Blyth (BTH) 10-K 16 Mar 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_And_Entity_Informatio

Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	BLYTH INC
Entity Central Index Key	921503
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,082,230
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$70.40
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$94,329	$106,933
Short-term investments	18,961	7,985
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful receivables of $5,481 and $3,932, respectively	11,133	12,556
Inventories	45,784	54,682
Prepaid assets	15,168	17,281
Other current assets	7,515	6,483
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current		34,208
Total current assets	192,890	240,128
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
Land and buildings	85,788	89,575
Leasehold improvements	6,371	6,460
Machinery and equipment	76,147	79,479
Office furniture, data processing equipment and software	51,063	51,988
Construction in progress	1,184	838
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	220,553	228,340
Less accumulated depreciation	152,287	151,514
Property, plant and equipment, at cost: Less accumulated depreciation of $141,739 and $144,028, respectively	68,266	76,826
Other assets:
Investments	7,951	1,070
Goodwill	2,298	2,298
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $15,372 and $15,186, respectively	6,593	6,780
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Noncurrent	624	4,369
Other assets	8,731	7,763
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Noncurrent		27,607
Total other assets	26,197	49,887
Total assets	287,353	366,841
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt	50,907	952
Accounts payable	23,358	27,327
Accrued expenses	41,327	40,931
Income taxes payable	1,193	669
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current	4,086	648
Other current liabilities	8,387	9,604
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Current		23,966
Total current liabilities	129,258	104,097
Long-term debt, less current maturities	4,556	55,326
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent	7,309	0
Other liabilities	12,087	13,922
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Noncurrent	0	147,468
Stockholders' equity:
Common Stock, Value, Issued	533	532
Common stock - authorized 50,000,000 shares of $0.02 par value; issued 26,642,250 shares and 26,574,031 shares, respectively	169,897	168,732
Additional contributed capital	403,463	312,036
Retained earnings	11,849	16,362
Accumulated other comprehensive income	-452,171	-452,040
Treasury stock, at cost, 10,572,020 shares and 10,557,342 shares, respectively	133,571	45,622
Total stockholders' equity	572	406
Noncontrolling interest	134,143	46,028
Total equity	$287,353	$366,841

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance for doubtful receivables	$5,481	$3,932
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$15,372	$15,186
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, par value	$0.02	$0.02
Common stock, shares issued	26,642,250	26,574,031
Treasury stock, shares	10,572,020	10,557,342

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Ear

Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net sales	$490,020		$534,262	$555,980	[1]
Cost of goods sold	182,780		199,586	212,677
Gross profit	307,240		334,676	343,303
Selling	223,742		240,943	249,231
Administrative and other expense	76,401		81,843	90,057
Total operating expense	300,143		322,786	339,288
Operating profit	7,097	[2]	11,890	4,015	[1],[2]
Other expense (income):
Interest expense	7,042		6,042	6,062
Interest income	-453		-616	-1,707
Foreign exchange and other, net	4,020		-72	-691
Total other expense	10,609		5,354	3,664
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	-3,512	[2]	6,536	351	[1],[2]
Income tax expense (benefit)	21,071		6,736	-2,650
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	-24,583		-200	3,001
Discontinued Operation, Amount of Other Income (Loss) from Disposition of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	-7,231		2,946	35,742
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	118,918		0	5,540
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	111,687		2,946	41,282
Net earnings from discontinued operations	87,104		2,746	44,283
Net earnings	343		313	281
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	-86,761		-2,433	-44,002
Net earnings from discontinued operations
Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	($1.55)	[3]	($0.03)	$0.16
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	$6.93	[3]	$0.18	$2.40
Diluted earnings per share:	$5.38	[3]	$0.15	$2.56
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	16,112	[3]	16,196	17,180
Net earnings from discontinued operations
Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	($1.54)	[3]	($0.03)	$0.16
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	$6.91	[3]	$0.18	$2.39
Cash dividend declared per share	$5.37	[3]	$0.15	$2.55
Retained Earnings
Other expense (income):
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests			($2,433)	($44,002)
[1]	As adjusted for discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[2]	For the year ended December 31, 2012, earnings within the Catalog & Internet segment include non-cash pre-tax intangibles impairment charges of $0.8 million (See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[3]	BLYTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESConsolidated Statements of EarningsB For the year ended(In thousands, except per share data)DecemberB 31, 2014B DecemberB 31, 2013B DecemberB 31, 2012 Net sales$490,020B $534,262B $555,980Cost of goods sold182,780B 199,586B 212,677Gross profit307,240B 334,676B 343,303Selling223,742B 240,943B 249,231Administrative and other expense76,401B 81,843B 90,057Total operating expense300,143B 322,786B 339,288Operating profit7,097B 11,890B 4,015Other expense (income): Interest expense7,042B 6,042B 6,062Interest income(453)B (616)B (1,707)Foreign exchange and other, net4,020B (72)B (691)Total other expense10,609B 5,354B 3,664Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest(3,512)B 6,536B 351Income tax expense (benefit)21,071B 6,736B (2,650)Earnings (loss) from continuing operations(24,583)B (200)B 3,001Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense(7,231)B 2,946B 35,742Gain on sale of discontinued operations118,918B bB 5,540Net earnings from discontinued operations111,687B 2,946B 41,282Net earnings87,104B 2,746B 44,283Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests343B 313B 281Net earnings attributable to Blyth, Inc.$86,761B $2,433B $44,002Basic earnings per share: Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations$(1.55)B $(0.03)B $0.16Net earnings from discontinued operations6.93B 0.18B 2.40Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.$5.38B $0.15B $2.56Weighted average number of shares outstanding16,112B 16,196B 17,180Diluted earnings per share: Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations$(1.54)B $(0.03)B $0.16Net earnings from discontinued operations6.91B 0.18B 2.39Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.$5.37B $0.15B $2.55Weighted average number of shares outstanding16,165B 16,228B 17,247Cash dividend declared per share$0.05B $0.20B $0.18

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Ear1

Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Discontinued operations, income tax expense (benefit)	$0.70

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Com

Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net earnings	$87,104	$2,746	$44,283
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-4,798	1,914	3,451
Net unrealized gain (loss) on certain investments	-109	-169	202
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging instruments	439	-154	-490
Less: Reclassification adjustments for (gain) loss included in net income	-45	370	-624
Other comprehensive income (loss)	-4,513	1,961	2,539
Total comprehensive income, net of tax	82,591	4,707	46,822
Less: net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	343	313	281
Comprehensive income attributable to Blyth, Inc.	$82,248	$4,394	$46,541

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Sto

Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)		Total	Common Stock	Additional Contributed Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance (as adjusted for stock split) at Dec. 31, 2011		$153,966,000	$514,000	$147,790,000	$420,349,000	$11,862,000	($426,717,000)	$168,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.		44,002,000			44,002,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings		44,283,000						281,000
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		-181,000						-181,000
Other comprehensive income		2,539,000				2,539,000
Stock-based compensation		4,678,000
Purchase of additional ViSalus interest		14,628,000	2,000	4,676,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions		14,000	14,000	14,614,000
Temporary Equity, Accretion to Redemption Value		-2,396,000			-2,396,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Redeemable Preferred Stock		-140,644,000			-140,644,000
Dividends declared		-3,012,000			-3,012,000
Treasury stock purchases	[1]	-15,057,000					-15,057,000
Reclassification to Equity, Due to Stock Award Settlement		5,800,000
Ending Balance (as adjusted for stock split) at Dec. 31, 2012		58,804,000	530,000	167,080,000	318,299,000	14,401,000	-441,774,000	268,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.		2,433,000			2,433,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings		313,000						313,000
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		-175,000						-175,000
Dividend Paid To Noncotrolling Interest Holders in excess of income earned		5,471,000
Other comprehensive income		1,961,000				1,961,000
Purchase of additional ViSalus interest		1,654,000	2,000	1,652,000
Dividends declared		-3,225,000			-3,225,000
Treasury stock purchases	[1]	-10,266,000					-10,266,000
Ending Balance (as adjusted for stock split) at Dec. 31, 2013		46,028,000	532,000	168,732,000	312,036,000	16,362,000	-452,040,000	406,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.		86,761,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net earnings		87,104,000						343,000
Distribution to noncontrolling interest		-177,000						-177,000
Dividend Paid To Noncotrolling Interest Holders in excess of income earned		5,471,000			5,471,000
Other comprehensive income		-4,513,000				-4,513,000
Purchase of additional ViSalus interest		1,166,000	1,000	1,165,000
Dividends declared		-805,000			-805,000
Treasury stock purchases	[1]	-131,000					-131,000
Ending Balance (as adjusted for stock split) at Dec. 31, 2014		$134,143,000	$533,000	$169,897,000	$403,463,000	$11,849,000	($452,171,000)	$572,000
[1]	This includes shares withheld in order to satisfy employee withholding taxes upon the distribution of vested restricted stock units.

