includes the LIFO liquidation impact relating to a decrement in the Company’s furniture LIFO pool. This decrement resulted in the liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases. This liquidation resulted in LIFO income of $4.2 million which was more than offset by LIFO expense of $15.6 million related to current inflation or a net increase in cost of sales of $11.4 million referenced above.

The Company also records adjustments to inventory for shrinkage. Inventory that is obsolete, damaged, defective or slow moving is recorded at the lower of cost or market. These adjustments are determined using historical trends and are adjusted, if necessary, as new information becomes available. The Company charges certain warehousing and administrative expenses to inventory each period with $38.0 million and $33.3 million remaining in inventory as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.

Pension Benefits

Calculating the Company’s obligations and expenses related to its pension requires selection and use of certain actuarial assumptions. As more fully discussed in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, these actuarial assumptions include discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, and rates of increase in compensation and healthcare costs. To select the appropriate actuarial assumptions, management relies on current market conditions and historical information. Pension expense for 2013 was $4.5 million, compared to $5.7 million and $1.6 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Cash Equivalents

An unfunded check balance (payments in-transit) exists for the Company’s primary disbursement accounts. Under the Company’s cash management system, the Company utilizes available borrowings, on an as-needed basis, to fund the clearing of checks as they are presented for payment. As of December 31, 2013, and 2012, outstanding checks totaling $60.8 million and $39.4 million, respectively, were included in “Accounts payable” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

All highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value. There were no short term investments as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are determined by using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful life assigned to fixtures and equipment is from two to ten years; the estimated useful life assigned to buildings does not exceed forty years; leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful lives or the term of the applicable lease. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred.



Software Capitalization

The Company capitalizes internal use software development costs in accordance with accounting guidance on accounting for costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, generally not to exceed ten years. Capitalized software is included in “Property, plant and equipment” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The total costs are as follows (in thousands):



		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
Capitalized software development costs		$	83,026		$	77,308
Accumulated amortization			(59,257	)		(53,943	)

Net capitalized software development costs		$	23,769		$	23,365


Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company’s risk management policies allow for the use of derivative financial instruments to prudently manage foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate exposure. The policies do not allow such derivative financial instruments to be used for speculative purposes. At this time, the Company uses interest rate swaps which are subject to the management, direction and control of its financial officers. Risk management practices, including the use of all derivative financial instruments, are presented to the Board of Directors for approval.

All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet date at their fair value. The Company’s outstanding derivative at December 31, 2013 was in a net asset position and is included in “Other Long-Term Assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2012 all derivatives were in a net liability position and were included in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other Long-Term Liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The interest rate swaps that the Company has entered into are classified as cash flow hedges in accordance with accounting guidance on derivative instruments and hedging activities as they are hedging a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flow to be paid by the Company. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of tax, until earnings are affected by the forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flow, and then are reported in current earnings.

The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives designated as cash flow hedges to specific forecasted transactions or variability of cash flow.

The Company formally assesses, at both the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flow of hedged items. When it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge then hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively in accordance with accounting guidance on derivative instruments and hedging activities. This has not occurred as all cash flow hedges contain no ineffectiveness. See Note 18, “Derivative Financial Instruments”, for further detail.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with the accounting guidance for income taxes. The Company estimates actual current tax expense and assesses temporary differences that exist due to differing treatments of items for tax and financial statement purposes. These temporary differences result in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities. A provision has not been made for deferred U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries as these earnings have historically been permanently invested except to the extent a liability was recorded in purchase accounting for the undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiaries of OKI as of the date of the acquisition. It is not practicable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability for such unremitted foreign earnings.

The current and deferred tax balances and income tax expense recognized by the Company are based on management’s interpretation of the tax laws of multiple jurisdictions. Income tax expense also reflects the Company’s best estimates and assumptions regarding, among other things, the level of future taxable income, interpretation of tax laws, and tax planning. Future changes in tax laws, changes in projected levels of taxable income, and tax planning could impact the effective tax rate and current and deferred tax balances recorded by the Company. Management’s estimates as of the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements reflect its best judgment giving consideration to all currently available facts and circumstances. As such, these estimates may require adjustment in the future, as additional facts become known or as circumstances change. Further, in accordance with the accounting guidance on income taxes, the tax effects from uncertain tax positions are recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements, only if it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for the Company’s foreign operations is the local currency. Assets and liabilities of these operations are translated into U.S. currency at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. The resulting translation adjustments are included in other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. Realized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions were not material.

New Accounting Pronouncements

On January 1, 2013 the Company adopted ASU No. 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)—Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment (ASU 2012-02), which was issued by the FASB in July 2012. Under the guidance, testing the decline in the realizable value (impairment) of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill has been simplified. The guidance allows an organization the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test. An organization electing to perform a qualitative assessment is no longer required to calculate the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset unless the organization determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is “more likely than not” that the asset is impaired. Upon adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2013, there was no impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)—Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2013-02), to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. ASU 2013-02 requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income if the amount being reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The Company has adopted the guidance for the reporting period ending September 30, 2013. There was no impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations due to the adoption.

In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (ASU 2013-11). This ASU requires that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as either a reduction to a deferred tax asset or separately as a liability depending on the existence, availability and/or use of an operating loss carry forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward. This ASU will be effective for the Company beginning the first quarter of 2014. United is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on the Company’s financial statements.

ShareBased_Compensation

Share-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
Share-Based Compensation	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Share-Based Compensation	'

	3. Share-Based Compensation

	Overview

	As of December 31, 2013, the Company has two active equity compensation plans. A description of these plans is as follows:

	Nonemployee Directors’ Deferred Stock Compensation Plan

	Pursuant to the United Stationers Inc. Nonemployee Directors’ Deferred Stock Compensation Plan, non-employee directors may defer receipt of all or a portion of their retainer and meeting fees. Fees deferred are credited quarterly to each participating director in the form of stock units, based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the quarterly deferral date. Each stock unit account generally is distributed and settled in whole shares of the Company’s common stock on a one-for-one basis, with a cash-out of any fractional stock unit interests, after the participant ceases to serve as a Company director. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company recorded compensation expense of $0.1 million, $0.2 million, and $0.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the accumulated number of stock units outstanding under this plan was 56,737; 62,421; and 89,285; respectively.

	Amended and Restated 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)

	In May 2011, the Company’s shareholders approved the LTIP to, among other things, attract and retain managerial talent, further align the interest of key associates to those of the Company’s stockholders and provide competitive compensation to key associates. Award vehicles include stock options, stock appreciation rights, full value awards, cash incentive awards and performance-based awards. Key associates and non-employee directors of the Company are eligible to become participants in the LTIP, except that non-employee directors may not be granted incentive stock options.

	Accounting For Share-Based Compensation

	The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense (in thousands):



			Year Ended December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
	Numerator:
	Pre-tax expense		$	10,808			$	8,746			$	15,734
	Tax effect			(4,108	)			(3,323	)			(5,977	)

	After tax expense		$	6,700			$	5,423			$	9,757

	Denominator:
	Denominator for basic shares—Weighted average shares			39,650				40,337				43,822
	Denominator for diluted shares—Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities			40,236				40,991				45,014
	Net expense per share:
	Net expense per share—basic		$	0.17			$	0.13			$	0.22

	Net expense per share—diluted		$	0.17			$	0.13			$	0.22


	The following tables summarize the intrinsic value of options outstanding, exercisable, and exercised for the applicable periods listed below:

	Intrinsic Value of Options

	(in thousands of dollars)



			Outstanding				Exercisable
	As of December 31, 2013		$	9,897			$	6,262
	As of December 31, 2012			8,420				8,420
	As of December 31, 2011			13,668				13,668

	Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised

	(in thousands of dollars)



	For the year ended
	December 31, 2013		$	13,676
	December 31, 2012			2,380
	December 31, 2011			8,911



The following tables summarize the intrinsic value of restricted shares outstanding and vested for the applicable periods listed below:

Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares

(in thousands of dollars)



Outstanding
As of December 31, 2013		$	47,780
As of December 31, 2012			40,222
As of December 31, 2011			32,634

Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares Vested

(in thousands of dollars)



For the year ended
December 31, 2013		$	12,414
December 31, 2012			8,812
December 31, 2011			27,576

The aggregate intrinsic values summarized in the tables above are based on the closing sale price per share for the Company’s Common Stock on the last day of trading in each respective fiscal period which was $45.89, $30.99, and $32.56 per share for the 2013, 2012 and 2011 periods ended. Additionally, the aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable does not include the value of options for which the exercise price exceeds the stock price as of the last day of trading in each respective fiscal period.

Stock Options

The fair value of option awards and modifications to option awards is estimated on the date of grant or modification using a Black-Scholes option valuation model that uses various assumptions including the expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected life of the option. The expected term of options granted is derived from the historical forfeiture and exercise behavior and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected volatility of the price of the underlying shares is implied based on historical volatility of the Company’s common stock. The expected dividends were based on the current dividend yield of the Company’s stock as of the date of the grant. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The assumptions used are shown in the following table.



		2013
Weighted average expected term			5.6
Expected volatility			40.01—40.49	%
Weighted average volatility			40.48	%
Weighted average expected dividends			1.46	%
Risk-free rate			0.76—1.62	%

Stock options granted in 2013 vest at the end of three years and have a term of 10 years. Previously issued stock options generally vested in annual increments over three years and have a term of 10 years. Compensation costs for all stock options are recognized, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. As of December 31, 2013, there was $4.7 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock option awards granted. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.25 years. In 2013, there were 585,189 stock options granted. There were no stock options granted during 2012 or 2011.



The following table summarizes the transactions, excluding restricted stock, under the Company’s equity compensation plans for the last three years:



		2013				Weighted				2012				Weighted		2011			Weighted
						Average								Average					Average
						Exercise								Exercise					Exercise
						Price								Price					Price
Options outstanding—January 1			1,371,850			$	24.86				1,715,380			$	24.62		2,563,708		$	24.18
Granted			585,189				38.71				—				—		—			—
Exercised			(1,065,920	)			24.69				(217,634	)			18.69		(847,528	)		23.26
Cancelled			(78,959	)			38.69				(125,896	)			32.35		(800	)		29.51

Options outstanding—December 31			812,160			$	33.7				1,371,850			$	24.86		1,715,380		$	24.62

Number of options exercisable			305,930			$	25.42				1,371,850			$	24.86		1,715,380		$	24.62


The following table summarizes outstanding and exercisable options granted under the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2013:



Exercise Prices		Outstanding				Remaining				Exercisable
						Contractual
						Life (Years)
20.00—25.00			201,684				2.3				201,684
25.01—30.00			102,000				3.7				102,000
30.01—35.00			2,246				3.4				2,246
35.01—40.00			506,230				9.3				—

Total			812,160				6.8				305,930




Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

The Company granted 181,916 shares of restricted stock and 166,348 restricted stock units (“RSU”s) during 2013. During 2012, the Company granted 461,512 shares of restricted stock and 245,737 RSUs. During 2011, the Company granted 30,097 shares of restricted stock and 332,888 RSUs. The restricted stock granted in each period generally vests in three equal annual installments on the anniversaries of the date of the grant. The majority of the RSUs granted in 2013, 2012 and 2011 vest in three annual installments based on the terms of the agreements, to the extent earned based on the Company’s cumulative economic profit performance against target economic profit goals. The performance-based RSUs granted in 2011 and 2012 have a minimum and maximum payout of zero to 150%. The performance-based RSUs granted in 2013 have a minimum and maximum payout of zero to 200%. Included in the 2013, 2012 and 2011 grants were 194,517; 426,064; and 147,843 shares of restricted stock and RSUs granted to employees who were not executive officers, as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, there were 23,898; 41,051; and 39,314 shares of restricted stock and RSUs granted to non-employee directors during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, there were also 129,849; 240,134; and 175,828 shares of restricted stock and RSUs granted to executive officers. The restricted stock granted to executive officers vests with respect to each officer in annual increments over three years provided that the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the officer is still employed as of the anniversary date of the grant; and (2) the Company’s cumulative diluted earnings per share for the four calendar quarters immediately preceding the vesting date exceed $0.50 per diluted share as defined in the officers’ restricted stock agreement. As of December 31, 2013, there was $14.2 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock and RSUs granted. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.9 years. A rollforward of the Company’s restricted stock and RSU grants during the last three years is as follows:



Restricted Stock and RSUs		2013				Weighted				2012				Weighted		2011			Weighted
						Average								Average					Average
						Grant Date								Grant Date					Grant Date
						Fair Value								Fair Value					Fair Value
Nonvested—January 1			1,297,906			$	28.61				1,002,125			$	26.42		1,562,626		$	20.13
Granted			348,264				38.28				707,249				27.84		362,985			30.81
Vested			(323,159	)			37.02				(324,345	)			22		(853,384	)		17.14
Cancelled			(281,822	)			30.04				(87,123	)			28.16		(70,102	)		21.97

Nonvested—December 31			1,041,189			$	31.24				1,297,906			$	28.61		1,002,125		$	26.42

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets

Goodwill and Intangible Assets	12 Months Ended
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	'

	4. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

	During 2011, the Company voluntarily changed the date of its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment test from the last day of the fourth quarter (December 31) to the first day of the fourth quarter (October 1). This change is preferable under the circumstances as it (1) results in better alignment with the Company’s annual strategic planning and forecasting process and (2) provides the Company with additional time in a given fiscal reporting period to accurately assess the recoverability of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets and to measure any indicated impairment. The Company believes that the change in accounting principle related to the annual testing date will not delay, accelerate, or avoid an impairment charge. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 350 “Intangibles—Goodwill and other”, if indicators of impairment are deemed to be present, the Company would perform an interim impairment test and any resulting impairment loss would be charged to expense in the period identified. This change is not applied retrospectively as it is impracticable to do so because retrospective application would require the application of significant estimates and assumptions with the use of hindsight. Accordingly, the change was applied prospectively.

	Accounting guidance on goodwill and intangible assets requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the reporting unit below its carrying value. Based on the test completed in 2013, the Company concluded that the fair value of each of the reporting units was in excess of the carrying value. The Company also adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-08 which allows for the option to make a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment to determine whether it should calculate the fair value of a reporting unit. The Company applied this qualitative approach to two of its four reporting units. The other two reporting units were evaluated for impairment using the discounted cash flow and market based approaches to determine fair value. At the Company’s annual impairment test date of October 1, 2013, the Company’s reporting units passed the first step of the goodwill impairment test prescribed by related accounting guidance.

	Indefinite lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the assets might be impaired. The Company does not believe any triggering event occurred during the three-month period ended December 31, 2013 that would require an interim impairment assessment on the indefinite lived intangibles. As a result, none of the goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite lives were tested for impairment during the three-month period ended December 31, 2013. In the fourth quarter of 2012, it was determined that a trade name acquired in a past acquisition was no longer in use and therefore was fully impaired. The Company wrote off the value of this indefinite lived intangible, $0.7 million, in the fourth quarter of 2012 and included this amount within operating expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Income and within depreciation and amortization in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets reflected $356.8 million and $357.2 million of goodwill, and $65.5 million and $67.2 million in net intangible assets, respectively.

	Net intangible assets consist primarily of customer lists, trademarks, and non-compete agreements purchased as part of past acquisitions. The Company has no intention to renew or extend the terms of acquired intangible assets and accordingly, did not incur any related costs during 2013 or 2012. Amortization of intangible assets purchased as part of these acquisitions totaled $7.0 million, $6.1 million, and $5.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Accumulated amortization of intangible assets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 totaled $38.8 million and $32.1 million, respectively.

	The following table summarizes the intangible assets of the Company by major class of intangible assets and the cost, accumulated amortization, net carrying amount, and weighted average life, if applicable (in thousands):



		December 31, 2013									December 31, 2012
		Gross		Accumulated			Net		Weighted		Gross		Accumulated			Net		Weighted
		Carrying		Amortization			Carrying		Average		Carrying		Amortization			Carrying		Average
		Amount					Amount		Useful		Amount					Amount		Useful
									Life									Life
									(years)									(years)
	Intangible assets subject to amortization
	Customer relationships and other intangibles	$	84,470	$	(36,232	)	$	48,238		17	$	79,170	$	(30,369	)	$	48,801		14
	Non-compete agreements		4,700		(1,952	)		2,748		4		4,740		(1,588	)		3,152		4
	Trademarks		2,890		(674	)		2,216		5		3,040		(101	)		2,939		5

	Total	$	92,060	$	(38,858	)	$	53,202			$	86,950	$	(32,058	)	$	54,892
	Intangible assets not subject to amortization
	Trademarks		12,300		—			12,300		n/a		12,300		—			12,300		n/a

	Total	$	104,360	$	(38,858	)	$	65,502			$	99,250	$	(32,058	)	$	67,192


	The following table summarizes the amortization expense expected to be incurred over the next five years on intangible assets (in thousands):



	Year	Amounts
	2014	$	6,486
	2015		6,371
	2016		6,273
	2017		6,176
	2018		3,969

Severance_and_Restructuring_Ch

Severance and Restructuring Charges	12 Months Ended
Severance and Restructuring Charges	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Severance and Restructuring Charges	'

	5. Severance and Restructuring Charges

	During the first quarter of 2013, the Company recorded a $14.4 million pre-tax charge related to a workforce reduction and facility closures. These actions were substantially completed in 2013. The pre-tax charge is comprised of certain OKI facility closure expenses of $1.2 million and severance and workforce reduction-related expenses of $13.2 million which were included in operating expenses. Cash outflows for these actions will occur primarily during 2013 and 2014. Cash outlays associated with these charges in 2013 were $8.6 million. During 2013, the Company reversed a portion of these charges totaling $1.4 million. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had accrued liabilities for these actions of $4.4 million.

	On February 13, 2012, the Company approved a distribution network optimization and cost reduction program. This program was substantially completed in the first quarter of 2012 and the Company recorded a $6.2 million pre-tax charge in that period in connection with these actions. The pre-tax charge is comprised of facility closure expenses of $2.6 million and severance and related expense of $3.6 million which were included in operating expenses. Cash outlays associated with facility closures and severance in 2013 were $0.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively. Cash outlays associated with facility closures and severance in 2013 and 2012 were $2.1 and $1.9 million, respectively. During 2012, the Company reversed a portion of these severance charges totaling $0.3 million. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had accrued liabilities for these actions of $0.2 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	12 Months Ended
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	'
	6. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	The change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”) by component, net of tax, for the year ended December 31, 2013 is as follows:


	(amounts in thousands)	Foreign Currency			Cash Flow			Defined Benefit			Total
	(amounts in thousands)	Translation			Hedges			Pension Plans			Total
	AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2012	$	(5,760	)	$	(713	)	$	(47,292	)	$	(53,765	)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications		(901	)		1,443			9,515			10,057
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			141			3,679			3,820

	Net other comprehensive (loss) income		(901	)		1,584			13,194			13,877

	AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2013	$	(6,661	)	$	871		$	(34,098	)	$	(39,888	)

	The following table details the amounts reclassified out of AOCI into the income statement during the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2013 respectively:



	Details About AOCI Components	Amount Reclassified From AOCI			Affected Line Item In The Statement
		For the Twelve			Where Net Income Is Presented
		Months Ended
		December 31,
		2013
	Losses on interest rate swap cash flow hedges, before tax	$	228		Interest expense, net
			(87	)	Tax provision

		$	141		Net of tax

	Amortization of defined benefit pension plan items:
	Prior service cost and unrecognized loss	$	5,933		Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses
			(2,254	)	Tax provision

			3,679		Net of tax

	Total reclassifications for the period	$	3,820		Net of tax

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'

	7. Earnings Per Share

	Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if dilutive securities were exercised into common stock. Stock options, restricted stock and deferred stock units are considered dilutive securities. Stock options to purchase 0.5 million, 0.5 million, and 0.1 million shares of common stock were outstanding at December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, the effect would be antidilutive. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):



		Years Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Numerator:
	Net income	$	123,170	$	111,830	$	108,996
	Denominator:
	Denominator for basic earnings per share:		39,650		40,337		43,822
	Weighted average shares		39,650		40,337		43,822
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Employee stock options and restricted units		586		654		1,192

	Denominator for diluted earnings per share:
	Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities		40,236		40,991		45,014

	Net income per common share:
	Net income per share—basic	$	3.11	$	2.77	$	2.49
	Net income per share—diluted	$	3.06	$	2.73	$	2.42

	Common Stock Repurchases

	As of December 31, 2013 the Company had Board authorization to repurchase $93.0 million of USI common stock. In 2013 and 2012, the Company repurchased 1,684,365 and 2,454,037 shares of USI’s common stock at an aggregate cost of $62.1 million and $69.9 million, respectively. Depending on market and business conditions and other factors, the Company may continue or suspend purchasing its common stock at any time without notice. Acquired shares are included in the issued shares of the Company and treasury stock, but are not included in average shares outstanding when calculating earnings per share data. During 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company reissued 1,086,502, 619,664 and 970,749 shares, respectively, of treasury stock to fulfill its obligations under its equity incentive plans.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	12 Months Ended
Segment Information	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'

	8. Segment Information

	Accounting guidance on segments of an enterprise requires companies to report financial and descriptive information about their reportable operating segments, including segment profit or loss, certain specific revenue and expense items, and segment assets, as well as information about the revenues derived from the Company’s products and services, the countries in which the Company earns revenues and holds assets, and major customers. This statement also requires companies that have a single reportable segment to disclose information about products and services, information about geographic areas, and information about major customers. This statement requires the use of the management approach to determine the information to be reported. The management approach is based on the way management organizes the enterprise to assess performance and make operating decisions regarding the allocation of resources. The accounting guidance on segments of an enterprise permits the aggregation, based on specific criteria, of several operating segments into one reportable operating segment. Management has chosen to aggregate its operating segments and report segment information as one reportable segment. A discussion of the factors relied upon and processes undertaken by management in determining that the Company meets the aggregation criteria is provided below, followed by the required disclosure regarding the Company’s single reportable segment.

	Management defines operating segments as individual operations that the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) (in the Company’s case, the Chief Executive Officer) reviews for the purpose of assessing performance and making operating decisions. When evaluating operating segments, management considers whether:


		•		The component engages in business activities from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses;
		•		The operating results of the component are regularly reviewed by the enterprise’s CODM;
		•		Discrete financial information is available about the component; and
		•		Other factors are present, such as management structure, presentation of information to the Board of Directors and the nature of the business activity of each component.

	Based on the factors referenced above, management has determined that the Company has four operating segments, USSC (referred to by the Company as “Supply”), the first-tier operating subsidiary of USI; Lagasse, ORS Nasco, and MBS Dev. Supply also includes operations in Mexico conducted through a USSC subsidiary, as well as Azerty, which has been consolidated into Supply. O.K.I. Supply Co., which was acquired in 2012, has operations in Canada and Dubai which are immaterial to 2013 financial results.

	Management has also concluded that three of the Company’s operating segments (Supply, Lagasse, and ORS Nasco) meet all of the aggregation criteria required by the accounting guidance. Such determination is based on company-wide similarities in (1) the nature of products and/or services provided, (2) customers served, (3) production processes and/or distribution methods used, (4) economic characteristics including gross margins and operating expenses and (5) regulatory environment. MBS Dev does not meet the materiality thresholds for reporting individual segments and has therefore been combined with the other operating segments. Management further believes aggregate presentation provides more useful information to the financial statement user and is, therefore, consistent with the principles and objectives of the FASB-issued accounting guidance.

	The following discussion sets forth the required disclosure regarding single reportable segment information:

	The Company operates as a single reportable segment as a leading wholesale distributor of business products, with 2013 net sales of $5.1 billion—including foreign operations in Mexico, Canada, and the U.A.E. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company’s net sales from these foreign operations totaled $138.2 million, $112.5 million and $111.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, long-lived assets of the Company’s foreign operations totaled $13.8 million, $13.1 million, and $4.7 million, respectively.

	The Company’s product offerings may be divided into the following primary categories: (i) traditional office products, which include writing instruments, paper products, organizers and calendars and various office accessories; (ii) technology products such as computer supplies and peripherals; (iii) office furniture, such as desks, filing and storage solutions, seating and systems furniture, along with a variety of products for niche markets such as education government, healthcare and professional services; (iv) janitorial and breakroom supplies, which includes janitorial and breakroom supplies, foodservice consumables, safety and security items, and paper and packaging supplies; and (v) industrial supplies which includes hand and power tools, safety and security supplies, janitorial equipment and supplies and welding products. In 2013, the Company’s largest two suppliers were Hewlett-Packard Company and Lexmark International, Inc, which represented approximately 24% and 7%, respectively, of its total purchases. No other supplier accounted for more than 5% of the Company’s total purchases.

	The Company’s customers include independent office products dealers and contract stationers, office products mega-dealers, office products superstores, computer products resellers, office furniture dealers, mass merchandisers, mail order companies, sanitary supply distributors, drug and grocery store chains, e-commerce dealers and other independent distributors. The Company had one customer, W.B. Mason Co., Inc., which constituted approximately 11% of its 2013 consolidated net sales. No other single customer accounted for more than 10% of the 2013 consolidated net sales. The following table shows net sales by product category for 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in millions):



			Years Ended December 31,
			2013		2012⁽¹⁾		2011⁽¹⁾
	Technology products		$	1,466,499	$	1,563,757	$	1,626,030
	Janitorial and breakroom supplies			1,335,414		1,282,370		1,222,225
	Traditional office products			1,310,571		1,366,368		1,360,702
	Industrial supplies			517,826		409,266		349,370
	Office furniture			312,298		324,668		324,974
	Freight revenue			105,567		99,319		88,893
	Other			37,118		34,358		33,307

	Total net sales		$	5,085,293	$	5,080,106	$	5,005,501



	-1	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications include changes between several product categories due to several specific products being reclassified to different categories. These changes did not impact the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
Debt	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'

	9. Debt

	USI is a holding company and, as a result, its primary sources of funds are cash generated from operating activities of its direct operating subsidiary, USSC, and from borrowings by USSC. The 2013 Credit Agreement (as defined below), the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement (as defined below), the 2007 Credit Agreement (as defined below), the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement (as defined below) and the Receivables Securitization Program (as defined below) contain restrictions on the use of cash transferred from USSC to USI.

	Debt consisted of the following amounts (in millions):



			As of		As of
			December 31,		December 31,
			2013		2012
	2013 Credit Agreement		$	206.8	$	238.1
	2007 Master Note Purchase Agreement (Private Placement)			135		135
	Receivables Securitization Program			190.7		150
	Mortgage & Capital Lease			1.2		1.3

	Total		$	533.7	$	524.4


	As part of the acquisition of OKI in 2012 the Company acquired a capital lease related to a computer server which terminates in 2015, as well as a mortgage on the headquarters of the Canadian subsidiary which matures in 2015 as it was renewed in January 2014. As of December 31, 2013, 100% of the Company’s outstanding debt, excluding capital leases, is priced at variable interest rates based primarily on the applicable bank prime rate or London InterBank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). As of December 31, 2013 the overall weighted average effective borrowing rate of the Company’s debt was 1.3%. At December 31, 2013 all of the Company’s debt was unhedged and a 50 basis point movement in interest rates would result in a $2.7 million change in annualized interest expense, on a pre-tax basis, and upon cash flows from operations.

	Receivables Securitization Program

	On January 18, 2013, the Company’s accounts receivable securitization program (“Receivables Securitization Program” or the “Program”) was amended and restated to increase the maximum amount of financing from $150 million to $200 million and to extend the term of the Program through January 18, 2016. The parties to the Program are USI, USSC, United Stationers Financial Services (“USFS”), United Stationers Receivables, LLC (“USR”), and PNC Bank, National Association and the Bank of Toyko—Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd New York Branch (the “Investors”). The Program is governed by the following agreements:


		•		The Amended and Restated Transfer and Administration Agreement among USSC, USFS, USR, and the Investors;
		•		The Receivables Sale Agreement between USSC and USFS;
		•		The Receivables Purchase Agreement between USFS and USR; and
		•		The Performance Guaranty executed by USI in favor of USR.

	Pursuant to the Receivables Sale Agreement, USSC sells to USFS, on an on-going basis, all the customer accounts receivable and related rights originated by USSC. Pursuant to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, USFS sells to USR, on an on-going basis, all the accounts receivable and related rights purchased from USSC. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Transfer and Administration Agreement, USR then sells the receivables and related rights to the Investors. The Program provides for maximum funding available of the lesser of $200 million or the total amount of eligible receivables less excess concentrations and applicable reserves. USFS retains servicing responsibility over the receivables. USR is a wholly-owned, bankruptcy remote special purpose subsidiary of USFS. The assets of USR are not available to satisfy the creditors of any other person, including USFS, USSC or USI, until all amounts outstanding under the Program are repaid and the Program has been terminated.



	The receivables sold to the Investors remain on USI’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, and amounts advanced to USR by the Investor or any successor Investors are recorded as debt on USI’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The cost of such debt is recorded as interest expense on USI’s Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $355.4 million and $400.2 million, respectively, of receivables had been sold to the Investors. As of December 31, 2013, USR had $190.7 million outstanding under the Program. As of December 31, 2012, USR had $150.0 million outstanding under the Program.

	Credit Agreement and Other Debt

	On October 15, 2007, USI and USSC entered into a Master Note Purchase Agreement (the “2007 Note Purchase Agreement”) with several purchasers. The 2007 Note Purchase Agreement allows USSC to issue up to $1 billion of senior secured notes, subject to certain debt restrictions. Pursuant to the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement, USSC issued and sold $135 million of floating rate senior secured notes due October 15, 2014 at par in a private placement (the “Series 2007-A Notes”). Interest on the Series 2007-A Notes is payable quarterly in arrears at a rate per annum equal to three-month LIBOR plus 1.30%, beginning January 15, 2008. USSC may issue additional series of senior secured notes from time to time under the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement but has no specific plans to do so at this time.

	On November 25, 2013, USI and USSC, entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “2013 Note Purchase Agreement”) with the note purchasers identified therein (collectively, the “Note Purchasers”). Pursuant to the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement, USSC will issue and the Note Purchasers will purchase an aggregate of $150 million of senior secured notes due January 15, 2021 (the “2014 Notes”). The issuance of the 2014 Notes occurred on January 15, 2014, subject to customary closing conditions. USSC used the proceeds from the sale of the 2014 Notes to repay the Series 2007-A Notes and to reduce borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement. Interest on the 2014 Notes will be payable semi-annually at a rate per annum equal to 3.75%. At the time USSC priced the 2014 Notes, USSC terminated the June 2013 Swap Transaction (as described in Note 18 “Derivative Financial Instruments”). After giving effect to the impact of terminating the June 2013 Swap Transaction, the effective per annum interest rate on the 2014 Notes will be 3.66%. The full principal amount of the 2014 Notes matures on January 15, 2021. If USSC elects to prepay some or all of the 2014 Notes prior to January 15, 2021, USSC will be obligated to pay a Make-Whole Amount calculated as set forth in the Agreement.

	On September 21, 2011, USI and USSC entered into a Third Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “2011 Credit Agreement”) with U.S. Bank National Association and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as Syndication Agents; Bank of America, N.A. and PNC Bank, National Association, as Documentation Agents; JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the lenders identified therein. The 2011 Credit Agreement amends and restates the Second Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement with PNC Bank, National Association and U.S. Bank National Association, as Syndication Agents, KeyBank National Association and LaSalle Bank, National Association, as Documentation Agents, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Agent (as amended on December 21, 2007, the “2007 Credit Agreement”). On July 8, 2013, the Company and USSC entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Five-Year Revolving Credit Agreement (the “2013 Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as Agent, and the lenders identified therein. The 2013 Credit Agreement amended and restated the 2011 Credit Agreement and extended the maturity date of the loan agreement to July 6, 2018.

	The 2013 Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility with an aggregate committed principal amount of $700 million. The 2013 Credit Agreement also provides for the issuance of letters of credit. The Company had outstanding letters of credit of $11.1 million under the 2013 Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2013 and $9.4 million under the 2011 Credit Agreement as of December 31, 2012. Subject to the terms and conditions of the 2013 Credit Agreement, USSC may seek additional commitments to increase the aggregate committed principal amount to a total amount of $1.05 billion.

	Borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement will bear interest at LIBOR for specified interest periods or at the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the 2013 Credit Agreement), plus, in each case, a margin determined based on the Company’s permitted debt to EBITDA ratio calculated as provided in Section 6.20 of the 2013 Credit Agreement (the “Leverage Ratio”). Depending on the Company’s Leverage Ratio, the margin on LIBOR-based loans ranges from 1.00% to 2.00% and on Alternate Base Rate loans ranges from 0.00% to 1.00%. As of December 31, 2013, the applicable margin for LIBOR-based loans was 1.25% and for Alternate Base Rate loans was 0.25%. In addition, USSC is required to pay the lenders a fee on the unutilized portion of the commitments under the 2013 Credit Agreement at a rate per annum between 0.15% and 0.35%, depending on the Company’s Leverage Ratio.



	Subject to the terms and conditions of the 2013 Credit Agreement, USSC is permitted to incur up to $300 million of indebtedness in addition to borrowings under the 2013 Credit Agreement ($15 million of which the Company intends to utilize in connection with the sale of the 2014 Notes described above), plus up to $200 million under the Company’s Receivables Securitization Program and up to $135 million in replacement or refinancing of the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement.

	USSC has entered into several interest rate swap transactions to mitigate its floating rate risk on a portion of its total long-term debt. See Note 18, “Derivative Financial Instruments”, for further details on these swap transactions and their accounting treatment.

	Obligations of USSC under the 2013 Credit Agreement and the 2007 Note Purchase Agreement are guaranteed by USI and certain of USSC’s domestic subsidiaries. USSC’s obligations under these agreements and the guarantors’ obligations under the guaranties are secured by liens on substantially all Company assets other than real property and certain accounts receivable already collateralized as part of the Receivables Securitization Program.

	The 2013 Credit Agreement, the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement and the Amended and Restated Transfer and Administration Agreement prohibit the Company from exceeding a Leverage Ratio of 3.50 to 1.00 (4.00 to 1.00 for the first four fiscal quarters following certain acquisitions). The 2013 Credit Agreement and the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement also impose limits on the Company’s ability to repurchase stock and issue dividends when the Leverage Ratio is greater than 3.00 to 1.00.

	The 2013 Credit Agreement, the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement and the Amended and Restated Transfer and Administration Agreement contain additional representations and warranties, covenants and events of default that are customary for facilities of these types of agreements. The 2013 Credit Agreement, 2007 Note Purchase Agreement, and the Transfer and Administration Agreement all contain cross-default provisions. As a result, if a termination event occurs under any of those agreements, the lenders under all of the agreements may cease to make additional loans, accelerate any loans then outstanding and/or terminate the agreements to which they are party. Debt maturities as of December 31, 2013, were as follows (in millions):



Year		Amount
2014⁽¹⁾		$	135.3
2015			0.9
2016			190.7
2017			—
Thereafter			206.8

Total		$	533.7



-1	The 2007 Note Purchase Agreement was repaid in January 2014 with a portion of the proceeds from the 2014 Notes.