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Sto1

Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Dividends declared	$0.05	$0.20	$0.18

Consolidated_Statements_Of_Cas

Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	($24,583)	($200)	$3,001
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,322	9,889	10,132
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	75	429	-582
Stock-based compensation expense of Blyth, Inc.	1,166	1,654	2,704
Deferred income taxes	14,472	1,793	-1,797
Loss on impairment of assets	3,475	0	834
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	896	-3,525	-4,838
Inventories	6,627	-717	16,442
Prepaid and other	1,450	-443	2,423
Other long-term assets	1,986	-1,225	-648
Accounts payable	-2,731	-2,309	-1,412
Accrued expenses	642	-4,622	-5,861
Income taxes payable	186	169	-572
Other liabilities and other	2,764	11,351	-4,706
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	14,747	12,244	15,120
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations	-8,992	35,259	28,570
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,755	47,503	43,690
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net of disposals	-2,867	-3,061	-9,098
Proceeds from Collection of Notes Receivable	0	10,000
Purchases of short-term investments	-20,032	-20,810	-63,233
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	8,900	44,550	66,090
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations	0	0	23,500
Cash settlement of net investment hedges	0	-1,356	-1,874
Proceeds from sales of assets	10	29	539
Proceeds from sale of long-term investments	0	105	3,611
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations	-10,854	19,888	8,966
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations	-13,989	29,457	19,535
Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Discontinued Operations	3,135	-9,569	-10,569
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchases of treasury stock	0	-9,961	-13,434
Borrowings on long-term debt	0	50,000	0
Repayments on long-term debt	-678	-72,402	-21,722
Payments on capital lease obligations	-107	-248	-127
Dividends paid	-805	-3,225	-3,012
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	-177	-175	-181
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations	-1,767	-36,011	-38,476
Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Discontinued Operations	0	-31,447	-95,195
Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations	-1,767	-67,458	-133,671
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-5,738	1,063	1,333
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-12,604	996	-79,682
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	106,933	105,937	185,619
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	94,329	106,933	105,937
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest	7,206	6,042	6,140
Income taxes	7,173	7,107	46,511
Non-cash transactions:
Capital leases for equipment	$463	$655	$137