Leases_Contractual_Obligations

Leases, Contractual Obligations and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Leases, Contractual Obligations and Contingencies	Dec. 31, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Leases, Contractual Obligations and Contingencies	'

	10. Leases, Contractual Obligations and Contingencies

	The Company has entered into non-cancelable long-term leases for certain property and equipment. Future minimum lease payments under operating leases in effect as of December 31, 2013 having initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year are as follows (in thousands):



	Year	Operating
	Year	Leases
	2014	$	46,885
	2015		43,095
	2016		35,167
	2017		26,187
	2018		19,517
	Thereafter		35,498

	Total required lease payments	$	206,349




	Operating lease expense was approximately $46.3 million, $48.5 million, and $50.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan	12 Months Ended
Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan	'

	11. Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan

	Pension Plans

	As of December 31, 2013, the Company has pension plans covering approximately 2,800 of its active associates. Non-contributory plans covering non-union associates provide pension benefits that are based on years of credited service and a percentage of annual compensation. Non-contributory plans covering union members generally provide benefits of stated amounts based on years of service. The Company funds the plans in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The Company uses December 31 as its measurement date to determine its pension obligations.

	Change in Projected Benefit Obligation

	The following table sets forth the plans’ changes in Projected Benefit Obligation for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):



			2013				2012
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	196,521			$	171,022
	Service cost—benefit earned during the period			1,479				962
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation			8,379				8,417
	Union plan amendments			—				309
	Actuarial (gain) loss			(16,373	)			19,432
	Benefits paid			(6,937	)			(3,622	)

	Benefit obligation at end of year		$	183,069			$	196,520


	The accumulated benefit obligation for the plan as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 totaled $183.1 million and $196.5 million, respectively.

	Plan Assets and Investment Policies and Strategies

	The following table sets forth the change in the plans’ assets for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):



			2013				2012
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		$	145,563			$	120,295
	Actual return on plan assets			10,624				15,883
	Company contributions			13,000				13,007
	Benefits paid			(6,937	)			(3,622	)

	Fair value of plan assets at end of year		$	162,250			$	145,563


	The Company’s pension plan investment allocations, as a percentage of the fair value of total plan assets, as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, by asset category are as follows:



	Asset Category		2013				2012
	Cash			1.2	%			1.1	%
	Equity securities			29.2	%			69.4	%
	Fixed income			42.5	%			17.7	%
	Real assets			16.6	%			11.8	%
	Hedge funds			10.5	%			—

	Total			100	%			100	%


	The investment policies and strategies for the Company’s pension plan assets are established with the goals of generating above-average investment returns over time, while containing risks within acceptable levels and providing adequate liquidity for the payment of plan obligations. The Company recognizes that there typically are tradeoffs among these objectives, and strives to minimize risk associated with a given expected return.

	The Company’s defined benefit plan assets are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are invested primarily in a diversified mix of fixed income investments and equity securities. The Company establishes target ranges for investment allocation and sets specific allocations. The target allocations for the General Plan assets are 50.0% fixed income, 23.0% equity securities, 17.0% real assets, and 10.0% hedge funds. The target allocations for the Union Plan assets are 20.0% fixed income, 50.0% equity securities, 20.0% real assets and 10.0% hedge funds. Equity securities include investments in large cap and small cap corporations located in the U.S. and a mix of both international and emerging market corporations. Fixed Income securities include investment grade bonds and U.S. treasuries. Other types of investments include commodity futures, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and hedge funds.

	The accounting guidance on fair value measurements specifies a fair value hierarchy based upon the observability of inputs used in valuation techniques (Level 1, 2 and 3). See Note 19 for a discussion of the fair value hierarchy.

	Fair values for equity and fixed income securities are primarily based on valuations for identical instruments in active markets.

The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012 by asset category are as follows:

Fair Value Measurements at

December 31, 2013 (in thousands)



Asset Category						Total				Quoted Prices In			Significant		Significant
										Active Markets for			Observable		Unobservable
										Identical Assets			Inputs		Inputs
										(Level 1)			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Cash						$	1,888			$	1,888
Equity Securities
U.S. Large Cap			(a	)			17,380				17,380
International Large Core			(b	)			7,650				7,650
International Large Value			(j	)			7,598				7,598
Emerging Markets			(c	)			8,502				8,502
U.S. Small Value Fund			(d	)			5,058				5,058
U.S. Small Growth Fund			(e	)			1,211				1,211
Fixed Income
U.S. Fixed Income			(g	)			69,070				69,070
Real Assets
Domestic Real Estate			(f	)			11,638				11,638
Commodities			(h	)			15,246				15,246
Hedge Funds
Hedge Funds			(i	)			17,009						$	17,009

Total						$	162,250			$	145,241		$	17,009	$	—




Fair Value Measurements at

December 31, 2012 (in thousands)



Asset Category						Total				Quoted Prices In			Significant		Significant
										Active Markets for			Observable		Unobservable
										Identical Assets			Inputs		Inputs
										(Level 1)			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
Cash						$	1,537			$	1,537
Equity Securities
U.S. Large Cap			(a	)			41,669				41,669
International Large Core			(b	)			33,673				33,673
Emerging Markets			(c	)			11,314				11,314
U.S. Small Value Fund			(k	)			7,255						$	7,255
U.S. Small Growth Fund			(e	)			7,182				7,182
Fixed Income
U.S. Fixed Income			(g	)			25,720				25,720
Real Assets
Domestic Real Estate			(f	)			5,954				5,954
Commodities			(h	)			11,259				11,259

Total						$	145,563			$	138,308		$	7,255	$	—



(a)	A separately managed, diversified portfolio consisting of publically traded large cap stocks. The portfolio is predominately comprised of U.S. companies but may also hold international company stock.
(b)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded companies domiciled outside the U.S. and includes companies located in emerging market countries.
(c)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded companies domiciled in emerging market countries.
(d)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded, small capitalization companies that are considered value in style. The majority of holdings are domiciled in the U.S. though the fund may hold international stocks.
(e)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded, small capitalization companies that are considered growth in style. The majority of holdings are domiciled in the U.S. though the fund may hold international stocks.
(f)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded Real Estate Investment Trusts. This is an index mutual fund that tracks the Morgan Stanley REIT Index. The fund normally invests at least 98% of assets that are included in the Morgan Stanley REIT Index.
(g)	A separately managed fixed income portfolio utilized to match the duration of the Plan’s liabilities. This liability driven investment portfolio is comprised of Treasury securities including STRIPS and zero coupon bonds as well as high quality corporate bonds.
(h)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. This fund combines a commodities position, typically through swap agreements, with a portfolio of inflation indexed bonds and other fixed income securities. The commodities position is constructed to track the performance of the Dow Jones UBS Commodity Index.
(i)	A separately managed fund of hedge funds. This fund seeks attractive risk-adjusted returns through investments in a well-diversified group of managers that employ a variety of unique investment strategies. It targets low volatility and low correlation to traditional asset classes. This fund may allocate its assets among a select group of non-traditional portfolio managers that invest or trade in a wide range of securities and other instruments, including, but not limited to: equities and fixed income securities, currencies, commodities, futures contracts, options and other derivative instruments.
(j)	A daily valued open-ended mutual fund. This fund invests in common stocks of companies domiciled in countries outside of the U.S.
(k)	A daily valued commingled fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded, small capitalization companies that are considered value in style. The majority of holdings are domiciled in the U.S. though the fund may hold international stocks. The fund allows for monthly liquidity.



Plan Funded Status

The following table sets forth the plans’ funded status as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):



		2013				2012
Funded status of the plan		$	(20,820	)		$	(50,957	)
Unrecognized prior service cost			1,613				1,804
Unrecognized net actuarial loss			53,158				74,557

Net amount recognized		$	33,951			$	25,404


Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets



		2013				2012
Accrued benefit liability		$	(20,820	)		$	(50,957	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income			54,771				76,361

Net amount recognized		$	33,951			$	25,404


Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

Net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 for pension and supplemental benefit plans includes the following components (in thousands):



		2013				2012				2011
Service cost—benefit earned during the period		$	1,479			$	962			$	769
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation			8,379				8,417				8,482
Expected return on plan assets			(11,338	)			(10,005	)			(9,715	)
Amortization of prior service cost			192				176				135
Amortization of actuarial loss			5,741				6,194				1,940

Net periodic pension cost		$	4,453			$	5,744			$	1,611


The estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into the net periodic benefit cost during 2014 are approximately $3.8 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

Assumptions Used

The following tables summarize the Company’s actuarial assumptions for discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, and rates of increase in compensation for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:



		2013				2012				2011
Pension plan assumptions:
Assumed discount rate, general			4.95	%			4.3	%			5	%
Assumed discount rate, union			5.1	%			4.45	%			5	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, general			7.3	%			7.75	%			7.75	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, union			7.75	%			7.75	%			7.75	%

To select the appropriate actuarial assumptions, management relied on current market conditions, historical information and consultation with and input from the Company’s outside actuaries. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets assumption is based on historical returns and the future expectation of returns for each asset category, as well as the target asset allocation of the asset portfolio. There was no rate of compensation increase in each of the past three fiscal years.

Contributions

On December 11, 2013 the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $2.0 million cash contribution to the Company’s Union pension plan which was funded in January 2014. Additional fundings, if any, for 2014 have not yet been determined.



Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The estimated future benefit payments under the Company’s pension plans are as follows (in thousands):



		Amounts
2014		$	6,189
2015			6,959
2016			7,822
2017			8,312
2018			8,315
2019-2023			53,095

Defined Contribution Plan

The Company has a defined contribution plan. Salaried associates and non-union hourly paid associates are eligible to participate after completing six consecutive months of employment. The plan permits associates to have contributions made as 401(k) salary deferrals on their behalf, or as voluntary after-tax contributions, and provides for Company contributions, or contributions matching associates’ salary deferral contributions, at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Company contributions to match associates’ contributions were approximately $5.3 million, $5.3 million and $5.1 million in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Preferred_Stock

Preferred Stock	12 Months Ended
Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Preferred Stock	'

	12. Preferred Stock

	USI’s authorized capital shares include 15 million shares of preferred stock. The rights and preferences of preferred stock are established by USI’s Board of Directors upon issuance. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, USI had no preferred stock outstanding and all 15 million shares are classified as undesignated preferred stock.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	13. Income Taxes
	The provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):


			Years Ended December 31,
			2013				2012				2011
	Currently Payable
	Federal		$	70,234			$	65,835			$	40,268
	State			8,027				6,683				2,698

	Total currently payable			78,261				72,518				42,966
	Deferred, net—
	Federal			(3,891	)			(5,790	)			18,950
	State			(30	)			(923	)			1,964

	Total deferred, net			(3,921	)			(6,713	)			20,914

	Provision for income taxes		$	74,340			$	65,805			$	63,880

	The Company’s effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 varied from the statutory federal income tax rate as set forth in the following table (in thousands):


			Years Ended December 31,
			2013								2012						2011
			Amount				% of Pre-tax				Amount			% of Pre-tax			Amount			% of Pre-tax
			Amount				Income				Amount			Income			Amount			Income
	Tax provision based on the federal statutory rate		$	69,128				35	%		$	62,172			35	%	$	60,507			35	%
	State and local income taxes—net of federal income tax benefit			5,292				2.6	%			3,464			2	%		3,935			2.3	%
	Change in tax reserves and accrual adjustments			(69	)			(0.0	)%			(521	)		(0.4	)%		(924	)		(0.5	)%
	Non-deductible and other			(11	)			(0.0	)%			690			0.4	%		362			0.2	%

	Provision for income taxes		$	74,340				37.6	%		$	65,805			37	%	$	63,880			37	%


	The deferred tax assets and liabilities resulted from temporary differences in the recognition of certain items for financial and tax accounting purposes. The sources of these differences and the related tax effects were as follows (in thousands):


			As of December 31,
			2013								2012
			Assets				Liabilities				Assets⁽¹⁾			Liabilities
	Accrued expenses		$	14,615			$	—			$	13,790		$	—
	Allowance for doubtful accounts			7,815				—				9,202			—
	Depreciation and amortization			—				28,282				—			28,707
	Intangibles arising from acquisitions			—				23,689				—			23,264
	Inventory reserves and adjustments			—				28,783				—			28,366
	Pension and post-retirement			7,319				—				15,485			—
	Interest rate swap			—				591				406			—
	Share-based compensation			5,750				—				7,148			—
	State income tax credits and net operating losses			5,539				—				5,007
	Restructuring costs			1,930				—				698			—
	Other			376				—				340			—

	Total Deferred			43,344				81,345				52,076			80,337

	Valuation Allowance			(2,791	)			—				(2,136	)		—

	Net Deferred		$	40,553			$	81,345			$	49,940		$	80,337


	-1	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. These changes did not impact the Consolidated Statements of Income.
	In the Consolidated Balance Sheets, these deferred assets and liabilities were classified on a net basis as current and non-current, based on the classification of the related asset or liability or the expected reversal date of the temporary difference.
	Valuation allowances principally relate to state tax credits and net operating losses which may be carried forward to future tax years until their expiration in the years ending December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2033, respectively.
	Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
At December 31, 2013, the gross unrecognized tax benefits were unchanged at $3.1 million. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the Company had $3.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively, in gross unrecognized tax benefits. The following table shows the changes in gross unrecognized tax benefits, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):


		2013				2012				2011
Beginning Balance, January 1		$	3,134			$	3,374			$	4,500
Additions based on tax positions taken during a prior period			169				308				61
Reductions based on tax positions taken during a prior period			(5	)			(11	)			(23	)
Additions based on tax positions taken during the current period			389				451				291
Reductions related to settlement of tax matters			(184	)			(490	)			(894	)
Reductions related to lapses of applicable statutes of limitation			(395	)			(498	)			(561	)

Ending Balance, December 31		$	3,108			$	3,134			$	3,374

At December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, $3.1 million, $3.1 million and $3.4 million, respectively, of these gross unrecognized tax benefits would, if recognized, decrease the Company’s effective tax rate.
The Company recognizes net interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The gross amount of interest and penalties reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were zero, and income of $0.1 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2013 and 2012 include $0.6 and $0.6 million, respectively, accrued for the potential payment of interest and penalties.

As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s U.S. Federal income tax returns for 2010 and subsequent years remain subject to examination by tax authorities. In addition, the Company’s state income tax returns for the 2006 and subsequent tax years remain subject to examinations by state and local income tax authorities. Although the Company is not currently under examination by the IRS, a number of state and local examinations are currently ongoing. Due to the potential for resolution of ongoing examinations and the expiration of various statutes of limitation, it is reasonably possible that the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits balance may change within the next twelve months by a range of zero to $1.2 million.

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa

Supplemental Cash Flow Information	12 Months Ended
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	'
	14. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
	In addition to the information provided in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the following are supplemental disclosures of cash flow information for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):


		Years Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Cash Paid During the Year For:
	Interest	$	12,385	$	22,563	$	26,463
	Income taxes, net		79,526		53,053		50,921

Other_Income_Expense_Net

Other (Income) Expense, Net	12 Months Ended
Other (Income) Expense, Net	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Income And Expenses [Abstract]	'
Other (Income) Expense, Net	'
	15. Other (Income) Expense, Net
	In 2011, the Company had a $1.9 million reversal of prior acquisition earn-out and deferred payment liabilities related to the 2010 acquisition of MBS Dev. This gain relates to the renegotiated agreement to accelerate payment on the remaining deferred payments in consideration for termination of the Company’s obligation to pay the earn-out component.

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	16. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments approximates their net carrying values. The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows (in thousands):


		As of December 31,
		2013				2012
		Carrying		Fair Value		Carrying		Fair Value
		Amount		Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	22,326	$	22,326	$	30,919	$	30,919
	Accounts receivable, net		643,379		643,379		658,760		658,760
	Accounts payable		476,113		476,113		495,278		495,278
	Short-term interest rate swap liability		—		—		227		227
	Debt		533,697		533,697		524,376		524,376
	Long-term interest rate swap liability		—		—		846		846
	Long-term interest rate swap asset		599		599		—		—
	The fair value of the interest rate swaps is estimated based upon the amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements as of December 31 of each year. See Note 18, “Derivative Financial Instruments”, for further information.

Other_Assets_and_Liabilities

Other Assets and Liabilities	12 Months Ended
Other Assets and Liabilities	Dec. 31, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Other Assets and Liabilities	'
	17. Other Assets and Liabilities
	Other assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (in thousands):


			As of December 31,
			2013		2012⁽¹⁾
	Other Long-Term Assets, net:
	Investment in deferred compensation		$	4,408	$	4,528
	Long-term notes receivable			14,063		10,368
	Equity investment			—		1,518
	Capitalized financing costs			3,391		2,523
	Long-term swap asset			599		—
	Other			3,115		1,323

	Total other long-term assets, net		$	25,576	$	20,260

	Other Long-Term Liabilities:
	Accrued pension obligation		$	20,820	$	50,957
	Deferred rent			18,654		18,606
	Deferred directors compensation			4,412		5,030
	Long-term swap liability			—		846
	Long-term income tax liability			3,482		3,700
	Long-term merger expenses			198		4,720
	Long-term workers compensation liability			6,876		5,591
	Other			5,345		4,726

	Total other long-term liabilities		$	59,787	$	94,176


	-1	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. These changes did not impact the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen

Derivative Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Derivative Financial Instruments

18. Derivative Financial Instruments

Interest rate movements create a degree of risk to the Company’s operations by affecting the amount of interest payments. Interest rate swap agreements are used to manage the Company’s exposure to interest rate changes. The Company designates its floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps as cash flow hedges of the variability of future cash flows at the inception of the swap contract to support hedge accounting.

USSC has entered into five separate swap transactions to mitigate USSC’s floating rate risk on the noted aggregate notional amount of LIBOR-based interest rate risk noted in the table below. These swap transactions occurred as follows:

•

On November 6, 2007, USSC entered into an interest rate swap transaction (the “November 2007 Swap Transaction”) with U.S. Bank National Association as the counterparty. This swap transaction matured on January 15, 2013.

•

On December 20, 2007, USSC entered into another interest rate swap transaction (the “December 2007 Swap Transaction”) with Key Bank National Association as the counterparty. This swap transaction matured on June 21, 2012.

•

On March 13, 2008, USSC entered into an interest rate swap transaction (the “March 2008 Swap Transaction”) with U.S. Bank National Association as the counterparty. This swap transaction matured on June 29, 2012.

•

On July 18, 2012, USSC entered into a two-year forward, three-year interest rate swap transaction (the “July 2012 Swap Transaction”) with U.S. Bank National Association as the counterparty. The swap transaction has an effective date of July 18, 2014 and a maturity date of July 18, 2017.

•

On June 11, 2013, USSC entered into a seven-month forward, seven-year interest rate swap transaction (the “June 2013 Swap Transaction”) with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank as the counterparty. The swap transaction has an effective date of January 15, 2014 and a maturity date of January 15, 2021. This swap was terminated in October 2013.

None of the Company’s current outstanding debt had its interest payments designated as the hedged forecasted transactions to any of the Company’s swap transactions at December 31, 2013.

The Company’s outstanding swap transaction is accounted for as cash flow hedge and is recorded at fair value on the statement of financial position as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. This hedge was as follows (in thousands):

As of December 31, 2013

Notional

Receive

Pay

Maturity Date

Fair Value Net

Amount

Asset⁽¹⁾

July 2012 Swap Transaction

150,000

Floating 1-month LIBOR

1.054

July 18, 2017

599

-1

This interest rate derivative qualify for hedge accounting and is in a net asset position. Therefore, the fair value of the interest rate derivative is included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Other Long-Term Assets”, with an offsetting component in “Stockholders’ Equity” as part of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss”.

As of December 31, 2012

Notional

Receive

Pay

Maturity Date

Fair Value Net

Amount

Liability⁽²⁾

November 2007 Swap Transaction

135,000

Floating 3-month LIBOR

4.674

January 15, 2013

227

July 2012 Swap Transaction

150,000

Floating 1-month LIBOR

1.054

July 18, 2017

846

-2

These interest rate derivatives qualify for hedge accounting and is in a net liability position. Therefore, the fair value of the interest rate derivatives are included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Accrued liabilities” or “Other Long-Term Liabilities” depending on the maturity date of the instrument, with an offsetting component in “Stockholders’ Equity” as part of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss”.

Under the terms of the July 2012 Swap Transaction, USSC will be required to make monthly fixed rate payments to the counterparty calculated based on the notional amounts noted in the table above at a fixed rate also noted in the table above, while the counterparty will be obligated to make monthly floating rate payments to USSC based on the one-month LIBOR on the same referenced notional amount.

The hedged transactions described above qualify as cash flow hedges in accordance with accounting guidance on derivative instruments. This guidance requires companies to recognize all of their derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial position at fair value. The Company does not offset fair value amounts recognized for interest rate swaps executed with the same counterparty.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge (for example, hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings (for example, in “interest expense” when the hedged transactions are interest cash flows associated with floating-rate debt).

In connection with the pricing of the 2013 Note Purchase Agreement, discussed in Note 9 “Debt”, the Company terminated the June 2013 Swap Transaction. The gain of $0.9 million realized by the Company on the termination has been recorded as a component of Other Comprehensive Income on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and will be reclassified into earnings over the term of the 2014 Notes. Within the next 12 months, $0.1M will be recognized in earnings. This swap reduced the exposure to variability in interest rates between the date the Company entered into the hedge and the pricing of the 2014 Notes by the Company.

The July 2012 Swap Transaction effectively converts a portion of the Company’s future floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis. This swap transaction reduces the impact of interest rate changes on future interest expense. By using such derivative financial instruments, the Company exposes itself to credit risk and market risk. Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to the interest rate swap (as noted above) will fail to perform under the terms of the agreement. The Company attempts to minimize the credit risk in these agreements by only entering into transactions with counterparties the Company determines are creditworthy. The market risk is the adverse effect on the value of a derivative financial instrument that results from a change in interest rates.

The Company’s agreement with its derivative counterparty provide that if an event of default occurs on any Company debt of $25 million or more, the counterparty can terminate the swap agreement. If an event of default had occurred and the counterparty had exercised their early termination right under the outstanding swap transaction as of December 31, 2013, the Company would have been entitled to receive the aggregate fair value net asset of $0.6 million plus accrued interest from the counterparty.

The swap transaction that was in effect as of December 31, 2013 and the swap transactions that were in effect as of December 31, 2012 contained no ineffectiveness; therefore, all gains or losses on those derivative instruments were reported as a component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings as “interest expense” in the same period or periods during which they affected earnings. The following table depicts the effect of these derivative instruments on the statements of income and comprehensive income for years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

Amount of Gain (Loss)

Location of Gain (Loss)

Amount of Gain

Recognized in

Reclassified from

(Loss) Reclassified

OCI on Derivative

Accumulated OCI into

from Accumulated OCI

(Effective Portion)

Income (Effective

into Income

Portion)

(Effective Portion)

2013

2012

2013

2012

November 2007 Swap Transaction

(77

)

(2,376

)

Interest expense, net

(228

)

(5,783

)

December 2007 Swap Transaction

—

(1,335

)

Interest expense, net

—

(3,400

)

March 2008 Swap Transaction

—

(535

)

Interest expense, net

—

(1,344

)

July 2012 Swap Transaction

864

(562

)

Interest expense, net

—

June 2013 Swap Transaction

569

—

Interest expense, net

—

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

19. Fair Value Measurements

The Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including interest rate swap liabilities related to interest rate swap derivatives based on the mark-to-market position of the Company’s interest rate swap positions and other observable interest rates (see Note 18, “Derivative Financial Instruments”, for more information on these interest rate swaps).

FASB accounting guidance on fair value establishes a hierarchy for those instruments measured at fair value which distinguishes between assumptions based on market data (observable inputs) and the Company’s own assumptions (unobservable inputs). The hierarchy consists of three levels:

•

Level 1—Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

•

Level 2—Inputs other than Level 1 inputs that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

•

Level 3—Unobservable inputs developed using estimates and assumptions developed by the Company which reflect those that a market participant would use.

Determining which category an asset or liability falls within the hierarchy requires significant judgment. The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each quarter. The following table summarizes the financial instruments measured at fair value in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2013

Quoted Market

Significant

Prices in

Other

Unobservable

Active Markets for

Observable

Inputs

Identical Assets

Inputs

Liabilities

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Assets

Interest rate swap asset

599

—

599

—

Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2012

Quoted Market

Significant

Prices in

Other

Unobservable

Active Markets for

Observable

Inputs

Identical Assets or

Inputs

Liabilities

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Liabilities

Interest rate swap liability

1,073

—

1,073

—

The carrying amount of accounts receivable at December 31, 2013 and 2012, including $355.4 million and $400.2 million, respectively, of receivables sold under the Current Receivables Securitization Program, approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of this item.

FASB accounting guidance on fair value measurements requires separate disclosure of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as noted above, from those measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. As of December 31, 2013, no assets or liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.

Quarterly_Financial_DataUnaudi

Quarterly Financial Data-Unaudited	12 Months Ended
Quarterly Financial Data-Unaudited	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Data-Unaudited	'

	20. Quarterly Financial Data—Unaudited



			First		Second		Third		Fourth		Total⁽¹⁾
			Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Quarter		Total⁽¹⁾
			(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	Year Ended December 31, 2013:
	Net sales		$	1,250,485	$	1,274,494	$	1,336,676	$	1,223,638	$	5,085,293

	Gross profit			188,525		201,936		203,661		195,456		789,578

	Net income⁽²⁾			13,874		34,670		40,501		34,125		123,170

	Net income per share—basic		$	0.35	$	0.87	$	1.03	$	0.86	$	3.11

	Net income per share—diluted		$	0.34	$	0.86	$	1.01	$	0.85	$	3.06

	Year Ended December 31, 2012:
	Net sales		$	1,271,647	$	1,275,710	$	1,288,675	$	1,244,074	$	5,080,106

	Gross profit			180,929		188,259		203,758		201,658		774,604

	Net income⁽³⁾			15,112		27,029		36,764		32,925		111,830

	Net income per share—basic		$	0.36	$	0.67	$	0.92	$	0.83	$	2.77

	Net income per share—diluted		$	0.36	$	0.66	$	0.91	$	0.81	$	2.73



	-1	As a result of changes in the number of common and common equivalent shares during the year, the sum of quarterly earnings per share will not necessarily equal earnings per share for the total year.
	-2	2013 results were impacted by the effects of a $13.0 million or $0.20 per diluted share workforce reduction and facility closure charge, and a non-tax deductible $1.2 million or $0.03 per diluted share asset impairment charge in the fourth quarter.
	-3	2012 results were impacted by a $6.2 million or $0.09 per diluted share network optimization and cost reduction charge in the first quarter.

Schedule_II_Valuation_and_Qual

Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	Dec. 31, 2013
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]	'
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	'
	SCHEDULE II
	UNITED STATIONERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS YEARS
	ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011


	Description (in thousands)	Balance at		Additions		Deductions(1)			Reclassifications(2)			Balance at
		Beginning of		Charged to								End of
		Period		Costs and								Period
				Expenses
	Allowance for doubtful accounts(3):
	2013	$	22,716	$	4,888	$	(6,504	)	$	(492	)	$	20,608
	2012		28,323		5,232		(8,490	)		(2,349	)		22,716
	2011		29,079		9,359		(10,115	)		—			28,323

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Principles of Consolidation	'
	Principles of Consolidation
	The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. For all acquisitions, account balances and results of operations are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements as of the date acquired.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The 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 in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
	Various assumptions and other factors underlie the determination of significant accounting estimates. The process of determining significant estimates is fact specific and takes into account factors such as historical experience, current and expected economic conditions, product mix, and in some cases, actuarial techniques. The Company periodically reevaluates these significant factors and makes adjustments where facts and circumstances dictate.
Supplier Allowances	'
	Supplier Allowances
	Supplier allowances (fixed or variable) are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall gross margin. Gross margin is determined by, among other items, file margin (determined by reference to invoiced price), as reduced by customer discounts and rebates as discussed below, and increased by supplier allowances and promotional incentives. Receivables related to supplier allowances totaled $103.2 million and $96.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These receivables are included in “Accounts receivable” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	The majority of the Company’s annual supplier allowances and incentives are variable, based solely on the volume and mix of the Company’s product purchases from suppliers. These variable allowances are recorded based on the Company’s annual inventory purchase volumes and product mix and are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction to cost of goods sold, thereby reflecting the net inventory purchase cost. The remaining portion of the Company’s annual supplier allowances and incentives are fixed and are earned based primarily on supplier participation in specific Company advertising and marketing publications. Fixed allowances and incentives are taken to income through lower cost of goods sold as inventory is sold.
	Supplier allowances and incentives attributable to unsold inventory are carried as a component of net inventory cost. The potential amount of variable supplier allowances often differs based on purchase volumes by supplier and product category. As a result, changes in the Company’s sales volume (which can increase or reduce inventory purchase requirements) and changes in product sales mix (especially because higher-margin products often benefit from higher supplier allowance rates) can create fluctuations in variable supplier allowances.
Customer Rebates	'
	Customer Rebates
	Customer rebates and discounts are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall sales and gross margin. Such rebates are reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction of sales. Customer rebates of $52.6 million and $56.3 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are included as a component of “Accrued liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	Customer rebates include volume rebates, sales growth incentives, advertising allowances, participation in promotions and other miscellaneous discount programs. These rebates are paid to customers monthly, quarterly and/or annually. Estimates for volume rebates and growth incentives are based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company’s customers. The aggregate amount of customer rebates depends on product sales mix and customer mix changes. Reported results reflect management’s current estimate of such rebates. Changes in estimates of sales volumes, product mix, customer mix or sales patterns, or actual results that vary from such estimates may impact future results.
Revenue Recognition	'
	Supplier Allowances
	Supplier allowances (fixed or variable) are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall gross margin. Gross margin is determined by, among other items, file margin (determined by reference to invoiced price), as reduced by customer discounts and rebates as discussed below, and increased by supplier allowances and promotional incentives. Receivables related to supplier allowances totaled $103.2 million and $96.9 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. These receivables are included in “Accounts receivable” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	The majority of the Company’s annual supplier allowances and incentives are variable, based solely on the volume and mix of the Company’s product purchases from suppliers. These variable allowances are recorded based on the Company’s annual inventory purchase volumes and product mix and are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction to cost of goods sold, thereby reflecting the net inventory purchase cost. The remaining portion of the Company’s annual supplier allowances and incentives are fixed and are earned based primarily on supplier participation in specific Company advertising and marketing publications. Fixed allowances and incentives are taken to income through lower cost of goods sold as inventory is sold.
	Supplier allowances and incentives attributable to unsold inventory are carried as a component of net inventory cost. The potential amount of variable supplier allowances often differs based on purchase volumes by supplier and product category. As a result, changes in the Company’s sales volume (which can increase or reduce inventory purchase requirements) and changes in product sales mix (especially because higher-margin products often benefit from higher supplier allowance rates) can create fluctuations in variable supplier allowances.
Share-Based Compensation	'
	Share-Based Compensation
	At December 31, 2013, the Company had two active share-based employee compensation plans covering key associates and/or non-employee directors of the Company. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Accounts Receivable	'
	Customer Rebates
	Customer rebates and discounts are common practice in the business products industry and have a significant impact on the Company’s overall sales and gross margin. Such rebates are reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction of sales. Customer rebates of $52.6 million and $56.3 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are included as a component of “Accrued liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	Customer rebates include volume rebates, sales growth incentives, advertising allowances, participation in promotions and other miscellaneous discount programs. These rebates are paid to customers monthly, quarterly and/or annually. Estimates for volume rebates and growth incentives are based on estimated annual sales volume to the Company’s customers. The aggregate amount of customer rebates depends on product sales mix and customer mix changes. Reported results reflect management’s current estimate of such rebates. Changes in estimates of sales volumes, product mix, customer mix or sales patterns, or actual results that vary from such estimates may impact future results.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets	'
	Goodwill and Intangible Assets
	Goodwill is initially recorded based on the premium paid for acquisitions and is subsequently tested for impairment. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
	Intangible assets are initially recorded at their fair market values determined on quoted market prices in active markets, if available, or recognized valuation models. Intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their useful lives. Intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are tested at least annually for impairment or whenever events or circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Insured Loss Liability Estimates	'
	Insured Loss Liability Estimates
	The Company is primarily responsible for retained liabilities related to workers’ compensation, vehicle, and certain employee health benefits. The Company records expense for paid and open claims and an expense for claims incurred but not reported based upon historical trends and certain assumptions about future events. The Company has an annual per-person maximum cap, provided by a third-party insurance company, on certain employee medical benefits. In addition, the Company has a per-occurrence maximum on workers’ compensation and auto claims.
Leases	'
	Leases
	The Company leases real estate and personal property under operating leases. Certain operating leases include incentives from landlords including, landlord “build-out” allowances, rent escalation clauses and rent holidays or periods in which rent is not payable for a certain amount of time. The Company accounts for landlord “build-out” allowances as deferred rent at the time of possession and amortizes this deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
	The Company also recognizes leasehold improvements associated with the “build-out” allowances and amortizes these improvements over the shorter of (1) the term of the lease or (2) the expected life of the respective improvements. The Company accounts for rent escalation and rent holidays as deferred rent at the time of possession and amortizes this deferred rent on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. As of December 31, 2013, any capital leases to which the Company is a party are immaterial to the Company’s financial statements.
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Approximately 76% and 77% of total inventory as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively has been valued under the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) accounting method. LIFO results in a better matching of costs and revenues. The remaining inventory is valued under the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) accounting method. Inventory valued under the FIFO and LIFO accounting methods is recorded at the lower of cost or market. If the Company had valued its entire inventory under the lower of FIFO cost or market, inventory would have been $112.4 million and $107.8 million higher than reported as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The annual change in the LIFO reserve as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 resulted in a $4.6 million increase, an $11.7 million increase and an $11.4 million increase, respectively, in cost of sales. The change in the LIFO reserve in 2013 resulted in a $4.6 million increase in cost of goods sold which included a LIFO liquidation relating to a decrement in the Company’s technology LIFO pool. This decrement resulted in liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases. This liquidation resulted in LIFO income of $0.6 million which was more than offset by LIFO expense of $5.2 million related to current inflation for an overall net increase in cost of sales of $4.6 million as referenced above.
	The $11.7 million change in the LIFO reserve for 2012 includes the LIFO liquidation impact relating to decrements in the Company’s office products and technology LIFO pools. These decrements resulted in the liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases. These liquidations resulted in LIFO income of $3.3 million which was more than offset by LIFO expense of $15.0 million related to current inflation or a net increase in cost of sales of $11.7 million referenced above.
	The $11.4 million change in the LIFO reserve for 2011 includes the LIFO liquidation impact relating to a decrement in the Company’s furniture LIFO pool. This decrement resulted in the liquidation of LIFO inventory quantities carried at lower costs in prior years as compared with the cost of current year purchases. This liquidation resulted in LIFO income of $4.2 million which was more than offset by LIFO expense of $15.6 million related to current inflation or a net increase in cost of sales of $11.4 million referenced above.
	The Company also records adjustments to inventory for shrinkage. Inventory that is obsolete, damaged, defective or slow moving is recorded at the lower of cost or market. These adjustments are determined using historical trends and are adjusted, if necessary, as new information becomes available. The Company charges certain warehousing and administrative expenses to inventory each period with $38.0 million and $33.3 million remaining in inventory as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.
Pension Benefits	'
	Pension Benefits
	Calculating the Company’s obligations and expenses related to its pension requires selection and use of certain actuarial assumptions. As more fully discussed in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, these actuarial assumptions include discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, and rates of increase in compensation and healthcare costs. To select the appropriate actuarial assumptions, management relies on current market conditions and historical information. Pension expense for 2013 was $4.5 million, compared to $5.7 million and $1.6 million in 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash Equivalents
	An unfunded check balance (payments in-transit) exists for the Company’s primary disbursement accounts. Under the Company’s cash management system, the Company utilizes available borrowings, on an as-needed basis, to fund the clearing of checks as they are presented for payment. As of December 31, 2013, and 2012, outstanding checks totaling $60.8 million and $39.4 million, respectively, were included in “Accounts payable” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	All highly liquid debt instruments with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value. There were no short term investments as of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012.
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation and amortization are determined by using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful life assigned to fixtures and equipment is from two to ten years; the estimated useful life assigned to buildings does not exceed forty years; leasehold improvements are amortized over the lesser of their useful lives or the term of the applicable lease. Repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense as incurred.
Software Capitalization	'
	Software Capitalization
	The Company capitalizes internal use software development costs in accordance with accounting guidance on accounting for costs of computer software developed or obtained for internal use. Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, generally not to exceed ten years. Capitalized software is included in “Property, plant and equipment” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The total costs are as follows (in thousands):