Summary_Of_Significant_Account

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Blyth, Inc. (the “Company”) is a multi-channel company primarily focused on the direct-to-consumer market. The Company's products include an extensive array of decorative and functional household products such as candles, accessories, seasonal decorations, household convenience items and personalized gifts, as well as health, wellness and beauty related products. The Company’s products can primarily be found throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia. Our financial results are reported in two segments: the Candles & Home Décor segment (PartyLite) and the Catalog & Internet segment (Silver Star Brands).
	A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements follows:
	Principles of Consolidation
	The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Blyth, Inc. and its subsidiaries. The Company’s Catalog & Internet subsidiaries operate on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. The Company consolidates entities in which it owns or controls more than 50% of the voting shares and/or investments where the Company has been determined to have control. The portion of the entity not owned by the Company is reflected as the noncontrolling interest within the Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
	Discontinued Operations
	In September 2014, the Company entered into a recapitalization agreement with ViSalus that reduced its ownership in ViSalus from approximately 80.9% to 10.0%. In October 2012, the Company sold its Sterno business. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. The results of operations for these businesses have been reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented.
	Two-for-one stock split
	On May 16, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors announced a two-for-one stock split of its common stock effective in the form of a stock dividend of one share for each outstanding share. The record date for the stock split was June 1, 2012, and the additional shares were distributed on June 15, 2012. Accordingly, all per share amounts, weighted average shares outstanding, shares outstanding and shares repurchased presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the stock split. Shareholders' equity has been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the stock split for all periods presented by reclassifying the par value of the additional shares issued in connection with the stock split from Retained Earnings to Common Stock.
	Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	Credit Concentration
	The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral.  The Company makes provisions for estimated credit losses. No single customer accounts for 10% or more of Net Sales or Accounts Receivable.
	Foreign Currency Translation
	The Company’s international subsidiaries use their local currency as their functional currency.  Therefore, all Balance Sheet accounts of international subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the year-end rates of exchange and Statement of Earnings items are translated using the weighted average exchange rates for the period.  Resulting translation adjustments are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Transactional gains and losses arising from the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations on transactions in a currency other than the local functional currency are included in Foreign exchange and other, net within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
	Investments
	The Company makes investments from time to time in the ordinary course of its business that may include equity securities, debt instruments (all maturing within one year), mutual funds, cost investments and long-term investments and/or joint ventures. The Company’s investments are accounted for in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topics 320 Investments – debt and equity securities and 325 Investments - other. The Company reviews investments for impairment using both quantitative and qualitative factors. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities that are considered temporary and are not the result of a credit loss are included in AOCI, net of applicable taxes, while realized gains and losses are reported in earnings.
	Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments
	The Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on foreign denominated inventory purchases, intercompany payables and certain loans. It does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.  The Company has also hedged the net assets of certain of its foreign operations through foreign currency forward contracts.
	The Company has designated forward exchange contracts on forecasted intercompany purchases and purchase commitments as cash flow hedges and as long as the hedge remains effective and the underlying transaction remains probable, the effective portion of the changes in the fair value of these contracts are recorded in AOCI until earnings are affected by the variability of the cash flows being hedged.  With regard to commitments for inventory purchases, upon payment of each commitment, the underlying forward contract is closed and the corresponding gain or loss is transferred from AOCI upon sale of the asset assigned and is realized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.  If a hedging instrument is sold or terminated prior to maturity, gains and losses are deferred in AOCI until the hedged item is settled.  However, if the hedged item is no longer probable of occurring, the resultant gain or loss on the hedge is recognized into earnings immediately.
	The Company has designated its foreign currency forward contracts related to certain foreign denominated loans and intercompany payables as fair value hedges.  The gains or losses on the fair value hedges are recognized into earnings and generally offset the transaction gains or losses in the foreign denominated loans that they are intended to hedge.
	For consolidated financial statement presentation, net cash flows from such hedges are classified in the categories of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows with the items being hedged. Forward contracts held with each bank are presented within the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a net asset or liability, based on netting agreements with each bank and whether the forward contracts are in a net gain or loss position. Refer to Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details on our accounting for derivative instruments.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Amounts due from credit card companies of $1.7 million for the settlement of credit card transactions are included in cash equivalents because they are both short-term and highly liquid instruments and typically take one to three business days to be received by the Company. The major credit card companies making these payments are highly accredited businesses and the Company does not deem them to have material counterparty credit risk.
	The Company holds its cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. Cash balances in the Company’s U.S. concentration accounts are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation with no limit per bank. The Company has $1.1 million of restricted cash, reported in Investments used as collateral for standby letters of credit as of December 31, 2014. This cash will be restricted until the standby letters of credit are relieved by the beneficiaries.
	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out method.  The Company records provisions for obsolete, excess and unmarketable inventory in Cost of goods sold.
	Shipping and Handling
	The Company classifies shipping and handling fees billed to customers as Revenue, and shipping and handling costs as Cost of goods sold.
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $8.1 million, $9.3 million and $9.5 million, respectively.  The amortization of assets obtained through capital leases is also recorded as a component of depreciation expense. Depreciation is provided for principally by use of the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lives of the respective leases or the service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter.  The Company records gains and losses from the sale of property, plant and equipment in operating profit.
	The principal estimated lives used in determining depreciation are as follows:
	Buildings	27 to 40 years
	Leasehold improvements	5 to 10 years
	Machinery and equipment	5 to 12 years
	Office furniture, data processing equipment and software	3 to 7 years
	Goodwill and Other Indefinite Lived Intangibles
	Goodwill and Other indefinite-lived intangibles are subject to an assessment for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that goodwill or other indefinite lived intangibles might be impaired. The Company performs its annual assessment of impairment for goodwill in the first quarter.
	For goodwill, the first step is to identify whether a potential impairment exists. This is done by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill.  Fair value for each of the Company’s reporting units is estimated utilizing a combination of valuation techniques, namely the discounted cash flow and market multiple methodologies. The discounted cash flow analysis assumes the fair value of an asset can be estimated by the economic benefit or net cash flows the asset will generate over the life of the asset, discounted to its present value. The discounting process uses a rate of return that accounts for both the time value of money and the investment risk factors. The market multiple analysis estimates fair value based on what other participants in the market have recently paid for reasonably similar assets. Adjustments are made to compensate for differences between the reasonably similar assets and the assets being valued. The fair value of the reporting units is derived by using a combination of the two valuation techniques described above. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, no further analysis is necessary. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step is performed. The second step compares the carrying amount of the goodwill to the estimated fair value of the goodwill. If fair value is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is reported as a reduction to the goodwill and a charge to operating expense.
	For indefinite-lived intangible assets, the Company uses the relief from royalty method to estimate the fair value for indefinite-lived intangible assets and compares this value to book value. The underlying concept of the relief from royalty method is that the inherent economic value of intangibles is directly related to the timing of future cash flows associated with the intangible asset. Similar to the discounted cash flow methodology used to determine the fair value of goodwill, the fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets is equal to the present value of after-tax cash flows associated with the intangible asset based on an applicable royalty rate. The royalty rate is determined by using existing market comparables for royalty agreements. The arms-length agreements generally support a rate that is a percentage of direct sales. This approach is based on the premise that the free cash flow is a more valid criterion for measuring value than “book” or accounting profits.
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and other intangibles with definite lives for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicated that the carrying amount of such an asset might not be recoverable. When indicators are present, management determines whether there has been an impairment on long-lived assets held for use in the business by comparing anticipated undiscounted future cash flow from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group to the carrying value of the asset or asset group.  The amount of any resulting impairment is calculated by comparing the carrying value to the fair value of the individual assets.