		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
	Capitalized software development costs	$	83,026		$	77,308
	Accumulated amortization		(59,257	)		(53,943	)

	Net capitalized software development costs	$	23,769		$	23,365

Derivative Financial Instruments	'
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	The Company’s risk management policies allow for the use of derivative financial instruments to prudently manage foreign currency exchange rate and interest rate exposure. The policies do not allow such derivative financial instruments to be used for speculative purposes. At this time, the Company uses interest rate swaps which are subject to the management, direction and control of its financial officers. Risk management practices, including the use of all derivative financial instruments, are presented to the Board of Directors for approval.
	All derivatives are recognized on the balance sheet date at their fair value. The Company’s outstanding derivative at December 31, 2013 was in a net asset position and is included in “Other Long-Term Assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2012 all derivatives were in a net liability position and were included in “Accrued liabilities” and “Other Long-Term Liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The interest rate swaps that the Company has entered into are classified as cash flow hedges in accordance with accounting guidance on derivative instruments and hedging activities as they are hedging a forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flow to be paid by the Company. Changes in the fair value of a derivative that is qualified, designated and highly effective as a cash flow hedge are recorded in other comprehensive income, net of tax, until earnings are affected by the forecasted transaction or the variability of cash flow, and then are reported in current earnings.
	The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as the risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives designated as cash flow hedges to specific forecasted transactions or variability of cash flow.
	The Company formally assesses, at both the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flow of hedged items. When it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective as a hedge then hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively in accordance with accounting guidance on derivative instruments and hedging activities. This has not occurred as all cash flow hedges contain no ineffectiveness. See Note 18, “Derivative Financial Instruments”, for further detail.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method in accordance with the accounting guidance for income taxes. The Company estimates actual current tax expense and assesses temporary differences that exist due to differing treatments of items for tax and financial statement purposes. These temporary differences result in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities. A provision has not been made for deferred U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries as these earnings have historically been permanently invested except to the extent a liability was recorded in purchase accounting for the undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiaries of OKI as of the date of the acquisition. It is not practicable to determine the amount of unrecognized deferred tax liability for such unremitted foreign earnings.
	The current and deferred tax balances and income tax expense recognized by the Company are based on management’s interpretation of the tax laws of multiple jurisdictions. Income tax expense also reflects the Company’s best estimates and assumptions regarding, among other things, the level of future taxable income, interpretation of tax laws, and tax planning. Future changes in tax laws, changes in projected levels of taxable income, and tax planning could impact the effective tax rate and current and deferred tax balances recorded by the Company. Management’s estimates as of the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements reflect its best judgment giving consideration to all currently available facts and circumstances. As such, these estimates may require adjustment in the future, as additional facts become known or as circumstances change. Further, in accordance with the accounting guidance on income taxes, the tax effects from uncertain tax positions are recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements, only if it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company accounts for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.
Foreign Currency Translation	'
	Foreign Currency Translation
	The functional currency for the Company’s foreign operations is the local currency. Assets and liabilities of these operations are translated into U.S. currency at the rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. The resulting translation adjustments are included in other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated at average monthly rates of exchange. Realized gains and losses from foreign currency transactions were not material.
New Accounting Pronouncements	'
	New Accounting Pronouncements
	On January 1, 2013 the Company adopted ASU No. 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350)—Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment (ASU 2012-02), which was issued by the FASB in July 2012. Under the guidance, testing the decline in the realizable value (impairment) of indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill has been simplified. The guidance allows an organization the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test. An organization electing to perform a qualitative assessment is no longer required to calculate the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset unless the organization determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is “more likely than not” that the asset is impaired. Upon adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2013, there was no impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.
	In February 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)—Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (ASU 2013-02), to improve the reporting of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. ASU 2013-02 requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income if the amount being reclassified is required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required under U.S. GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety from accumulated other comprehensive income to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference other disclosures required under U.S. GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The Company has adopted the guidance for the reporting period ending September 30, 2013. There was no impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations due to the adoption.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists (ASU 2013-11). This ASU requires that an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, be presented in the financial statements as either a reduction to a deferred tax asset or separately as a liability depending on the existence, availability and/or use of an operating loss carry forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry forward. This ASU will be effective for the Company beginning the first quarter of 2014. United is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on the Company’s financial statements.

Basis_of_Presentation_Tables

Basis of Presentation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Purchase Price Allocation	'

	Final Purchase Price Allocation

	(dollars in thousands)



	Purchase Price, net of cash acquired				$	79,754

	Final Allocation of Purchase Price:
	Accounts receivable	$	(20,517	)
	Inventories		(32,170	)
	Other current assets		(3,671	)
	Property, plant and equipment		(7,859	)
	Intangible assets		(22,250	)

	Total assets acquired					(86,467	)
	Trade accounts payable		11,975
	Accrued liabilities		7,683
	Deferred taxes		13,911
	Debt		1,254
	Long-term liabilities		639

	Total liabilities assumed					35,462

	Goodwill				$	28,749

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Capitalized Software Included in Property, Plant and Equipment	'

	Capitalized software is included in “Property, plant and equipment” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The total costs are as follows (in thousands):



		As of December 31,
		2013			2012
	Capitalized software development costs	$	83,026		$	77,308
	Accumulated amortization		(59,257	)		(53,943	)

	Net capitalized software development costs	$	23,769		$	23,365

ShareBased_Compensation_Tables

Share-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Share-Based Compensation (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Share-Based Compensation Expense	'
	The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense (in thousands):


		Year Ended December 31,
		2013			2012			2011
	Numerator:
	Pre-tax expense	$	10,808		$	8,746		$	15,734
	Tax effect		(4,108	)		(3,323	)		(5,977	)

	After tax expense	$	6,700		$	5,423		$	9,757

	Denominator:
	Denominator for basic shares—Weighted average shares		39,650			40,337			43,822
	Denominator for diluted shares—Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities		40,236			40,991			45,014
	Net expense per share:
	Net expense per share—basic	$	0.17		$	0.13		$	0.22

	Net expense per share—diluted	$	0.17		$	0.13		$	0.22
Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding, Exercisable	'
	Intrinsic Value of Options
	(in thousands of dollars)


		Outstanding			Exercisable
	As of December 31, 2013	$	9,897		$	6,262
	As of December 31, 2012		8,420			8,420
	As of December 31, 2011		13,668			13,668
Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised	'
	Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised
	(in thousands of dollars)


	For the year ended
	December 31, 2013	$	13,676
	December 31, 2012		2,380
	December 31, 2011		8,911
Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares Outstanding	'
	Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares
	(in thousands of dollars)


	Outstanding
	As of December 31, 2013	$	47,780
	As of December 31, 2012		40,222
	As of December 31, 2011		32,634
Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares Vested	'
	Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares Vested
	(in thousands of dollars)


	For the year ended
	December 31, 2013	$	12,414
	December 31, 2012		8,812
	December 31, 2011		27,576
Schedule of Valuation Techniques Assumption	'

	The assumptions used are shown in the following table.



		2013
	Weighted average expected term		5.6
	Expected volatility		40.01—40.49	%
	Weighted average volatility		40.48	%
	Weighted average expected dividends		1.46	%
	Risk-free rate		0.76—1.62	%
Schedule of Stock Options	'
	The following table summarizes the transactions, excluding restricted stock, under the Company’s equity compensation plans for the last three years:



		2013			Weighted			2012			Weighted		2011			Weighted
					Average						Average					Average
					Exercise						Exercise					Exercise
					Price						Price					Price
	Options outstanding—January 1		1,371,850		$	24.86			1,715,380		$	24.62		2,563,708		$	24.18
	Granted		585,189			38.71			—			—		—			—
	Exercised		(1,065,920	)		24.69			(217,634	)		18.69		(847,528	)		23.26
	Cancelled		(78,959	)		38.69			(125,896	)		32.35		(800	)		29.51

	Options outstanding—December 31		812,160		$	33.7			1,371,850		$	24.86		1,715,380		$	24.62

	Number of options exercisable		305,930		$	25.42			1,371,850		$	24.86		1,715,380		$	24.62

Schedule of Outstanding and Exercisable Options Granted	'
	The following table summarizes outstanding and exercisable options granted under the Company’s equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2013:


	Exercise Prices	Outstanding			Remaining			Exercisable
					Contractual
					Life (Years)
	20.00—25.00		201,684			2.3			201,684
	25.01—30.00		102,000			3.7			102,000
	30.01—35.00		2,246			3.4			2,246
	35.01—40.00		506,230			9.3			—

	Total		812,160			6.8			305,930

Schedule of Restricted Stock and RSU Grants and Changes	'

	A rollforward of the Company’s restricted stock and RSU grants during the last three years is as follows:



	Restricted Stock and RSUs	2013			Weighted			2012			Weighted		2011			Weighted
					Average						Average					Average
					Grant Date						Grant Date					Grant Date
					Fair Value						Fair Value					Fair Value
	Nonvested—January 1		1,297,906		$	28.61			1,002,125		$	26.42		1,562,626		$	20.13
	Granted		348,264			38.28			707,249			27.84		362,985			30.81
	Vested		(323,159	)		37.02			(324,345	)		22		(853,384	)		17.14
	Cancelled		(281,822	)		30.04			(87,123	)		28.16		(70,102	)		21.97

	Nonvested—December 31		1,041,189		$	31.24			1,297,906		$	28.61		1,002,125		$	26.42

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets1

Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Summary of Intangible Assets of Company by Major Class	'

	The following table summarizes the intangible assets of the Company by major class of intangible assets and the cost, accumulated amortization, net carrying amount, and weighted average life, if applicable (in thousands):



		December 31, 2013									December 31, 2012
		Gross		Accumulated			Net		Weighted		Gross		Accumulated			Net		Weighted
		Carrying		Amortization			Carrying		Average		Carrying		Amortization			Carrying		Average
		Amount					Amount		Useful		Amount					Amount		Useful
									Life									Life
									(years)									(years)
	Intangible assets subject to amortization
	Customer relationships and other intangibles	$	84,470	$	(36,232	)	$	48,238		17	$	79,170	$	(30,369	)	$	48,801		14
	Non-compete agreements		4,700		(1,952	)		2,748		4		4,740		(1,588	)		3,152		4
	Trademarks		2,890		(674	)		2,216		5		3,040		(101	)		2,939		5

	Total	$	92,060	$	(38,858	)	$	53,202			$	86,950	$	(32,058	)	$	54,892
	Intangible assets not subject to amortization
	Trademarks		12,300		—			12,300		n/a		12,300		—			12,300		n/a

	Total	$	104,360	$	(38,858	)	$	65,502			$	99,250	$	(32,058	)	$	67,192

Summary of Amortization Expense Expected to be Incurred Over Next Five Years on Intangible Assets	'

	The following table summarizes the amortization expense expected to be incurred over the next five years on intangible assets (in thousands):



	Year	Amounts
	2014	$	6,486
	2015		6,371
	2016		6,273
	2017		6,176
	2018		3,969

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]	'
Change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) by Component, Net of Tax	'

	The change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (“AOCI”) by component, net of tax, for the year ended December 31, 2013 is as follows:



	(amounts in thousands)	Foreign Currency			Cash Flow			Defined Benefit			Total
	(amounts in thousands)	Translation			Hedges			Pension Plans			Total
	AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2012	$	(5,760	)	$	(713	)	$	(47,292	)	$	(53,765	)
	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications		(901	)		1,443			9,515			10,057
	Amounts reclassified from AOCI		—			141			3,679			3,820

	Net other comprehensive (loss) income		(901	)		1,584			13,194			13,877

	AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2013	$	(6,661	)	$	871		$	(34,098	)	$	(39,888	)

Amounts Reclassified Out of AOCI into Income Statement	'
	The following table details the amounts reclassified out of AOCI into the income statement during the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2013 respectively:



	Details About AOCI Components	Amount Reclassified From AOCI			Affected Line Item In The Statement
		For the Twelve			Where Net Income Is Presented
		Months Ended
		December 31,
		2013
	Losses on interest rate swap cash flow hedges, before tax	$	228		Interest expense, net
			(87	)	Tax provision

		$	141		Net of tax

	Amortization of defined benefit pension plan items:
	Prior service cost and unrecognized loss	$	5,933		Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses
			(2,254	)	Tax provision

			3,679		Net of tax

	Total reclassifications for the period	$	3,820		Net of tax

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share	'

	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):



		Years Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Numerator:
	Net income	$	123,170	$	111,830	$	108,996
	Denominator:
	Denominator for basic earnings per share:		39,650		40,337		43,822
	Weighted average shares		39,650		40,337		43,822
	Effect of dilutive securities:
	Employee stock options and restricted units		586		654		1,192

	Denominator for diluted earnings per share:
	Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities		40,236		40,991		45,014

	Net income per common share:
	Net income per share—basic	$	3.11	$	2.77	$	2.49
	Net income per share—diluted	$	3.06	$	2.73	$	2.42

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Segment Information (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Net Sales by Product Category	'

	The following table shows net sales by product category for 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in millions):



			Years Ended December 31,
			2013		2012⁽¹⁾		2011⁽¹⁾
	Technology products		$	1,466,499	$	1,563,757	$	1,626,030
	Janitorial and breakroom supplies			1,335,414		1,282,370		1,222,225
	Traditional office products			1,310,571		1,366,368		1,360,702
	Industrial supplies			517,826		409,266		349,370
	Office furniture			312,298		324,668		324,974
	Freight revenue			105,567		99,319		88,893
	Other			37,118		34,358		33,307

	Total net sales		$	5,085,293	$	5,080,106	$	5,005,501



	-1	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. Such reclassifications include changes between several product categories due to several specific products being reclassified to different categories. These changes did not impact the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Debt (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Long-Term Debt Components	'

	Debt consisted of the following amounts (in millions):



			As of		As of
			December 31,		December 31,
			2013		2012
	2013 Credit Agreement		$	206.8	$	238.1
	2007 Master Note Purchase Agreement (Private Placement)			135		135
	Receivables Securitization Program			190.7		150
	Mortgage & Capital Lease			1.2		1.3

	Total		$	533.7	$	524.4

Schedule of Debt Maturities	'

	Debt maturities as of December 31, 2013, were as follows (in millions):



	Year		Amount
	2014⁽¹⁾		$	135.3
	2015			0.9
	2016			190.7
	2017			—
	Thereafter			206.8

	Total		$	533.7



	-1	The 2007 Note Purchase Agreement was repaid in January 2014 with a portion of the proceeds from the 2014 Notes.