	Long-lived assets that meet the definition of held for sale are valued at the lower of carrying amount or net realizable value. Assets or asset groups are determined at the lowest level possible for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. For assets whose aggregate undiscounted cash flows are less than its carrying value, the assets are considered potentially impaired and actual impairments, if any, would be determined to the extent the assets carrying value exceeds its aggregate fair value.
	Recoverability of long-lived assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. For the year ended December 31, 2014, earnings within the Candles & Home Décor segment include a one-time fixed asset impairment charge of $0.6 million on certain machinery and equipment held and used at the Cumbria, United Kingdom facility (see Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	AOCI is comprised of foreign currency cumulative translation adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, the net gains and losses on cash flow hedging instruments and net investment hedges.  The Company reports, by major components and as a single total, the change in comprehensive income (loss) during the period as part of the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity.
	The following table discloses the tax effects allocated to each component of AOCI in the financial statements:
	(In thousands)		December 31, 2014										December 31, 2013									December 31, 2012
			Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) or Benefit			Net-of-tax Amount				Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) or Benefit			Net-of-tax Amount			Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) or Benefit			Net-of-tax Amount
	Foreign currency translation adjustments		$	2,560		$	(7,358	)	$	(4,798	)		$	(949	)	$	2,863		$	1,914		$	2,347		$	1,104		$	3,451
	Net unrealized gain (loss) on certain investments		(168		)	59			(109		)		(260		)	91			(169		)	264			(62		)	202
	Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging instruments		675			(236		)	439				(237		)	83			(154		)	(741		)	251			(490		)
	Less: Reclassification adjustments for (gain) loss included in net income		(69		)	24			(45		)		569			(199		)	370			(960		)	336			(624		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss)		$	2,998		$	(7,511	)	$	(4,513	)		$	(877	)	$	2,838		$	1,961		$	910		$	1,629		$	2,539
	The components of AOCI, net of tax, for the year ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:
	(In thousands)	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment			Net unrealized gain (loss) on certain investments			Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging instruments			Net Investment Hedge gain			Total
	Beginning balance at January 1, 2014	$	13,905		$	263		$	(110	)	$	2,304		$	16,362
	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	(7,340		)	(109		)	439			2,542			(4,468		)
	Less: amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (1) (2)	—			(40		)	85			—			45
	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	(7,340		)	(69		)	354			2,542			(4,513		)
	Ending balance at December 31, 2014	$	6,565		$	194		$	244		$	4,846		$	11,849
	(1) All amounts net of a 35% tax rate.
	(2) Reclassified from AOCI into Foreign exchange and other, net and Cost of goods sold.
	Income Taxes
Income tax expense is based on taxable income, statutory tax rates and the impact of non-deductible items. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts. The Company periodically estimates whether its tax benefits are more likely than not sustainable on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. There are inherent uncertainties related to the interpretation of tax regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company transacts business. The judgments and estimates made at a point in time may change based on the outcome of tax audits, as well as changes to or further interpretations of regulations. If such changes take place, there is a risk that the Company's tax rate may increase or decrease in any period.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the Company's best estimate of the tax benefits and costs expected to be realized in the future. The Company establishes valuation allowances to reduce its deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized.
In accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), the Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be capable of withstanding examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. A number of years may elapse before an uncertain tax position for which the Company has established a tax reserve is audited and finally resolved, and the number of years for which the Company has audits that are open varies depending on the tax jurisdiction (a current summary is provided in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). When facts and circumstances change, the Company reassesses these probabilities and records any necessary adjustments to the provision.
The Company determined that a portion of its undistributed foreign earnings are not reinvested indefinitely by its non-U.S. subsidiaries, and accordingly, recorded a deferred income tax liability related to these undistributed earnings. The Company periodically reassesses whether the non-U.S. subsidiaries will invest their undistributed earnings indefinitely.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues consist of sales to customers, net of returns and allowances.  The Company recognizes revenue upon delivery, when both title and risk of loss are transferred to the customer.  The Company presents revenues net of any taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities. The Company also records revenue on financing fees from past due balances from financing receivables within its Catalog & Internet segment.
The Company records estimated reductions to revenue for customer promotions, volume incentives and other promotions. The Company also records reductions to revenue, based primarily on historical experience, for estimated customer returns and chargebacks that may arise as a result of shipping errors, product damaged in transit or for other reasons that can only become known subsequent to recognizing the revenue.  In some instances, the Company receives payment in advance of product delivery and records it as deferred revenue.  Upon delivery of product for which advance payment has been made, the related deferred revenue is reversed and recorded to revenue. Gift card sales are also included in deferred revenue. Upon redemption or when redemption is remote, the related deferred revenue is recorded to revenue. The Company considers applicable escheat laws and historical redemption data when realizing gift card revenue.
The Company has established an allowance for doubtful accounts for its trade and financing receivables.  The allowance is determined based on the Company’s evaluation of specific customers’ ability to pay, aging of receivables, historical experience and the current economic environment. The sales price for the Company’s products is fixed prior to the time of shipment to the customer.  Customers have the right to return product in circumstances for which the Company believes are typical of the industry for such reasons as damaged goods, shipping errors or similar occurrences. Independent consultants within the Candles & Home Decor segment are allowed to return unused product purchased within the past twelve months for a refund of 90% of its original purchase price.
Earnings per Common and Common Equivalent Share
Basic earnings per common share and common share equivalents are computed based upon the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. These outstanding shares include both outstanding common shares and vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) as common stock equivalents. Diluted earnings per common share and common share equivalents reflect the potential dilution that could occur if options and fixed awards to be issued under stock-based compensation arrangements were converted into common stock.
Employee Stock Compensation
The Company has share-based compensation plans as described in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  In accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the Company measures and records compensation expense, based on estimated fair values, for all share-based awards made to employees and directors, including stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units.  The Company recognizes compensation expense for share-based awards expected to vest on a straight line basis with graded vesting over the requisite service period of the award based on their grant date fair value.
Cost of Goods Sold and Operating Expenses
Cost of goods sold includes the cost of raw materials and their procurement costs, inbound and outbound freight, and the direct and indirect costs associated with the personnel, resources and property, plant and equipment related to the manufacturing, warehousing, inventory management and order fulfillment functions. Selling expenses include commissions paid to consultants, customer service costs, catalog costs including printing and shipping, the salaries and benefits related to personnel within the marketing and selling functions, costs associated with promotional offers to independent consultants, allowances for doubtful accounts and other selling and marketing expenses. Administrative and other expenses includes salaries and related benefits associated with various administrative departments, including human resources, legal, information technology, finance and executive, as well as professional fees and administrative facility costs associated with leased buildings, office equipment and supplies.
Promotional Offers to Independent Consultants
The Company’s direct selling sales are generated by its independent consultants, who strive to maximize the interrelated objectives of selling product, scheduling (or booking) parties or events and recruiting new consultants.  In order to encourage its consultants to accomplish these goals, the Company makes monthly promotional offers including free or discounted products to consultants and customers, as well as annual incentive trips and the payment of bonuses to consultants.
Promotions, including free or discounted products, are designed to increase revenues by providing incentives for customers and guests attending shows whose purchases exceed a certain level. Promotional offers for free products are recorded as a charge to Cost of goods sold when incurred, and promotional offers for discounted products are recorded as a reduction of revenue when incurred with the full cost of the product being charged to Cost of goods sold.  Sales bonuses are awarded based on achieving certain ranks within the compensation plan. These bonuses are paid monthly and are charged to selling expenses when earned.
Annual incentive trips and bonuses are awarded to consultants who recruit new consultants or achieve certain sales levels. Estimated costs related to these promotional offers are recorded as compensation within Selling expense as they are earned. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses related to promotional activities were $6.1 million, $6.6 million and $6.5 million, respectively.
Advertising and Catalog Costs
The Company expenses the costs of advertising as incurred, except the costs for direct-response advertising, which are capitalized and amortized over the expected period of future benefit. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, advertising expenses were $47.0 million, $64.8 million and $66.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, prepaid advertising expenses totaled $7.9 million and $8.5 million, respectively.
Direct-response advertising relates to the Silver Star Brands business and consists primarily of the costs to produce direct-mail order catalogs.  The capitalized production costs are amortized for each specific catalog mailing over the period following catalog distribution in proportion to revenues (orders) received, compared to total estimated revenues for that particular catalog mailing.  The amortization period is generally from three to six months and does not exceed twelve months.
In the Candles & Home Décor segment, catalog production costs are capitalized and expensed as the catalogs are distributed, generally over less than a twelve month period.

New_Accounting_Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
New Accounting Pronouncements	New Accounting Pronouncements
	The following is a list of accounting standards that could have an impact on future financial statements or disclosures upon adoption:
	In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, Income Statement - Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20): Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items ("ASU 2015-01"). ASU 2015-01 eliminates the concept of an extraordinary item from GAAP. As a result, an entity is no longer required to separately classify, present, or disclose extraordinary events and transactions; however, the presentation and disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. The standard permits the use of applying changes prospectively and retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.
	In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) ("ASU 2014-09"), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods and services to customers. ASU 2014-09 will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP when it becomes effective. The new standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the impact of the adoption on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	ote 3. Discontinued Operations
	The Company has early adopted ASU 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity" ("ASU 2014-08").
	On September 4, 2014, the Company, ViSalus and certain of ViSalus’s preferred stockholders entered into a recapitalization agreement pursuant to which ViSalus was recapitalized by exchanging each share of ViSalus preferred stock for 38.2 shares of ViSalus common stock, thereby (i) reducing the Company’s ownership interest in ViSalus from approximately 80.9% to 10.0% and (ii) eliminating the obligation of ViSalus to redeem the preferred stock in 2017 (for approximately $143.2 million) and the related guaranty by the Company of ViSalus’s performance of such obligation. In addition, the Company agreed to make available to ViSalus a revolving credit facility.
	On October 17, 2014, the Company and ViSalus entered into a revolving loan agreement (the "Blyth Revolving Loan Agreement") pursuant to which the Company agreed to lend ViSalus up to $6.0 million. Loans under the revolving credit agreement bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum. Interest will be paid monthly and there will be no higher default rate of interest. The revolving loan involves related parties. Robert B. Goergen, Robert B. Goergen, Jr. and Todd A. Goergen own 8.29%, 0.34% and 2.81%, respectively, of the outstanding capital stock of ViSalus. On October 17, 2014, the founders of ViSalus and Robert B. Goergen (the “Founder Lenders”) entered into a substantially similar loan agreement with ViSalus (the “Founder Revolving Loan Agreement”) pursuant to which they made a revolving credit facility available to ViSalus in an amount up to $6.0 million on terms that are substantially identical to the terms of the Blyth Revolving Loan Agreement. Loans made under the Blyth Revolving Loan Agreement and loans made under the Founder Revolving Loan Agreement will be made at the same time in equal amounts and will rank equally with each other. As of December 31, 2014, ViSalus owed the Company $3.0 million under the Blyth Revolving Loan Agreement. In February 2015, the Company lent an additional $0.8 million under the agreement, bringing the amount outstanding to $3.8 million.
	As a result of its reduced ownership in ViSalus, the Company will no longer consolidate ViSalus's results in the Company's financial statements; rather, the ViSalus investment will be recorded on a cost basis subject to annual impairment reviews to ensure its investment is properly stated. The Company's investment in ViSalus was evaluated for impairment at December 31, 2014 and, as a result, a $2.9 million impairment charge was recorded to the ViSalus investment bringing the ending investment value to $6.9 million. This transaction is presented as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
	The Company recorded a gain on the recapitalization of ViSalus of $118.9 million, net of income tax benefit of $0.7 million, as a result of the exchange of the ViSalus preferred stock for ViSalus common stock, which eliminated the Company’s guaranty of ViSalus’s agreement to redeem the preferred stock. This transaction is non-cash and was treated as a tax free exchange, as the preferred stockholders received ViSalus common stock in exchange for their preferred stock.
	On October 29, 2012, the Company completed the sale of its Sterno business for $23.5 million in cash and recorded a gain of $5.5 million, net of income tax expense of $3.1 million. This transaction is presented as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Financial Statements and results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2012.
	The following table details net earnings (loss) of discontinued operations for the years ended December 31:
	(In thousands)	2014			2013			2012
	Net sales	$	138,860		$	351,187		$	671,848
	Cost of goods sold	42,179			113,273			216,068
	Selling, administrative and other expenses	104,199			230,154			371,546
	Other income and expenses	1,657			(333		)	(227		)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	(9,175		)	8,093			84,461
	Income tax expense (benefit)	(176		)	4,457			35,758
	Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,768		)	690			12,961
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to discontinued operations	$	(7,231	)	$	2,946		$	35,742
	The following table details assets and liabilities of discontinued operations as of December 31, 2013:
	Total assets of discontinued operations (In thousands)
	Cash	$	7,914
	Accounts receivable, net	149
	Inventories	21,113
	Prepaid and other	1,349
	Deferred tax current	2,517
	Other current assets	1,166
	Current assets of discontinued operations	34,208
	Net plant, property and equipment	18,602
	Investments	1,177
	Deferred tax non-current	5,800
	Intangible assets	2,028
	Non-current assets of discontinued operations	27,607
	Total	$	61,815
	Total liabilities of discontinued operations
	Accounts payable	$	5,870
	Accrued expenses	17,986
	Income taxes payable	110
	Current liabilities of discontinued operations	23,966
	Other liabilities	865
	Redeemable preferred stock	146,603
	Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations	147,468
	Total	$	171,434

Investments

Investments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Investments	Investments
	The Company considers all money market funds and debt instruments, including certificates of deposit and commercial paper, purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents, unless the assets are restricted. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates its fair value.
	The Company’s investments as of December 31, 2014 consisted of a number of financial securities including certificates of deposit, shares in mutual funds invested in short term bonds and a 10% ownership interest in a former subsidiary now treated as a cost investment. The Company accounts for its investments in debt and equity instruments in accordance with ASC 320, “Investments – Debt & Equity Securities.” The Company accounts for its cost investments in accordance with ASC 325, “Investments – Other.”
	The following table summarizes, by major security type, the amortized costs and fair value of the Company’s investments:
		December 31, 2014									December 31, 2013
	(In thousands)	Cost Basis(1)			Fair Value			Net unrealized loss in AOCI(2)			Cost Basis(1)		Fair Value		Net unrealized
															loss in AOCI
	Short-term bond mutual funds	$	19,092		$	18,961		$	(131	)	$	8,000	$	7,985	$	(15	)
	Certificates of deposit	1,101			1,101			—			1,070		1,070		—
	Investment in ViSalus	6,850			6,850			—			—		—		—
	Total investments	$	27,043		$	26,912		$	(131	)	$	9,070	$	9,055	$	(15	)
	(1) The cost basis represents the actual amount paid less any permanent impairment of that asset.
	(2) The Company believes these short-term losses are temporary in nature and that, therefore, no permanent impairment is required.
	As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company held $19.0 million and $8.0 million, respectively, of short-term bond mutual funds, which are classified as short-term available for sale investments. Unrealized losses on these investments that are considered temporary are recorded in AOCI.  These securities are valued based on quoted prices in active markets. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded $0.1 million and insignificant unrealized losses, net of tax, respectively.
	Also included in long-term investments are certificates of deposit that are held as collateral for the Company’s outstanding standby letters of credit and for foreign operations of $1.1 million December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. These investments are recorded at fair value which approximates cost and interest earned on these is recorded in Interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
	The Company accounts for its noncontrolling interest in ViSalus on a cost basis under ASC 325. This investment was evaluated for impairment at December 31, 2014 and, as a result, a $2.9 million impairment charge was recorded to the ViSalus investment bringing the ending investment value to $6.9 million. These transactions involve related parties as discussed in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
	In addition to the investments noted above, the Company holds mutual funds as part of a deferred compensation plan which are classified as available for sale. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the fair value of these securities was $1.0 million. These securities are valued based on quoted prices in an active market. Unrealized gains and losses on these securities are recorded in AOCI.  These mutual funds are included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
	The following table summarizes the proceeds and realized gains and losses on the sale of available for sale investments recorded in Foreign exchange and other within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013. Gains and losses reclassified from AOCI, net to foreign exchange, in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings are calculated using the specific identification method.
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Net proceeds	$	8,900		$	44,655
	Realized losses	$	(8	)	$	(304	)