Leases_Contractual_Obligations1

Leases, Contractual Obligations and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Leases, Contractual Obligations and Contingencies (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments under Operating Leases	'

	The Company has entered into non-cancelable long-term leases for certain property and equipment. Future minimum lease payments under operating leases in effect as of December 31, 2013 having initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year are as follows (in thousands):



	Year	Operating
	Year	Leases
	2014	$	46,885
	2015		43,095
	2016		35,167
	2017		26,187
	2018		19,517
	Thereafter		35,498

	Total required lease payments	$	206,349

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont1

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Reconciliation of Changes in Projected Benefit Obligation	'

	The following table sets forth the plans’ changes in Projected Benefit Obligation for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):



			2013			2012
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year		$	196,521		$	171,022
	Service cost—benefit earned during the period			1,479			962
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation			8,379			8,417
	Union plan amendments			—			309
	Actuarial (gain) loss			(16,373	)		19,432
	Benefits paid			(6,937	)		(3,622	)

	Benefit obligation at end of year		$	183,069		$	196,520

Schedule of Change in Plan Asset	'

	The following table sets forth the change in the plans’ assets for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):



			2013			2012
	Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year		$	145,563		$	120,295
	Actual return on plan assets			10,624			15,883
	Company contributions			13,000			13,007
	Benefits paid			(6,937	)		(3,622	)

	Fair value of plan assets at end of year		$	162,250		$	145,563

Schedule of Pension Plan Investment Allocations	'

	The Company’s pension plan investment allocations, as a percentage of the fair value of total plan assets, as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, by asset category are as follows:



	Asset Category		2013			2012
	Cash			1.2	%		1.1	%
	Equity securities			29.2	%		69.4	%
	Fixed income			42.5	%		17.7	%
	Real assets			16.6	%		11.8	%
	Hedge funds			10.5	%		—

	Total			100	%		100	%

Schedule of Fair Values of Pension Plan Assets	'

	The fair values of the Company’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2013 and 2012 by asset category are as follows:

	Fair Value Measurements at

	December 31, 2013 (in thousands)



	Asset Category					Total			Quoted Prices In			Significant		Significant
									Active Markets for			Observable		Unobservable
									Identical Assets			Inputs		Inputs
									(Level 1)			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Cash					$	1,888		$	1,888
	Equity Securities
	U.S. Large Cap			(a	)		17,380			17,380
	International Large Core			(b	)		7,650			7,650
	International Large Value			(j	)		7,598			7,598
	Emerging Markets			(c	)		8,502			8,502
	U.S. Small Value Fund			(d	)		5,058			5,058
	U.S. Small Growth Fund			(e	)		1,211			1,211
	Fixed Income
	U.S. Fixed Income			(g	)		69,070			69,070
	Real Assets
	Domestic Real Estate			(f	)		11,638			11,638
	Commodities			(h	)		15,246			15,246
	Hedge Funds
	Hedge Funds			(i	)		17,009					$	17,009

	Total					$	162,250		$	145,241		$	17,009	$	—




	Fair Value Measurements at

	December 31, 2012 (in thousands)



	Asset Category					Total			Quoted Prices In			Significant		Significant
									Active Markets for			Observable		Unobservable
									Identical Assets			Inputs		Inputs
									(Level 1)			(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Cash					$	1,537		$	1,537
	Equity Securities
	U.S. Large Cap			(a	)		41,669			41,669
	International Large Core			(b	)		33,673			33,673
	Emerging Markets			(c	)		11,314			11,314
	U.S. Small Value Fund			(k	)		7,255					$	7,255
	U.S. Small Growth Fund			(e	)		7,182			7,182
	Fixed Income
	U.S. Fixed Income			(g	)		25,720			25,720
	Real Assets
	Domestic Real Estate			(f	)		5,954			5,954
	Commodities			(h	)		11,259			11,259

	Total					$	145,563		$	138,308		$	7,255	$	—



	(a)	A separately managed, diversified portfolio consisting of publically traded large cap stocks. The portfolio is predominately comprised of U.S. companies but may also hold international company stock.
	(b)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded companies domiciled outside the U.S. and includes companies located in emerging market countries.
(c)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded companies domiciled in emerging market countries.
(d)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded, small capitalization companies that are considered value in style. The majority of holdings are domiciled in the U.S. though the fund may hold international stocks.
(e)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded, small capitalization companies that are considered growth in style. The majority of holdings are domiciled in the U.S. though the fund may hold international stocks.
(f)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded Real Estate Investment Trusts. This is an index mutual fund that tracks the Morgan Stanley REIT Index. The fund normally invests at least 98% of assets that are included in the Morgan Stanley REIT Index.
(g)	A separately managed fixed income portfolio utilized to match the duration of the Plan’s liabilities. This liability driven investment portfolio is comprised of Treasury securities including STRIPS and zero coupon bonds as well as high quality corporate bonds.
(h)	A daily valued mutual fund investment. This fund combines a commodities position, typically through swap agreements, with a portfolio of inflation indexed bonds and other fixed income securities. The commodities position is constructed to track the performance of the Dow Jones UBS Commodity Index.
(i)	A separately managed fund of hedge funds. This fund seeks attractive risk-adjusted returns through investments in a well-diversified group of managers that employ a variety of unique investment strategies. It targets low volatility and low correlation to traditional asset classes. This fund may allocate its assets among a select group of non-traditional portfolio managers that invest or trade in a wide range of securities and other instruments, including, but not limited to: equities and fixed income securities, currencies, commodities, futures contracts, options and other derivative instruments.
(j)	A daily valued open-ended mutual fund. This fund invests in common stocks of companies domiciled in countries outside of the U.S.
(k)	A daily valued commingled fund investment. The fund invests in publically traded, small capitalization companies that are considered value in style. The majority of holdings are domiciled in the U.S. though the fund may hold international stocks. The fund allows for monthly liquidity.
Schedule of Plan Funded Status	'

	The following table sets forth the plans’ funded status as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):



			2013			2012
	Funded status of the plan		$	(20,820	)	$	(50,957	)
	Unrecognized prior service cost			1,613			1,804
	Unrecognized net actuarial loss			53,158			74,557

	Net amount recognized		$	33,951		$	25,404

Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets	'

	Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets



			2013			2012
	Accrued benefit liability		$	(20,820	)	$	(50,957	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive income			54,771			76,361

	Net amount recognized		$	33,951		$	25,404
Schedule of Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'

	Net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 for pension and supplemental benefit plans includes the following components (in thousands):



			2013			2012			2011
	Service cost—benefit earned during the period		$	1,479		$	962		$	769
	Interest cost on projected benefit obligation			8,379			8,417			8,482
	Expected return on plan assets			(11,338	)		(10,005	)		(9,715	)
	Amortization of prior service cost			192			176			135
	Amortization of actuarial loss			5,741			6,194			1,940

	Net periodic pension cost		$	4,453		$	5,744		$	1,611

Schedule of Actuarial Assumptions for Discount Rates, Expected Long-Term Rates of Return on Plan Assets, and Rates of Increase in Compensation and Healthcare Costs	'

	The following tables summarize the Company’s actuarial assumptions for discount rates, expected long-term rates of return on plan assets, and rates of increase in compensation for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011:



			2013			2012			2011
	Pension plan assumptions:
	Assumed discount rate, general			4.95	%		4.3	%		5	%
	Assumed discount rate, union			5.1	%		4.45	%		5	%
	Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, general			7.3	%		7.75	%		7.75	%
	Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, union			7.75	%		7.75	%		7.75	%
Schedule of Estimated Future Benefit Payments	'

	The estimated future benefit payments under the Company’s pension plans are as follows (in thousands):



			Amounts
	2014		$	6,189
	2015			6,959
	2016			7,822
	2017			8,312
	2018			8,315
	2019-2023			53,095

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Provision for Income Taxes	'
	The provision for income taxes consisted of the following (in thousands):


			Years Ended December 31,
			2013			2012			2011
	Currently Payable
	Federal		$	70,234		$	65,835		$	40,268
	State			8,027			6,683			2,698

	Total currently payable			78,261			72,518			42,966
	Deferred, net—
	Federal			(3,891	)		(5,790	)		18,950
	State			(30	)		(923	)		1,964

	Total deferred, net			(3,921	)		(6,713	)		20,914

	Provision for income taxes		$	74,340		$	65,805		$	63,880
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rates Varied from Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate	'
	The Company’s effective income tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 varied from the statutory federal income tax rate as set forth in the following table (in thousands):


			Years Ended December 31,
			2013						2012						2011
			Amount			% of Pre-tax			Amount			% of Pre-tax			Amount			% of Pre-tax
			Amount			Income			Amount			Income			Amount			Income
	Tax provision based on the federal statutory rate		$	69,128			35	%	$	62,172			35	%	$	60,507			35	%
	State and local income taxes—net of federal income tax benefit			5,292			2.6	%		3,464			2	%		3,935			2.3	%
	Change in tax reserves and accrual adjustments			(69	)		(0.0	)%		(521	)		(0.4	)%		(924	)		(0.5	)%
	Non-deductible and other			(11	)		(0.0	)%		690			0.4	%		362			0.2	%

	Provision for income taxes		$	74,340			37.6	%	$	65,805			37	%	$	63,880			37	%
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities	'
	The sources of these differences and the related tax effects were as follows (in thousands):


			As of December 31,
			2013						2012
			Assets			Liabilities			Assets⁽¹⁾			Liabilities
	Accrued expenses		$	14,615		$	—		$	13,790		$	—
	Allowance for doubtful accounts			7,815			—			9,202			—
	Depreciation and amortization			—			28,282			—			28,707
	Intangibles arising from acquisitions			—			23,689			—			23,264
	Inventory reserves and adjustments			—			28,783			—			28,366
	Pension and post-retirement			7,319			—			15,485			—
	Interest rate swap			—			591			406			—
	Share-based compensation			5,750			—			7,148			—
	State income tax credits and net operating losses			5,539			—			5,007
	Restructuring costs			1,930			—			698			—
	Other			376			—			340			—

	Total Deferred			43,344			81,345			52,076			80,337

	Valuation Allowance			(2,791	)		—			(2,136	)		—

	Net Deferred		$	40,553		$	81,345		$	49,940		$	80,337


	-1	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. These changes did not impact the Consolidated Statements of Income
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits	'
	The following table shows the changes in gross unrecognized tax benefits, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):


			2013			2012			2011
	Beginning Balance, January 1		$	3,134		$	3,374		$	4,500
	Additions based on tax positions taken during a prior period			169			308			61
	Reductions based on tax positions taken during a prior period			(5	)		(11	)		(23	)
	Additions based on tax positions taken during the current period			389			451			291
	Reductions related to settlement of tax matters			(184	)		(490	)		(894	)
	Reductions related to lapses of applicable statutes of limitation			(395	)		(498	)		(561	)

	Ending Balance, December 31		$	3,108		$	3,134		$	3,374

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa1

Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplemental Cash Flow Elements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information	'
	In addition to the information provided in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the following are supplemental disclosures of cash flow information for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):


		Years Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Cash Paid During the Year For:
	Interest	$	12,385	$	22,563	$	26,463
	Income taxes, net		79,526		53,053		50,921

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows (in thousands):


		As of December 31,
		2013				2012
		Carrying		Fair Value		Carrying		Fair Value
		Amount		Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	22,326	$	22,326	$	30,919	$	30,919
	Accounts receivable, net		643,379		643,379		658,760		658,760
	Accounts payable		476,113		476,113		495,278		495,278
	Short-term interest rate swap liability		—		—		227		227
	Debt		533,697		533,697		524,376		524,376
	Long-term interest rate swap liability		—		—		846		846
	Long-term interest rate swap asset		599		599		—		—

Other_Assets_and_Liabilities_T

Other Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Other Assets and Liabilities (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Text Block [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Other Assets and Liabilities	'
	Other assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 were as follows (in thousands):


			As of December 31,
			2013		2012⁽¹⁾
	Other Long-Term Assets, net:
	Investment in deferred compensation		$	4,408	$	4,528
	Long-term notes receivable			14,063		10,368
	Equity investment			—		1,518
	Capitalized financing costs			3,391		2,523
	Long-term swap asset			599		—
	Other			3,115		1,323

	Total other long-term assets, net		$	25,576	$	20,260

	Other Long-Term Liabilities:
	Accrued pension obligation		$	20,820	$	50,957
	Deferred rent			18,654		18,606
	Deferred directors compensation			4,412		5,030
	Long-term swap liability			—		846
	Long-term income tax liability			3,482		3,700
	Long-term merger expenses			198		4,720
	Long-term workers compensation liability			6,876		5,591
	Other			5,345		4,726

	Total other long-term liabilities		$	59,787	$	94,176


	-1	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. These changes did not impact the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen1

Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Interest Rate Swap Agreements, Cash Flow Hedge	'

	This hedge was as follows (in thousands):



	As of December 31, 2013		Notional			Receive			Pay				Maturity Date				Fair Value Net
	As of December 31, 2013		Amount			Receive			Pay				Maturity Date				Asset⁽¹⁾
	July 2012 Swap Transaction		$	150,000			Floating 1-month LIBOR			1.054	%			July 18, 2017			$	599

	-1	This interest rate derivative qualify for hedge accounting and is in a net asset position. Therefore, the fair value of the interest rate derivative is included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Other Long-Term Assets”, with an offsetting component in “Stockholders’ Equity” as part of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss”.


	As of December 31, 2012		Notional			Receive			Pay				Maturity Date				Fair Value Net
	As of December 31, 2012		Amount			Receive			Pay				Maturity Date				Liability⁽²⁾
	November 2007 Swap Transaction		$	135,000			Floating 3-month LIBOR			4.674	%			January 15, 2013			$	227
	July 2012 Swap Transaction		$	150,000			Floating 1-month LIBOR			1.054	%			July 18, 2017			$	846

	-2	These interest rate derivatives qualify for hedge accounting and is in a net liability position. Therefore, the fair value of the interest rate derivatives are included in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Accrued liabilities” or “Other Long-Term Liabilities” depending on the maturity date of the instrument, with an offsetting component in “Stockholders’ Equity” as part of “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss”.
Schedule of Effect of Derivative Instruments on Income Statement	'

	The following table depicts the effect of these derivative instruments on the statements of income and comprehensive income for years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.



			Amount of Gain (Loss)						Location of Gain (Loss)		Amount of Gain
			Recognized in						Reclassified from		(Loss) Reclassified
			OCI on Derivative						Accumulated OCI into		from Accumulated OCI
			(Effective Portion)						Income (Effective		into Income
									Portion)		(Effective Portion)
			2013			2012					2013				2012
	November 2007 Swap Transaction		$	(77	)	$	(2,376	)	Interest expense, net		$	(228	)		$	(5,783	)
	December 2007 Swap Transaction			—			(1,335	)	Interest expense, net			—				(3,400	)
	March 2008 Swap Transaction			—			(535	)	Interest expense, net			—				(1,344	)
	July 2012 Swap Transaction			864			(562	)	Interest expense, net			—				—
	June 2013 Swap Transaction			569			—		Interest expense, net			—				—

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value

The Company evaluates its hierarchy disclosures each quarter. The following table summarizes the financial instruments measured at fair value in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):

Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2013

Quoted Market

Significant

Prices in

Other

Unobservable

Active Markets for

Observable

Inputs

Identical Assets or

Inputs

Liabilities

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Assets

Interest rate swap asset

599

—

599

—

Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2012

Quoted Market

Significant

Prices in

Other

Unobservable

Active Markets for

Observable

Inputs

Identical Assets or

Inputs

Liabilities

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Liabilities

Interest rate swap liability

1,073

—

1,073

—

Quarterly_Financial_DataUnaudi1

Quarterly Financial Data-Unaudited (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Quarterly Financial Data-Unaudited (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2013
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data	'
		First			Second			Third			Fourth			Total⁽¹⁾
		Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Total⁽¹⁾
			(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
	Year Ended December 31, 2013:
	Net sales		$	1,250,485		$	1,274,494		$	1,336,676		$	1,223,638		$	5,085,293

	Gross profit			188,525			201,936			203,661			195,456			789,578

	Net income⁽²⁾			13,874			34,670			40,501			34,125			123,170

	Net income per share—basic		$	0.35		$	0.87		$	1.03		$	0.86		$	3.11

	Net income per share—diluted		$	0.34		$	0.86		$	1.01		$	0.85		$	3.06

	Year Ended December 31, 2012:
	Net sales		$	1,271,647		$	1,275,710		$	1,288,675		$	1,244,074		$	5,080,106

	Gross profit			180,929			188,259			203,758			201,658			774,604

	Net income⁽³⁾			15,112			27,029			36,764			32,925			111,830

	Net income per share—basic		$	0.36		$	0.67		$	0.92		$	0.83		$	2.77

	Net income per share—diluted		$	0.36		$	0.66		$	0.91		$	0.81		$	2.73



	-1	As a result of changes in the number of common and common equivalent shares during the year, the sum of quarterly earnings per share will not necessarily equal earnings per share for the total year.
	-2	2013 results were impacted by the effects of a $13.0 million or $0.20 per diluted share workforce reduction and facility closure charge, and a non-tax deductible $1.2 million or $0.03 per diluted share asset impairment charge in the fourth quarter.
	-3	2012 results were impacted by a $6.2 million or $0.09 per diluted share network optimization and cost reduction charge in the first quarter.

Basis_of_Presentation_Addition

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Sep. 30, 2012

Jun. 30, 2012

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Mar. 31, 2011

Mar. 31, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2011

Jun. 30, 2010

Manufacturers_Distributors

Location

Product

Customer

Manufacturers_Distributors

Product

Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]

Net sales

$1,223,638,000

$1,336,676,000

$1,274,494,000

$1,250,485,000

$1,244,074,000

$1,288,675,000

$1,275,710,000

$1,271,647,000

$5,085,293,000

$5,080,106,000

$5,005,501,000

Number of items

140,000

Number of manufacturers

1,600

Number of distribution centers

Number of reseller customer

25,000

Acquisition purchase price

90,000,000

12,000,000

Acquisition through deferred payments

2,000,000

1,000,000

3,000,000

Acquisition earn out

3,000,000

Payment related to the first earn out

2,000,000

Net of Cash acquired

79,800,000

75,254,000

Indemnification period during acquisition

'2 years

Purchase Price

79,800,000

Goodwill

356,811,000

357,226,000

356,811,000

357,226,000

Valuation of goodwill

29,200,000

Intangible assets with definite lives

22,300,000

Liabilities, Intangibles arising from acquisitions

23,689,000

23,264,000

23,689,000

23,264,000

Weighted average useful life of amortizable intangibles

'23 years

Assets held for sale current

3,200,000

Weighted average useful lives

'0 years

Acquisition of minority interest

5,000,000

Asset impairment change

1,600,000

1,183,000

1,635,000

Write off of investment

1,200,000

Trademarks and Trade Names [Member]

Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]

Intangible assets with definite lives

2,900,000

Weighted average useful lives

'5 years

Customer Lists [Member]

Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]

Intangible assets with definite lives

18,600,000

Weighted average useful lives

'23 years

Non-compete Agreements [Member]

Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]

Intangible assets with definite lives

800,000

Weighted average useful lives

'4 years

O.K.I. Supply Co. [Member]

Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]

Amount payable related to an OKI acquisition

4,500,000

Goodwill

28,700,000

Contribution to the Company's net financial sales

20,500,000

Pro forma net sales

5,200,000

Pro forma net income

$112,600,000

$113,600,000

Basis_of_Presentation_Purchase

Basis of Presentation - Purchase Price Allocation (Detail) (O.K.I. Supply Co. [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
O.K.I. Supply Co. [Member]	'
Business Acquisition [Line Items]	'
Purchase Price, net of cash acquired	$79,754
Final Allocation of Purchase Price:	'
Accounts receivable	-20,517
Inventories	-32,170
Other current assets	-3,671
Property, plant and equipment	-7,859
Intangible assets	-22,250
Total assets acquired	-86,467
Trade accounts payable	11,975
Accrued liabilities	7,683
Deferred taxes	13,911
Debt	1,254
Long-term liabilities	639
Total liabilities assumed	35,462
Goodwill	$28,749

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	Plans	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of compensation plans	2	'	'
Percentage inventory valued under LIFO	76.00%	77.00%	'
Higher inventory if FIFO applied entirely	$112.40	$107.80	'
Increase (decrease) in cost of goods sold due to LIFO accounting method	4.6	11.7	11.4
Effect of LIFO inventory liquidation on income	0.6	3.3	4.2
LIFO expense related to inflation increase in cost of sales	5.2	15	15.6
Percentage inventory valued under FIFO	87.90%	'	'
Warehousing and administrative expenses charged to inventory	38	33.3	'
Pension expense	4.5	5.7	1.6
Outstanding checks	60.8	39.4	'
Minimum [Member] \| Fixtures And Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Estimated useful life	'2 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] \| Fixtures And Equipment [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Estimated useful life	'10 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] \| Building [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Estimated useful life	'40 years	'	'
Maximum [Member] \| Capitalized Software [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Estimated useful life	'10 years	'	'
Supplier Allowances [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Receivables related to supplier allowances	103.2	96.9	'
Customer Rebates [Member]	'	'	'
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accrued liabilities	$52.60	$56.30	'

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Schedule of Capitalized Software Included in Property, Plant and Equipment (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Regulatory Assets [Abstract]	'	'
Capitalized software development costs	$83,026	$77,308
Accumulated amortization	-59,257	-53,943
Net capitalized software development costs	$23,769	$23,365

ShareBased_Compensation_Additi

Share-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of share-based compensation plans	2	'	'
Closing sale price per share	$45.89	$30.99	$32.56
Term of stock options, in years	'10 years	'	'
Minimum payout based on economic profit performance against target economic profit goals	0.00%	'	'
Maximum payout based on economic profit performance against target economic profit goals	150.00%	'	'
Non Employee Directors [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Compensation expense, directors fees	$0.10	$0.20	$0.20
Accumulated number of stock units outstanding	56,737	62,421	89,285
Restricted stock and restricted stock units granted	23,898	41,051	39,314
Employee Stock Option [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Vesting period, in years	'3 years	'	'
Share-based compensation, weighed -average period for recognition	'2 years 3 months	'	'
LTIP [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Stock options granted	585,189	0	0
Unrecognized compensation cost	4.7	'	'
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Vesting period, in years	'3 years	'	'
Restricted stock and restricted stock units granted	181,916	461,512	30,097
Diluted earnings per share required to determine specific performance measure of stock awards	$0.50	'	'
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Vesting period, in years	'3 years	'	'
Share-based compensation, weighed -average period for recognition	'1 year 10 months 24 days	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	$14.20	'	'
Restricted stock and restricted stock units granted	166,348	245,736	332,888
Employees [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted stock and restricted stock units granted	194,517	426,064	147,843
Executive Officers [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted stock and restricted stock units granted	129,849	240,134	175,828
Terms of granting restricted stock and restricted stock units	'(1) the officer is still employed as of the anniversary date of the grant; and (2) the Company's cumulative diluted earnings per share for the four calendar quarters immediately preceding the vesting date exceed $0.50 per diluted share as defined in the officers' restricted stock agreement.	'	'

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Share-Based Compensation Expense (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'	'	'
Pre-tax expense	$10,808	$8,746	$15,734
Tax effect	-4,108	-3,323	-5,977
After tax expense	$6,700	$5,423	$9,757
Denominator for basic shares-Weighted average shares	39,650	40,337	43,822
Denominator for diluted shares-Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities	40,236	40,991	45,014
Net expense per share-basic	$0.17	$0.13	$0.22
Net expense per share-diluted	$0.17	$0.13	$0.22

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu1

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Options Outstanding, Exercisable (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'	'	'
Intrinsic Value of Options, Outstanding	$9,897	$8,420	$13,668
Intrinsic Value of Options, Exercisable	$6,262	$8,420	$13,668

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu2

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'	'	'
Intrinsic Value of Options Exercised	$13,676	$2,380	$8,911

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu3

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares Outstanding (Detail) (Restricted Shares [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restricted Shares [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares	$47,780	$40,222	$32,634

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu4

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares Vested (Detail) (Restricted Shares [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restricted Shares [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Intrinsic Value of Restricted Shares Vested	$12,414	$8,812	$27,576

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu5

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Valuation Techniques Assumptions (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Weighted average expected term	'5 years 7 months 6 days
Expected volatility, minimum	40.01%
Expected volatility, maximum	40.49%
Weighted average volatility	40.48%
Weighted average expected dividends	1.46%
Risk-free rate, minimum	0.76%
Risk-free rate, maximum	1.62%

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu6

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Stock Options (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'	'	'
Options outstanding - Beginning Balance, Shares	1,371,850	1,715,380	2,563,708
Granted, Shares	585,189	'	'
Exercised, Shares	-1,065,920	-217,634	-847,528
Cancelled, Shares	-78,959	-125,896	-800
Options outstanding - Ending Balance, Shares	812,160	1,371,850	1,715,380
Number of options exercisable, Shares	305,930	1,371,850	1,715,380
Options outstanding - Beginning Balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$24.86	$24.62	$24.18
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$38.71	'	'
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$24.69	$18.69	$23.26
Cancelled, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$38.69	$32.35	$29.51
Options outstanding - Ending Balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$33.70	$24.86	$24.62
Number of options exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$25.42	$24.86	$24.62

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu7

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Outstanding and Exercisable Options Granted (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Outstanding	812,160
Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	'6 years 9 months 18 days
Exercisable	305,930
20.00-25.00 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Lower exercise price	20
Upper exercise price	25
Outstanding	201,684
Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	'2 years 3 months 18 days
Exercisable	201,684
25.01-30.00 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Lower exercise price	25.01
Upper exercise price	30
Outstanding	102,000
Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	'3 years 8 months 12 days
Exercisable	102,000
30.01-35.00 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Lower exercise price	30.01
Upper exercise price	35
Outstanding	2,246
Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	'3 years 4 months 24 days
Exercisable	2,246
35.01-40.00 [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Lower exercise price	35.01
Upper exercise price	40
Outstanding	506,230
Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	'9 years 3 months 18 days
Exercisable	'

ShareBased_Compensation_Schedu8

Share-Based Compensation - Schedule of Restricted Stock and RSU Grants and Changes (Detail) (Restricted Stock and RSUs [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restricted Stock and RSUs [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Beginning Balance, Shares outstanding	1,297,906	1,002,125	1,562,626
Granted, Shares	348,264	707,249	362,985
Vested, Shares	-323,159	-324,345	-853,384
Cancelled, Shares	-281,822	-87,123	-70,102
Ending Balance, Shares outstanding	1,041,189	1,297,906	1,002,125
Shares outstanding - Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$28.61	$26.42	$20.13
Granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$38.28	$27.84	$30.81
Vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$37.02	$22	$17.14
Cancelled, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$30.04	$28.16	$21.97
Shares outstanding - Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$31.24	$28.61	$26.42

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets2

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Goodwill	$356,811,000	$357,226,000	'
Intangible assets, net	65,502,000	67,192,000	'
Amortization of intangible assets purchased	6,985,000	6,083,000	5,126,000
Accumulated amortization of intangible assets	38,858,000	32,058,000	'
Trademarks [Member]	'	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets	$700,000	'	'

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets3

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Summary of Intangible Assets of Company by Major Class (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	$92,060	$86,950
Intangible Assets, Gross Carrying Amount	104,360	99,250
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Accumulated Amortization	-38,858	-32,058
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Net Carrying Amount	53,202	54,892
Intangible Assets, Net Carrying Amount	65,502	67,192
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	'0 years	'0 years
Customer Relationships And Other Intangibles [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	84,470	79,170
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Accumulated Amortization	-36,232	-30,369
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Net Carrying Amount	48,238	48,801
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	'17 years	'14 years
Non-compete Agreements [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	4,700	4,740
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Accumulated Amortization	-1,952	-1,588
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Net Carrying Amount	2,748	3,152
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	'4 years	'4 years
Trademark [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	2,890	3,040
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Accumulated Amortization	-674	-101
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Net Carrying Amount	2,216	2,939
Intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted Average Useful Life (years)	'5 years	'5 years
Trademarks [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Intangible assets not subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	12,300	12,300
Intangible assets not subject to amortization, Gross Carrying Amount	$12,300	$12,300

Goodwill_and_Intangible_Assets4

Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Summary of Amortization Expense Expected to be Incurred Over Next Five Years on Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
2014	$6,486
2015	6,371
2016	6,273
2017	6,176
2018	$3,969

Severance_and_Restructuring_Ch1

Severance and Restructuring Charges - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Workforce Reduction and Facility Closure Program [Member]

Distribution Network Optimization and Cost Reduction Program [Member]

Facility Closure Cost [Member]

Severance and Related Expense [Member]

Severance and Restructuring Charges [Member]

Workforce Reduction and Facility Closure Program [Member]

Distribution Network Optimization and Cost Reduction Program [Member]

Workforce Reduction and Facility Closure Program [Member]

Distribution Network Optimization and Cost Reduction Program [Member]

Workforce Reduction and Facility Closure Program [Member]

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

Pre-tax charge

$14.40

$6.20

$1.20

$2.60

$13.20

$3.60

Cash outlays associated with severance

8.6

0.6

2.1

1.1

1.9

Reversal of severance charges

0.3

1.4

Accrued liabilities

$4.40

$0.20

$1.90

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Change in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) by Component, Net of Tax (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]	'	'	'
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2012	($53,765)	'	'
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	10,057	'	'
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	3,820	'	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	13,877	2,641	-13,239
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2013	-39,888	-53,765	'
Foreign Currency Translation [Member]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]	'	'	'
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2012	-5,760	'	'
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	-901	'	'
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	'	'	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	-901	'	'
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2013	-6,661	'	'
Losses on interest rate swap cash flow hedges, before tax [Member]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]	'	'	'
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2012	-713	'	'
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	1,443	'	'
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	141	'	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,584	'	'
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2013	871	'	'
Amortization of defined benefit pension plan items [Member]	'	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Line Items]	'	'	'
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2012	-47,292	'	'
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	9,515	'	'
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	3,679	'	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	13,194	'	'
AOCI, balance as of December 31, 2013	($34,098)	'	'

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv3

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Amounts Reclassified Out of AOCI into Income Statement (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses	($580,428)	($573,693)	($541,752)
Tax provision	-74,340	-65,805	-63,880
Amount Reclassified From AOCI [Member]	'	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'
Net of tax	3,820	'	'
Amount Reclassified From AOCI [Member] \| Losses on interest rate swap cash flow hedges, before tax [Member]	'	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'
Tax provision	-87	'	'
Net of tax	141	'	'
Amount Reclassified From AOCI [Member] \| Amortization of defined benefit pension plan items [Member]	'	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'
Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses	5,933	'	'
Tax provision	-2,254	'	'
Net of tax	3,679	'	'
Amount Reclassified From AOCI [Member] \| Interest Rate Swap [Member] \| Losses on interest rate swap cash flow hedges, before tax [Member]	'	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'
Interest expense, net	$228	'	'

Earnings_Per_Share_Additional_

Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share amount	'	500,000	500,000	100,000
Additional authorized repurchase amount	$93,000,000	'	'	'
Number of shares repurchased	'	1,684,365	2,454,037	'
Repurchase of common stock, value	'	$62,056,000	$69,908,000	$159,547,000
Treasury stock reissued, shares	'	1,086,502	619,664	970,749

Earnings_Per_Share_Schedule_of

Earnings Per Share - Schedule of Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$123,170	$111,830	$108,996
Denominator for basic earnings per share: Weighted average shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	39,650	40,337	43,822
Employee stock options and restricted units	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	586	654	1,192
Denominator for diluted earnings per share: Adjusted weighted average shares and the effect of dilutive securities	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	40,236	40,991	45,014
Net income per share-basic	$0.86	$1.03	$0.87	$0.35	$0.83	$0.92	$0.67	$0.36	$3.11	$2.77	$2.49
Net income per share-diluted	$0.85	$1.01	$0.86	$0.34	$0.81	$0.91	$0.66	$0.36	$3.06	$2.73	$2.42

Segment_Information_Additional

Segment Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Supplier	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$1,223,638,000	$1,336,676,000	$1,274,494,000	$1,250,485,000	$1,244,074,000	$1,288,675,000	$1,275,710,000	$1,271,647,000	$5,085,293,000	$5,080,106,000	$5,005,501,000
Number of supplier accounted for more than specified purchases	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	0	'	'
Minimum Percentage of Purchases by single supplier	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	5.00%	'	'
Percentage of single customers accounted for specified net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	10.00%	'	'
Sales [Member] \| WB Mason [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of consolidated net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	11.00%	'	'
Hewlett Packard [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of total purchases accounted by largest supplier	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	24.00%	'	'
Lexmark International Inc [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Percentage of total purchases accounted by largest supplier	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	7.00%	'	'
MEXICO [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	138,200,000	112,500,000	111,700,000
Long-lived assets	$13,800,000	'	'	'	$13,100,000	'	'	'	$13,800,000	$13,100,000	$4,700,000

Segment_Information_Schedule_o

Segment Information - Schedule of Net Sales by Product Category (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$1,223,638	$1,336,676	$1,274,494	$1,250,485	$1,244,074	$1,288,675	$1,275,710	$1,271,647	$5,085,293	$5,080,106	$5,005,501
Technology products [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,466,499	1,563,757	1,626,030
Janitorial and breakroom supplies [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,335,414	1,282,370	1,360,702
Traditional office products [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	1,310,571	1,366,368	1,222,225
Industrial supplies [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	517,826	409,266	349,370
Office furniture [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	312,298	324,668	324,974
Freight revenue [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	105,567	99,319	88,893
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	$37,118	$34,358	$33,307

Debt_Schedule_of_LongTerm_Debt

Debt - Schedule of Long-Term Debt Components (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
2007 Master Note Purchase Agreement (Private Placement)	$135,000,000	$135,000,000
Receivables Securitization Program	190,700,000	150,000,000
Mortgage & Capital Lease	1,200,000	1,300,000
Total	533,324,000	524,376,000
2013 Credit Agreement [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
2013 Credit Agreement	$206,800,000	$238,100,000

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Sep. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

BasisPoint

Receivables Securitization Program [Member]

Senior Secured Notes [Member]

Note Purchase Agreement 2013 [Member]

2013 Swap Transaction [Member]

2011 Credit Agreement [Member]

2013 Credit Agreement [Member]

Capital Lease Obligations [Member]

Mortgages [Member]

USR [Member]

Letters of Credit [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Unspecified [Member]

Note Purchase Agreement Replacement [Member]

Receivables Securitization Program [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

Maturity date of debt instrument

'2015

Percentage of outstanding debt priced at variable interest rates

100.00%

Effective interest rate

1.30%

3.66%

Maximum basis-point change that would not affect annual interest expense

Effect of 50 basis point increase or decrease in annualized interest expense, on a pre-tax basis

$2,700,000

Maximum amount of financing upon amendment of program

200,000,000

Maximum borrowing capacity

150,000,000

700,000,000

Receivables sold to Investors

355,400,000

400,200,000

355,400,000

400,200,000

Credit facility

190,700,000

150,000,000

Issuance of senior secured notes

1,000,000,000

Senior Secured notes

135,000,000

150,000,000

Maturity date of debt instrument

15-Oct-14

15-Jan-21

Basis spread on variable rate

1.30%

3.75%

1.00%

2.00%

1.00%

2.00%

Credit agreement expiry date

6-Jul-18

Outstanding letters of credit

9,400,000

11,100,000

Potential maximum committed principal amount

1,050,000,000

Alternate base rate loans rates

0.00%

1.00%

0.00%

1.00%

LIBOR-based loans rate

1.25%

Alternate base rate loans rate

0.25%

Percentage of lenders fee on unutilized portion borrowing facility

4.00%

0.15%

0.35%

0.15%

0.35%

Outside indebtedness permitted under facility

300,000,000

135,000,000

200,000,000

Proceed from sale of Note

$15,000,000

Leverage ratio

3.5

Debt_Schedule_of_Debt_Maturiti

Debt - Schedule of Debt Maturities (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
2014	$135.30
2015	0.9
2016	190.7
2017	'
Thereafter	206.8
Total	$533.70