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Inventories	Inventories
	The major components of Inventories are as follows:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Raw materials	$	3,259	$	3,642
	Finished goods	42,525		51,040
	Total	$	45,784	$	54,682
	As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the inventory valuation reserves totaled $5.0 million and $5.5 million, respectively. The Company recorded provisions for obsolete, excess and unmarketable inventory to Cost of goods sold in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 of $3.1 million, $2.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

Derivatives_and_Other_Financia

Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

General Discussion of Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]

Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities

Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments

The Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on foreign denominated inventory purchases, net assets of its foreign operations, intercompany payables and loans. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes. The Company has hedged the net assets of certain of its foreign operations through foreign currency forward contracts. The realized and unrealized gains/losses on these hedges are recorded within AOCI until the investment is sold or disposed of. As of December 31, 2014, there were no outstanding net investment hedges. The cumulative net after-tax gain related to net investment hedges in AOCI as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $4.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively.

The Company has designated its foreign currency forward contracts related to certain foreign denominated loans and intercompany payables as fair value hedges.  The gains or losses on the fair value hedges are recognized into earnings and generally offset the transaction gains or losses in the foreign denominated loans that they are intended to hedge.

The Company has designated forward exchange contracts on forecasted intercompany inventory purchases and future purchase commitments as cash flow hedges and as long as the hedge remains effective and the underlying transaction remains probable, the effective portion of the changes in the fair value of these contracts will be recorded in AOCI until earnings are affected by the variability of the cash flows being hedged. Upon settlement of each commitment, the underlying forward contract is closed and the corresponding gain or loss is transferred from AOCI and is included in the measurement of the cost of the acquired asset upon sale.  If a hedging instrument is sold or terminated prior to maturity, gains and losses are deferred in AOCI until the hedged item is settled.  However, if the hedged item is no longer probable of occurring, the resultant gain or loss on the terminated hedge is recognized into earnings immediately.  The net after-tax unrealized gain included in AOCI at December 31, 2014 for cash flow hedges was $0.2 million and is expected to be transferred into earnings within the next twelve months upon settlement of the underlying commitment. The net after-tax unrealized loss included in AOCI at December 31, 2013 for cash flow hedges was $0.1 million.

For financial statement presentation, net cash flows from such hedges are classified in the categories of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows with the items being hedged. Forward contracts held with each bank are presented within the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a net asset or liability, based on netting agreements with each bank and whether the forward contracts are in a net gain or loss position. The foreign exchange contracts outstanding have maturity dates through October 2015.

The table below details the fair value and location of the Company’s hedges in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:

(In thousands)

31-Dec-14

31-Dec-13

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments

Prepaid Assets

Accrued Expenses

Foreign exchange forward contracts in an asset position

$

405

$

44

Foreign exchange forward contracts in a liability position

(8

)

(225

)

Net derivatives at fair value

$

397

$

(181

)

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded gains of $0.4 million and losses of $0.3 million, respectively, related to foreign exchange forward contracts accounted for as Fair Value hedges to Foreign exchange and other.

Gain and loss activity recorded to Cost of goods sold and reclassified from AOCI to the Company’s cash flow hedges are as follows:

Amount of Gain (Loss)

Amount of Gain (Loss)

Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

Recognized in AOCI on Derivative

Reclassified from AOCI into Income

(Effective Portion)

(Effective Portion)

(In thousands)

December 31, 2014

December 31, 2013

December 31, 2014

December 31, 2013

Foreign exchange forward contracts

$

720

$

(274

)

$

174

$

(235

)

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company recorded gains of $1.8 million and losses of $1.4 million, respectively, to AOCI related to foreign exchange forward contracts accounted for as Net Investment hedges.

Goodwill_And_Other_Intangibles

Goodwill And Other Intangibles	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill And Other Intangibles	Goodwill and Other Intangibles
	Goodwill is subject to an assessment for impairment using a two-step fair value-based test and, as such, other intangibles are also subject to impairment reviews, which must be performed at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangibles might be impaired.
	As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the carrying amount of the Company’s goodwill within the Candles & Home Décor segment was $2.3 million.
	Other intangible assets include indefinite-lived trade names and trademarks and customer relationships related to the Company’s acquisition of Miles Kimball and Walter Drake, which are reported in the Catalog & Internet segment.
	During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Exposures brand under the Silver Star Brands business experienced substantial declines in revenues when compared to its forecasts and prior years. The Company believes this shortfall in revenue was primarily attributable to decreased consumer spending, due to changes in the business environment and adverse economic conditions. As a result of the impairment analysis performed, the indefinite-lived trade name was determined to be partly impaired, as the fair value of this brand was less than its carrying value. Accordingly, the Company recorded a non-cash pre-tax impairment charge of $0.8 million to Administrative and other expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings resulting in a carrying value of $0.6 million.
	The indefinite-lived trade names and trademarks were valued at $6.6 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The Company does not amortize the indefinite-lived trade names and trademarks, but rather tests for impairment annually and upon the occurrence of a triggering event. The initial gross value of all indefinite-lived trade names and trademarks and customer relationships was $28.1 million and $15.4 million, respectively, within the Catalog & Internet segment. The difference between the initial gross value and its current carrying value represents impairment charges previously recorded for indefinite-lived trade names and trademarks and prior period amortization for customer relationships.
	Other intangible assets within the Catalog & Internet segment include the following:
	(In thousands)	Indefinite-lived trade names and trademarks		Customer relationships
	Other intangibles at December 31, 2012	$	6,566	$	827
	Amortization	—		(613		)
	Other intangibles at December 31, 2013	$	6,566	$	214
	Amortization	—		(187		)
	Other intangibles at December 31, 2014	$	6,566	$	27
	Amortization expense is recorded on an accelerated basis over the estimated lives of the customer lists ranging from 5 to 12 years.  For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, amortization expense was $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively. Amortization expense in 2015 is an insignificant amount. The weighted average remaining life of the Company’s customer lists was 1.1 years at December 31, 2014.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements
	The fair-value hierarchy established in ASC 820 prioritizes the inputs used in valuation techniques into three levels as follows:
		Level-1 – Observable inputs – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities
		Level-2 – Observable inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities – such as quoted prices for similar instruments, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in inactive markets, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data;
		Level-3 – Unobservable inputs – includes amounts derived from valuation models where one or more significant inputs are unobservable and require the Company to develop relevant assumptions.
	Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
	The following tables summarizes the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of  December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the basis for that measurement, by level within the fair value hierarchy:
	(In thousands)	Balance as of December 31, 2014			Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant			Significant
							other observable inputs			unobservable inputs
	Financial assets						(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Short-term bond mutual funds	$	18,961		$	18,961	$	—		$	—
	Certificates of deposit	1,101			—		1,101			—
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	405			—		405			—
	Deferred compensation plan assets (1)	962			962		—			—
	Total	$	21,429		$	19,923	$	1,506		$	—
	Financial liabilities
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	(8	)	$	—	$	(8	)	$	—
	(1) Recorded as an Other asset with an offsetting liability for the obligation to employees in Other liabilities.
	(In thousands)	Balance as of December 31, 2013			Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant			Significant
							other observable inputs			unobservable inputs
	Financial assets						(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Short-term bond mutual funds	$	7,985		$	7,985	$	—		$	—
	Certificates of deposit	1,070			—		1,070			—
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	44					44
	Deferred compensation plan assets (1)	1,007			1,007		—			—
	Total	$	10,106		$	8,992	$	1,114		$	—
	Financial liabilities
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	(225	)	$	—	$	(225	)	$	—
	(1) Recorded as an Other asset with an offsetting liability for the obligation to employees in Other liabilities.
	The Company values its investments in equity securities within the deferred compensation plan and its investments in short term bond mutual funds using level 1 inputs, by obtaining quoted prices in active markets.  The deferred compensation plan assets consist of shares of mutual funds. The Company also enters into both cash flow and fair value hedges by purchasing foreign currency exchange forward contracts. These contracts are valued using level 2 inputs, primarily observable forward foreign exchange rates. The certificates of deposit that are used to collateralize some of the Company’s letters of credit have been valued using information classified as level 2, as these are not traded on the open market and are held unsecured by one counterparty.
	The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and trade payables are considered to be representative of their respective fair values.
	Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
	The Company is required, on a non-recurring basis, to adjust the carrying value or provide valuation allowances for certain assets using fair value measurements in accordance with ASC 820. The Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include property, plant and equipment, goodwill, intangibles, its ViSalus investment and other assets. These assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however, they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that impairment may exist. The Company's investment in ViSalus was evaluated for impairment at December 31, 2014 and, as a result, a $2.9 million impairment charge was recorded to the ViSalus investment bringing the ending investment value to $6.9 million. The Company used a discounted cash flow model to estimate the fair value of its ViSalus investment.  This model incorporated the most recent long term strategic forecast of the business to determine the estimated cash flows, which were then discounted to arrive at its net present value. The discount rate used to determine its present value considers the time value of money, certain growth rate assumptions, other investment risk factors and the terminal value of the business.
	Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles are subject to impairment testing on an annual basis, or sooner if circumstances indicate a condition of impairment may exist. The valuation uses assumptions such as interest and discount rates, growth projections and other assumptions of future business conditions. These valuation methods require a significant degree of management judgment concerning the use of internal and external data. In the event these methods indicate that fair value is less than the carrying value, the asset is recorded at fair value as determined by the valuation models. As such, the Company classifies goodwill and other intangibles subjected to nonrecurring fair value adjustments as level 3.
	The fair value of the Company’s long-lived assets, primarily property, plant and equipment, is reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts of a long-lived assets may not be recoverable. Management determines whether there has been an impairment of long-lived assets held for use in the business by comparing anticipated undiscounted future cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group to the carrying value of the asset.  The amount of any resulting impairment is calculated by comparing the carrying value to the fair value. For the year ended December 31, 2014, earnings within the Candles & Home Décor segment include a one-time fixed asset impairment charge of $0.6 million on certain machinery and equipment held and used at the Cumbria, United Kingdom facility (see Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Long-lived assets that meet the definition of held for sale are valued at the lower of carrying amount or net realizable value.  Assets or asset groups are determined at the lowest level possible for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. For assets whose aggregate undiscounted cash flows are less than carrying value, the assets are considered potentially impaired and actual impairments, if any, would be determined to the extent the assets' carrying values exceeds its aggregate fair values.
	The valuation of these assets uses a significant amount of management’s judgment and uses information provided by third parties. The local real estate market, regional comparatives, estimated concessions and transaction costs are all considered when determining the fair value of these assets. Due to the nature of this information and the assumptions made by management, the Company has classified the inputs used in valuing these assets as level 3.

Accrued_Expenses

Accrued Expenses	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accrued Expenses	Accrued Expenses
	Accrued expenses consist of the following:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Compensation and benefits	$	9,707	$	11,715
	Deferred revenue	9,928		9,455
	Promotional	6,109		6,874
	Interest payable	2,341		384
	Postage & Freight	2,476		1,763
	Professional fees	2,734		1,433
	Taxes, other than income	1,516		1,632
	Self insurance reserves	717		789
	Inventory	502		633
	Other	5,297		6,253
	Total	$	41,327	$	40,931

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Long-Term Debt	Long-Term Debt
	Long-term debt consists of the following:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	6.00% Senior Notes	$	50,000		$	50,000
	Other	5,463			6,278
		55,463			56,278
	Less current maturities	(50,907		)	(952		)
		$	4,556		$	55,326
	On May 10, 2013, the Company issued $50.0 million principal amount of 6.00% Senior Notes. The Senior Notes bore interest payable semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15. In connection with the ViSalus recapitalization, the Company amended the indenture governing the Senior Notes to provide for notice of the mandatory redemption of the Senior Notes on the earlier of March 4, 2015 or the date, if any, that the Company consummated a new financing in the amount of at least $50.0 million. In early March 2015, the Company provided the notice of the mandatory redemption of the Senior Notes, which became due and were repaid on March 10, 2015. This amendment was accounted for as a modification in accordance with ASC section 470-50 “Debt -Modifications and Extinguishments.” As a result, the Company was required to a pay a $3.0 million redemption premium in addition to accrued interest on the redemption date. The redemption premium will be expensed on a pro rata basis from September 4, 2014 through the redemption date. As of December 31, 2014, the Company recorded $0.7 million of additional interest expense associated with the redemption premium. The Company has classified the Senior Notes as current. In addition, to secure the obligations under the indenture, the Company granted a security interest to the lender in substantially all of its personal property and certain of its real property.
	As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, Silver Star Brands had approximately $4.9 million and $5.5 million, respectively, of long-term debt outstanding under a real estate mortgage note payable which matures June 1, 2020.  Under the terms of the note, payments of principal and interest are required monthly at a fixed interest rate of 7.89%.
	Maturities under debt obligations for the years ending December 31 are as follows (In thousands):
	2015	$	50,907
	2016	954
	2017	993
	2018	1,039
	2019	1,037
	Thereafter	533
		$	55,463
	The Company’s debt is recorded at its amortized cost basis which approximates its fair value.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had a total of $2.4 million available under an uncommitted bank facility to be used for letters of credit through January 31, 2015.  As of December 31, 2014, no amount was outstanding under this facility.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $1.1 million in standby letters of credit outstanding that are collateralized with a certificate of deposit and have an expiration date of March 1, 2015.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
General Discussion of Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company has defined contribution employee benefit plans in both the United States and certain of its foreign locations, covering substantially all eligible non-union employees.  Contributions to all such plans are principally at the Company’s discretion.  Total expense related to all defined contribution plans in the United States for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1.2 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
	Certain of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries provide pension benefits to employees or participate in government sponsored programs.  The cost of these plans or government sponsored programs was $1.7 million, $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Most employees outside the United States are covered by government sponsored and administered programs. Other contributions to government-mandated programs are not expected to be significant.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies
	The Company utilizes operating and capital leases for a portion of its facilities and equipment.  Generally, the leases provide that the Company pay real estate taxes, maintenance, insurance and other occupancy expenses applicable to leased premises.  Certain leases provide for renewal for various periods at stipulated rates.
	The minimum future rental commitments under operating and capital leases are as follows (In thousands):
	For the years ending December 31,
	2015	$	5,271
	2016	4,121
	2017	2,800
	2018	2,445
	2019	2,280
	and thereafter	2,188
	Total minimum payments required	$	19,105
	Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $5.4 million, $6.5 million and $9.5 million, respectively.
	The Company is involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, which, in its opinion, will not have a
	material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	Earnings (loss) from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	United States	$	(39,400	)	$	(35,049	)	$	(45,352	)
	Foreign	35,888			41,585			45,703
		$	(3,512	)	$	6,536		$	351
	Income tax expense (benefit) attributable to continuing operations consists of the following for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Current  income tax expense:
	Federal	$	(340	)	$	(1,857	)	$	(5,989	)
	State	137			295			(554		)
	Foreign	6,802			6,505			5,690
		$	6,599		$	4,943		$	(853	)
	Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
	Federal	$	14,677		$	2,136		$	(1,640	)
	State	(123		)	(7		)	(315		)
	Foreign	(82		)	(336		)	158
		14,472			1,793			(1,797		)
		$	21,071		$	6,736		$	(2,650	)
	Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Amortization of intangibles	$	2,018		$	3,173
	Accrued expenses and other	1,401			5,994
	Allowance for doubtful receivables	1,891			1,217
	Employee benefit plans	2,356			2,832
	Inventory reserves	353			815
	Foreign tax credits	19,588			16,758
	Net operating loss	17,575			15,739
	Capital loss carryforward	1,442			1,995
	Basis difference on investment	40,305			—
	Uncertain tax positions	1,121			1,121
	Other reserves	251			300
	Valuation allowance	(78,209		)	(17,067		)
		$	10,092		$	32,877
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Prepaid and other	$	(13,591	)	$	(8,640	)
	Undistributed foreign earnings	(1,109		)	(13,451		)
	Depreciation and amortization	(6,163		)	(7,066		)
		(20,863		)	(29,157		)
	Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	(10,771	)	$	3,720
	A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is recorded to the extent the Company cannot determine that the ultimate realization of a deferred tax asset is more likely than not. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, the Company assesses all available positive and negative evidence and considers available tax planning strategies. The Company’s valuation allowance relates to certain U.S. and non-U.S. tax loss carryforwards, state loss carryforwards, Foreign Tax Credit carryforwards, Basis Difference on Investments, and a U.S. capital loss carryforward, for which the Company believes, due to various reasons noted below, that it is more likely than not that such benefits will not be realized.
	The change in the Company's valuation allowance of $61.1 million is primarily related to the establishment of a valuation for the Foreign Tax Credit carryforward and the Basis Difference on its Investment in ViSalus.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had Valuation Allowances related to the following:
	•	U.S. federal operating loss carryforwards of $5.7 million limited by Internal Revenue Code section 382 with a corresponding deferred tax asset of $2.2 million that will expire on December 31, 2022, offset by a valuation allowance of $1.7 million;
	•	U.S. state operating losses of $158.6 million that will begin to expire in 2017 with a corresponding deferred tax asset of $8.1 million, offset by a valuation allowance of $8.1 million;
	•	Foreign operating losses of $24.5 million that will begin to expire in 2017 with a corresponding deferred tax asset of $7.2 million, offset by a valuation allowance of $6.7 million;
	•	U.S. capital loss carryforward of $4.0 million which will begin to expire in 2017, offset by a valuation allowance of $1.4 million;
	•	Foreign Tax Credit carryforward of $19.6 million that is offset in its entirety by a valuation allowance of $19.6 million. During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company established a full valuation allowance on this carryforward since it was determined that the Company, more likely than not, will not generate sufficient U.S. taxable income to realize its Foreign Tax Credit deferred tax asset within the carryforward period. This determination was primarily due to U.S. cumulative losses in recent years, and the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against the euro which will effect its ability to both repatriate earnings from its European subsidiaries and implement the tax planning strategies that were previously identified.
	•	Basis Difference in its Investment in ViSalus of $40.3 million that is offset in its entirety by a $40.3 million valuation allowance which was established as of December 31, 2014. The Company recorded a valuation allowance on this asset as the gain on a potential disposal of the Company’s investment in ViSalus would result in a capital loss and, as of December 31, 2014, the Company does not have capital gains available to utilize this loss; and
	•	Other deferred assets of $10.0 million with an offsetting state valuation allowance of $0.3 million.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company determined that $176.5 million of undistributed foreign earnings were not reinvested indefinitely by its non-U.S. subsidiaries.  An accumulated deferred tax liability has been recorded against these undistributed earnings of $1.1 million, which includes the impact of utilization of available foreign tax credits.
	As of December 31, 2014, undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries considered permanently reinvested, for which deferred income taxes have not been provided, were approximately $96.1 million. Determining the tax liability that would arise if these earnings were remitted is not practicable.
	A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount computed at the federal statutory rate is as follows for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Tax at statutory rate	$	(1,229	)	$	2,288		$	123
	Tax effect of:
	U.S. state income taxes, net of federal benefit	(35		)	148			(1,508		)
	Tax exempt interest	—			(11		)	(22		)
	Other non-deductible expenses and return to provision adjustments	3,566			135			(2,133		)
	Dividend from non-consolidating domestic subsidiary	—			852			1,120
	Valuation allowance on foreign tax credits	19,588			—			—
	Valuation allowance movement on capital loss carryforward	(625		)	121			(347		)
	Change in reserve for tax contingencies	(525		)	571			(192		)
Non-deductible impairment	1,015			—			—
Foreign dividend and subpart F income	9,782			11,203			15,020
Tax (benefit) on undistributed foreign earnings	(4,653		)	(185		)	(4,507		)
Foreign tax rate differential	(5,813		)	(8,386		)	(10,204		)
	$	21,071		$	6,736		$	(2,650	)
The following is a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions, excluding interest and penalties, during the year ended December 31, 2014:
(In thousands)
Balance as of January 1, 2014	$	4,035
Gross increases – tax positions prior periods	7
Gross decreases – tax positions prior periods	—
Gross increases – tax positions current period	—
Gross decreases – tax positions current period	—
Decreases – settlements with taxing authorities	(707		)
Reductions - lapse of statute of limitations	(544		)
31-Dec-14	$	2,791
As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $2.8 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties. This amount represents the portion that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate.  The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.  As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company had $4.4 million accrued for the payment of interest and penalties. Interest in the amount of $0.1 million and $0.2 million adversely impacted the current year and the prior year tax rate, respectively.
Due to the various jurisdictions in which the Company files tax returns and the uncertainty regarding the timing of the settlement of tax audits, it is possible that there could be other significant changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits in 2014, but the amount cannot be estimated.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various state and local jurisdictions, and many foreign jurisdictions. The number of years with open tax audits varies depending on the tax jurisdiction.  The Company’s major taxing jurisdictions include the United States (including the state jurisdictions of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts and Michigan), Canada, Germany and Switzerland.  In the United States, the Company is currently open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for the year ended December 31, 2013. Additionally, in Canada and Germany the Company is open to examination for fiscal years 2008 through 2013 and is currently under audit in Canada for fiscal years ended January 31, 2009 through 2011 and in Germany for the years ended 2010 to 2012. In Switzerland, the Company is open to examination for years ended 2009 through 2012.

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Related Party Transaction, Due from (to) Related Party [Abstract]
Related Party Transactions	Related Party Transactions
	The acquisition and recapitalization of ViSalus involves related parties. ViSalus was owned in part by Ropart Asset Management Fund, LLC and related entities (collectively, “RAM”), which owned a significant non-controlling interest in
	ViSalus at the time of acquisition and through September 2012. In September 2012, RAM distributed its interest in ViSalus to
	its members, including Robert B. Goergen (executive Chairman of the Board of Directors), Robert B. Goergen, Jr. (President and Chief Executive Officer) and Todd A. Goergen (son of Robert B. Goergen and brother of Robert B. Goergen, Jr.). Robert B. Goergen beneficially owns approximately 36.0% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, and together with members of his family, owns substantially all of RAM. Todd A. Goergen is currently a member of the Board of Directors of ViSalus and was a member of the board of ViSalus at the time of the acquisition and recapitalization.
	Revolving Loan Agreement with ViSalus. In connection with the ViSalus recapitalization, the Company agreed to make
	available to ViSalus a $6.0 million revolving credit facility. On October 17, 2014, the founders of ViSalus and Robert B.
	Goergen (the “Founder Lenders”) entered into a substantially similar loan agreement with ViSalus (the “Founder Revolving
	Loan Agreement”) pursuant to which they made a revolving credit facility available to ViSalus in an amount up to $6.0 million
	on terms that are substantially identical to the terms of the Blyth Revolving Loan Agreement. Loans made under the Blyth
	Revolving Loan Agreement and loans made under the Founder Revolving Loan Agreement will be made at the same time in
	equal amounts and will rank equally with each other. The revolving loan involves related parties. Robert B. Goergen, Robert B.
	Goergen, Jr. and Todd A. Goergen own 8.29%, 0.34% and 2.81%, respectively, of the outstanding capital stock of ViSalus as of December 31, 2014. As of December 31, 2014, ViSalus owed the Company $3.0 million under the Blyth Revolving Loan Agreement. In February 2015, the Company lent an additional $0.8 million to ViSalus, bringing the amount outstanding to $3.8 million.
	Management and Transition Services with ViSalus. In July 2012, ViSalus and the Company entered into a management services
	agreement under which the Company provided certain administrative support services to ViSalus for what was believed to be
	an arm's length price for such services. The basis for determining the price for the services under the management services
	agreement was on a cost recovery basis and required ViSalus to pay for such services within 30 days of receipt of the invoice.
	In connection with the recapitalization of ViSalus in September 2014, the Company and ViSalus entered into a new transition services agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide certain transition services to ViSalus, including, general administrative services, certain business support services, payroll services and maintenance of certain insurance policies and employee benefit programs. Transition services will be provided for terms that vary by service and are generally considered sufficient to allow ViSalus to arrange for such services on its own behalf following the recapitalization. The transition services will be provided at a fee that is 6% greater than the Company’s actual, out-of-pocket expenses in providing the applicable transition service. The total cost of services that were provided in 2014 under both the management and transition services agreements was $0.8 million. The estimated management fee for administrative services for 2015 is $0.2 million.
	RAM Sublease. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, RAM paid the Company $0.2 million, respectively,
	to sublet office space, which the Company believes approximates the fair market rental for the rental period.
	Term Loan and the Intercreditor Agreement. The term loan and the intercreditor agreement involve related parties since the term lender is owned by Robert B. Goergen, the executive Chairman of the Board, and Pamela Goergen, Mr. Goergen’s wife and a former member of the Company’s board of directors. See Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Stock_Based_Compensation