Leases_Contractual_Obligations2

Leases, Contractual Obligations and Contingencies - Schedule of Future Minimum Lease Payments under Operating Leases (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Leases [Abstract]	'
2014	$46,885
2015	43,095
2016	35,167
2017	26,187
2018	19,517
Thereafter	35,498
Total required lease payments	$206,349

Leases_Contractual_Obligations3

Leases, Contractual Obligations and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Leases [Abstract]	'	'	'
Operating lease expense	$46.30	$48.50	$50.10

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont2

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Accumulated benefit obligation	$183,069,000	$196,520,000	$171,022,000
Compensation increase rate	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Cash contribution to pension plans in next fiscal year	2,000,000	'	'
Company contributions	5,300,000	5,300,000	5,100,000
Pension Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Active associates in the pension plan	2,800	'	'
Accumulated benefit obligation	183,100,000	196,500,000	'
Estimated net actuarial loss that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,800,000	'	'
Estimated prior service cost that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss	$200,000	'	'
Pension Plans [Member] \| General Plan Assets [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Target allocations for plan assets	23.00%	'	'
Pension Plans [Member] \| General Plan Assets [Member] \| Fixed Income [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Target allocations for plan assets	50.00%	'	'
Pension Plans [Member] \| General Plan Assets [Member] \| Domestic Real Estate [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Target allocations for plan assets	17.00%	'	'
Pension Plans [Member] \| General Plan Assets [Member] \| Hedge Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Target allocations for plan assets	10.00%	'	'
Pension Plans [Member] \| Union Plan Assets [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Target allocations for plan assets	50.00%	'	'
Pension Plans [Member] \| Union Plan Assets [Member] \| Fixed Income [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Target allocations for plan assets	20.00%	'	'
Pension Plans [Member] \| Union Plan Assets [Member] \| Domestic Real Estate [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Target allocations for plan assets	20.00%	'	'
Pension Plans [Member] \| Union Plan Assets [Member] \| Hedge Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Target allocations for plan assets	10.00%	'	'

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont3

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Reconciliation of Changes in Projected Benefit Obligation (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$196,520	$171,022
Service cost-benefit earned during the period	1,479	962
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	8,379	8,417
Union plan amendments	'	309
Actuarial (gain) loss	-16,373	19,432
Benefits paid	-6,937	-3,622
Benefit obligation at end of year	$183,069	$196,520

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont4

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Change in Plan Assets (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$145,563	'
Benefits paid	-6,937	-3,622
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	162,250	145,563
Pension Plans [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	145,563	120,295
Actual return on plan assets	10,624	15,883
Company contributions	13,000	13,007
Benefits paid	-6,937	-3,622
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$162,250	$145,563

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont5

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Pension Plan Investment Allocations (Detail) (Pension Plans [Member])	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined benefit plan, asset allocations	100.00%	100.00%
Cash [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined benefit plan, asset allocations	1.20%	1.10%
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined benefit plan, asset allocations	29.20%	69.40%
Fixed Income [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined benefit plan, asset allocations	42.50%	17.70%
Real Assets [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined benefit plan, asset allocations	16.60%	11.80%
Hedge Funds [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined benefit plan, asset allocations	10.50%	'

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont6

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Fair Values of Pension Plan Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	$162,250	$145,563
Cash [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	1,888	1,537
U.S. Large Cap [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	17,380	41,669
International Large Core [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	7,650	33,673
International Large Value [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	7,598	'
Emerging Markets [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	8,502	11,314
U.S. Small Value Fund [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	5,058	7,255
U.S. Small Growth Fund [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	1,211	7,182
U.S. Fixed Income [Member] \| Fixed Income [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	69,070	25,720
Domestic Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	11,638	5,954
Commodities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	15,246	'
Hedge Funds [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	17,009	'
Commodities/U.S. Fixed Income [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	11,259
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	145,241	138,308
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| Cash [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	1,888	1,537
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| U.S. Large Cap [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	17,380	41,669
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| International Large Core [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	7,650	33,673
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| International Large Value [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	7,598	'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| Emerging Markets [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	8,502	11,314
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| U.S. Small Value Fund [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	5,058	'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| U.S. Small Growth Fund [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	1,211	7,182
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| U.S. Fixed Income [Member] \| Fixed Income [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	69,070	25,720
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| Domestic Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	11,638	5,954
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| Commodities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	15,246	'
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member] \| Commodities/U.S. Fixed Income [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	11,259
Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	17,009	7,255
Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member] \| U.S. Small Value Fund [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	7,255
Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member] \| Hedge Funds [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	17,009	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| Cash [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| U.S. Large Cap [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| International Large Core [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| International Large Value [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| Emerging Markets [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| U.S. Small Value Fund [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| U.S. Small Growth Fund [Member] \| Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| U.S. Fixed Income [Member] \| Fixed Income [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| Domestic Real Estate [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| Commodities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| Hedge Funds [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member] \| Commodities/U.S. Fixed Income [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Total Fair value of plan assets	'	'

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont7

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Fair Values of Pension Plan Assets (Parenthetical) (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Sale Of Subsidiary [Abstract]	'
Minimum investment for funding in assets	98.00%

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont8

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Plan Funded Status (Detail) (Pension Plans [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension Plans [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Funded status of the plan	($20,820)	($50,957)
Unrecognized prior service cost	1,613	1,804
Unrecognized net actuarial loss	53,158	74,557
Net amount recognized	$33,951	$25,404

Pension_Plans_and_Defined_Cont9

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Consolidated Balance Sheets (Detail) (Pension Plans [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension Plans [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Accrued benefit liability	($20,820)	($50,957)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	54,771	76,361
Net amount recognized	$33,951	$25,404

Recovered_Sheet1

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Service cost-benefit earned during the period	$1,479	$962	'
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	8,379	8,417	'
Pension Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Service cost-benefit earned during the period	1,479	962	769
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	8,379	8,417	8,482
Expected return on plan assets	-11,338	-10,005	-9,715
Amortization of prior service cost	192	176	135
Amortization of actuarial loss	5,741	6,194	1,940
Net periodic pension cost	$4,453	$5,744	$1,611

Recovered_Sheet2

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Actuarial Assumptions for Discount Rates, Expected Long-Term Rates of Return on Plan Assets, and Rates of Increase in Compensation and Healthcare Costs (Detail) (Pension Plans [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Assumed discount rate, general	4.95%	4.30%	5.00%
Assumed discount rate, union	5.10%	4.45%	5.00%
General Plan Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	7.30%	7.75%	7.75%
Union Plan Assets [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	7.75%	7.75%	7.75%

Recovered_Sheet3

Pension Plans and Defined Contribution Plan - Schedule of Estimated Future Benefit Payments (Detail) (Pension Plans [Member], USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension Plans [Member]	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
2014	$6,189
2015	6,959
2016	7,822
2017	8,312
2018	8,315
2019-2023	$53,095

Preferred_Stock_Additional_Inf

Preferred Stock - Additional Information (Detail)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract]	'	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	15	'
Preferred stock outstanding	0	0

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Provi

Income Taxes - Schedule of Provision for Income Taxes (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Currently Payable Federal	$70,234	$65,835	$40,268
Currently Payable, State	8,027	6,683	2,698
Total currently payable	78,261	72,518	42,966
Deferred, net-Federal	-3,891	-5,790	18,950
Deferred, net-State	-30	-923	1,964
Total deferred, net	-3,921	-6,713	20,914
Provision for income taxes	$74,340	$65,805	$63,880

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Effec

Income Taxes - Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rates Varied from Statutory Federal Income Tax Rate (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Tax provision based on the federal statutory rate, Amount	$69,128	$62,172	$60,507
State and local income taxes-net of federal income tax benefit, Amount	5,292	3,464	3,935
Change in tax reserves and accrual adjustments, Amount	-69	-521	-924
Non-deductible and other, Amount	-11	690	362
Provision for income taxes	$74,340	$65,805	$63,880
% of Pre-tax Income of Tax provision based on the federal statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
% of Pre-tax Income of State and local income taxes-net of federal income tax benefit	2.60%	2.00%	2.30%
% of Pre-tax Income of Change in tax reserves and accrual adjustments	0.00%	-0.40%	-0.50%
% of Pre-tax Income of Non-deductible and other	0.00%	0.40%	0.20%
% of Pre-tax Income of Provision for income taxes	37.60%	37.00%	37.00%

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Defer

Income Taxes - Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Assets, Accrued expenses	$14,615	$13,790
Assets, Allowance for doubtful accounts	7,815	9,202
Assets, Depreciation and amortization	'	'
Assets, Intangibles arising from acquisitions	'	'
Assets, Inventory reserves and adjustments	'	'
Assets, Pension and post-retirement	7,319	15,485
Assets, Interest swap	'	406
Assets, Share-based compensation	5,750	7,148
Assets, state income tax credits and net operating losses	5,539	5,007
Assets, Restructuring costs	1,930	698
Assets, Other	376	340
Total Deferred	43,344	52,076
Valuation Allowance	-2,791	-2,136
Net Deferred, Assets	40,553	49,940
Liabilities, Accrued expenses	'	'
Liabilities, Allowance for doubtful accounts	'	'
Liabilities, Depreciation and amortization	28,282	28,707
Liabilities, Intangibles arising from acquisitions	23,689	23,264
Liabilities, Inventory reserves and adjustments	28,783	28,366
Liabilities, Pension and post-retirement	'	'
Liabilities, Interest rate swap	591	'
Liabilities, Share-based compensation	'	'
Liabilities, State income tax credits and net operating losses	'	'
Liabilities, Restructuring costs	'	'
Liabilities, Other	'	'
Total Deferred	81,345	80,337
Valuation Allowance	'	'
Net Deferred Liabilities	$81,345	$80,337

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net operating losses carry forward expiration date	31-Dec-33	'	'	'
Gross unrecognized tax benefits	$3,108,000	$3,134,000	$3,374,000	$4,500,000
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate	3,100,000	3,100,000	3,400,000	'
Gross amount of interest and penalties	0	100,000	300,000	'
Accrued for potential payment of interest and penalties	600,000	600,000	'	'
Gross unrecognized tax benefit change in next 12 months, minimum	0	'	'	'
Gross unrecognized tax benefit change in next 12 months, maximum	$1,200,000	'	'	'
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
State tax credits carry forward expiration date	31-Dec-18	'	'	'

Income_Taxes_Schedule_of_Unrec

Income Taxes - Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Beginning Balance, January 1	$3,134	$3,374	$4,500
Additions based on tax positions taken during a prior period	169	308	61
Reductions based on tax positions taken during a prior period	-5	-11	-23
Additions based on tax positions taken during the current period	389	451	291
Reductions related to settlement of tax matters	-184	-490	-894
Reductions related to lapses of applicable statutes of limitation	-395	-498	-561
Ending Balance, December 31	$3,108	$3,134	$3,374

Supplemental_Cash_Flow_Informa2

Supplemental Cash Flow Information - Schedule of Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Interest	$12,385	$22,563	$26,463
Income taxes, net	$79,526	$53,053	$50,921

Other_Income_Expense_Net_Addit

Other (Income) Expense, Net - Additional Information (Detail) (MBS Dev [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
MBS Dev [Member]	'
Component of Operating Other Cost and Expense [Abstract]	'
Reversal of prior acquisition earn-out and deferred payment	$1.90

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru2

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - Schedule of Estimated Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Carrying Amount [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$22,326	$30,919
Accounts receivable, net	643,379	658,760
Accounts payable	476,113	495,278
Short-term interest rate swap liability	'	227
Debt	533,697	524,376
Long-term interest rate swap liability	'	846
Long-term interest rate swap asset	599	'
Fair Value [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	22,326	30,919
Accounts receivable, net	643,379	658,760
Accounts payable	476,113	495,278
Short-term interest rate swap liability	'	227
Debt	533,697	524,376
Long-term interest rate swap liability	'	846
Long-term interest rate swap asset	$599	'

Other_Assets_and_Liabilities_S

Other Assets and Liabilities - Schedule of Other Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Other Long-Term Assets, net:	'	'
Investment in deferred compensation	$4,408	$4,528
Long-term notes receivable	14,063	10,368
Equity investment	'	1,518
Capitalized financing costs	3,391	2,523
Long-term swap asset	599	'
Other	3,115	1,323
Total other long-term assets, net	25,576	20,260
Other Long-Term Liabilities:	'	'
Accrued pension obligation	20,820	50,957
Deferred rent	18,654	18,606
Deferred directors compensation	4,412	5,030
Long-term swap liability	'	846
Long-term income tax liability	3,482	3,700
Long-term merger expenses	198	4,720
Long-term workers compensation liability	6,876	5,591
Other	5,345	4,726
Total other long-term liabilities	$59,787	$94,176

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen2

Derivative Financial Instruments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2012
	Swap	Note Purchase Agreement 2013 [Member]	Forward Contracts [Member]	Forward Contracts [Member]	Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of swap transactions	5	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative contract period	'	'	'7 months	'2 years	'7 years	'3 years
Gain realized by the company	'	$900,000	'	'	'	'
Swap transaction gain to be reclassified during next 12 months	'	100,000	'	'	'	'
Fair value of net Asset	600,000	'	'	'	'	'
Minimum debt default amount	$25,000,000	'	'	'	'	'

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen3

Derivative Financial Instruments - Schedule of Interest Rate Swap Agreements, Cash Flow Hedges (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Fair Value Net Asset	$599	'
Fair Value Net Liability	'	1,073
July 2012 Swap Transaction [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Notional Amount, Asset	150,000	'
Notional Amount, Liability	'	150,000
Receive	'Floating 1-month LIBOR	'Floating 1-month LIBOR
Pay	1.05%	1.05%
Maturity Date	18-Jul-17	18-Jul-17
Fair Value Net Asset	599	'
Fair Value Net Liability	'	846
November 2007 Swap Transaction [Member]	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'
Notional Amount, Liability	'	135,000
Receive	'	'Floating 3-month LIBOR
Pay	'	4.67%
Maturity Date	'	15-Jan-13
Fair Value Net Liability	'	$227

Derivative_Financial_Instrumen4

Derivative Financial Instruments - Schedule of Effect of Derivative Instruments on Income Statement (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
November 2007 Swap Transaction [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	($77)	($2,376)
November 2007 Swap Transaction [Member] \| Interest expense, net [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	-228	-5,783
December 2007 Swap Transaction [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	'	-1,335
December 2007 Swap Transaction [Member] \| Interest expense, net [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	'	-3,400
March 2008 Swap Transaction [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	'	-535
March 2008 Swap Transaction [Member] \| Interest expense, net [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income (Effective Portion)	'	-1,344
July 2012 Swap Transaction [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	864	-562
June 2013 Swap Transaction [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	$569	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Schedu

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Financial Instruments Measured at Fair Value (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate swap asset	$599	'
Interest rate swap liability	'	1,073
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets or Liabilities Level 1 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate swap liability	'	'
Significant Other Observable Inputs Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate swap asset	599	'
Interest rate swap liability	'	1,073
Significant Unobservable Inputs Level 3 [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate swap liability	'	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'
Carrying amount of accounts receivable under Current Receivables Securitization Program, which also approximates fair value	$355.40	$400.20

Quarterly_Financial_DataUnaudi2

Quarterly Financial Data-Unaudited - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$1,223,638	$1,336,676	$1,274,494	$1,250,485	$1,244,074	$1,288,675	$1,275,710	$1,271,647	$5,085,293	$5,080,106	$5,005,501
Gross profit	195,456	203,661	201,936	188,525	201,658	203,758	188,259	180,929	789,578	774,604	740,079
Net income	$34,125	$40,501	$34,670	$13,874	$32,925	$36,764	$27,029	$15,112	$123,170	$111,830	$108,996
Net income per share-basic	$0.86	$1.03	$0.87	$0.35	$0.83	$0.92	$0.67	$0.36	$3.11	$2.77	$2.49
Net income per share-diluted	$0.85	$1.01	$0.86	$0.34	$0.81	$0.91	$0.66	$0.36	$3.06	$2.73	$2.42

Quarterly_Financial_DataUnaudi3

Quarterly Financial Data-Unaudited - Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
				Distribution Network Optimization and Cost Reduction Program [Member]	Workforce Reduction and Facility Closure Program [Member]	Workforce Reduction and Facility Closure Program [Member]
						Asset Impairment [Member]
Schedule Of Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Severance and Restructuring Charges	'	'	'	$6,200,000	$13,000,000	'
Restructuring activities impact on diluted earnings per share	'	'	'	$0.09	$0.20	$0.03
Asset impairment charge	$1,600,000	$1,183,000	$1,635,000	'	$1,200,000	'

Valuation_and_Qualifying_Accou

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) (Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]	'	'	'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance at Beginning of Period	$22,716	$28,323	$29,079
Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses	4,888	5,232	9,359
Deductions	-6,504	-8,490	-10,115
Reclassifications	-492	-2,349	'
Balance at End of Period	$20,608	$22,716	$28,323