Stock Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock Based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had one active stock-based compensation plan, the Second Amended and Restated Omnibus Incentive Plan (“2003 Plan”), available to grant future awards. There were 2,040,897 shares authorized for grant as of December 31, 2014, and approximately 1,570,776 shares available for grant under the 2003 Plan. The Company’s policy is to issue new shares of common stock for all stock options exercised and restricted stock grants.
	The Board of Directors and the stockholders of the Company have approved the adoption and subsequent amendments of the 2003 Plan. The 2003 Plan provides for grants of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, dividend equivalents and other stock unit awards to officers and employees. The 2003 Plan also provides for grants of nonqualified stock options to directors of the Company who are not, and who have not been during the immediately preceding 12-month period, officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are granted to certain employees to incent performance and retention. RSUs issued under these plans provide that shares awarded may not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions have lapsed. The release of RSUs on each of the vesting dates is contingent upon continued active employment by the employee until the vesting dates.
	Stock-based compensation expense recognized during the period is based on the value of the portion of stock-based payment awards that is ultimately expected to vest during the period. Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 included compensation expense for restricted stock, RSUs and stock-based awards granted subsequent to January 31, 2006 based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation” (“ASC 718”). The Company recognizes these compensation costs net of a forfeiture rate for only those awards expected to vest, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is over periods of 3 years for stock options; 2 to 5 years for employee restricted stock and RSUs; and 1 to 2 years for non-employee restricted stock and RSUs. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
	Transactions related to restricted stock and RSUs are summarized as follows:
		Shares		Weighted Average		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
				Grant Date Fair Value		(In thousands)
	Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs at December 31, 2012	122,682		$	31.06
	Granted	60,422		16.08
	Vested	(76,883	)	28.75
	Forfeited	(5,481	)	23.65
	Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs at December 31, 2013	100,740		$	24.25	$	1,096
	Granted	136,949		9.49
	Vested	(71,701	)	26.8
	Forfeited	(103	)	37.55
	Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs at December 31, 2014	165,885		$	10.95	$	1,518
	Total restricted stock and RSUs at December 31, 2014	227,257		$	17.08	$	2,079
	Compensation expense related to restricted stock and RSUs for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $1.2 million, $1.7 million and $4.6 million, respectively. The total recognized tax benefit for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $0.4 million, $0.6 million and $1.7 million, respectively. The total intrinsic value of restricted stock and RSUs vested for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $0.6 million. The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock and RSUs granted during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $9, $16 and $36 per share, respectively. The average grant date fair value of restricted stock and RSUs vested for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $27, $29 and $20 per share, respectively.
	As of December 31, 2014, there was $0.5 million of unearned compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock and RSU awards.  This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years. The total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost to be recognized in future periods as of December 31, 2014 does not consider the effect of stock-based awards that may be issued in subsequent periods.
	At December 31, 2013, options to purchase 2,500 shares were vested and exercisable at a weighted average exercise price of 63.37. As of December 31, 2014, all stock options have expired. There were no grants or exercises of stock options for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share	Earnings Per Share
	Vested restricted stock units issued under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans participate in a cash equivalent of the dividends paid to common shareholders and are not considered contingently issuable shares. Accordingly, these RSUs are included in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share as common stock equivalents. RSUs that have not vested and are subject to a risk of forfeiture are included solely in the calculation of diluted earnings per share.
	The components of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Net earnings attributable to Blyth, Inc.	$	86,761		$	2,433		$	44,002
	Weighted average number outstanding:
	Common shares	16,047			16,141			17,113
	Vested restricted stock units	65			55			67
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
	Basic	16,112			16,196			17,180
	Dilutive effect of stock options and non-vested restricted shares units	53			32			67
	Diluted	16,165			16,228			17,247
	Basic earnings (loss) per share:
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(1.55	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.16
	Net earnings from discontinued operations	6.93			0.18			2.4
	Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	$	5.38		$	0.15		$	2.56
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(1.54	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.16
	Net earnings from discontinued operations	6.91			0.18			2.39
	Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	$	5.37		$	0.15		$	2.55
	All weighted average shares outstanding in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the two-for-one stock split that took place on June 15, 2012.

Treasury_And_Common_Stock

Treasury And Common Stock	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Treasury And Common Stock [Abstract]
Treasury And Common Stock	Treasury and Common Stock
	Treasury Stock (In thousands, except shares)	Shares	Amount
	Balance at December 31, 2011	9,204,340	$	(426,717	)
	Treasury stock purchases	694,636	(13,434		)
	Treasury stock withheld in connection with long-term incentive plan	45,263	(1,623		)
	31-Dec-12	9,944,239	$	(441,774	)
	Treasury stock purchases	594,582	(9,961		)
	Treasury stock withheld in connection with long-term incentive plan	18,521	(305		)
	31-Dec-13	10,557,342	$	(452,040	)
	Treasury stock withheld in connection with long-term incentive plan	14,678	(131		)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	10,572,020	$	(452,171	)
	Common Stock (In thousands, except shares)	Shares	Amount
	Balance at December 31, 2011	25,641,484	$	514
	Common stock issued for the purchase of additional ViSalus interest	681,324	14
	Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan	182,402	2
	31-Dec-12	26,505,210	$	530
	Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan	68,821	2
	31-Dec-13	26,574,031	$	532
	Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan	68,219	1
	Balance at December 31, 2014	26,642,250	$	533
	All share amounts, including shares outstanding and activity of Treasury stock and Common stock have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the two-for-one stock split that took place on June 15, 2012.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Information	Segment Information
	The Company’s products include an extensive array of decorative and functional household products such as candles, accessories, seasonal decorations, household convenience items and personalized gifts, as well as health, wellness and beauty related products. The Company's products can be found primarily throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia. The Company's financial results are reported in two segments: the Candles & Home Décor segment and the Catalog & Internet segment.
	Within the Candles & Home Décor segment, the Company designs, manufactures or sources, markets and distributes an extensive line of products including scented candles, candle-related accessories and other fragranced products under the PartyLite® brand. Products in this segment are primarily sold through networks of independent sales consultants. PartyLite brand products are sold primarily in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia.
	Within the Catalog & Internet segment, under the Silver Star Brands name, the Company designs, sources and markets a broad range of household convenience items, health, wellness and beauty products, holiday cards, personalized gifts, kitchen accessories, premium photo albums and frames. These products are sold directly to the consumer under the Miles Kimball®, Walter Drake®, Easy Comforts®, As We Change®, Exposures® and Native Remedies® brands. These products are sold in the United States and Canada.
	Operating profit in all segments represents net sales less operating expenses directly related to the business segments and corporate expenses allocated to the business segments.  Other expense includes Interest expense, Interest income, and Foreign exchange and other which are not allocated to the business segments.  Identifiable assets for each segment consist of assets used directly in its operations and intangible assets, if any, resulting from purchase business combinations.  Unallocated Corporate within the identifiable assets include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, discontinued operations, prepaid income tax, corporate fixed assets, deferred debt costs and other long-term investments, which are not allocated to the business segments. Corporate expenses are allocated to each segment based on budgeted sales.
	The geographic area data includes net sales based on product shipment destination and long-lived assets, which consist of fixed assets, based on physical location.
	Operating Segment Information
	(In thousands)	For the year ended
	Financial Information	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Net Sales				-3			(3)(1)
	Candles & Home Décor	$	347,640		$	390,796		$	417,266
	Catalog & Internet	142,380			143,466			138,714
	Total	$	490,020		$	534,262		$	555,980
	Earnings (1)
	Candles & Home Décor	$	7,505		$	14,808		$	12,276
	Catalog & Internet	(408		)	(2,918		)	(8,261		)
	Operating profit	7,097			11,890			4,015
	Other Expense/(Income) (4)	(10,609		)	(5,354		)	(3,664		)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes and non-controlling interest	$	(3,512	)	$	6,536		$	351
	Identifiable Assets
	Candles & Home Décor	148,658			175,900			188,731
	Catalog & Internet	51,393			50,880			51,274
	Unallocated  Corporate	87,302			140,061			196,109
	Total	$	287,353		$	366,841		$	436,114
	Capital Expenditures (2)
	Candles & Home Décor	1,908			2,819			7,792
	Catalog & Internet	922			223			896
	Unallocated Corporate	37			19			410
	Total	$	2,867		$	3,061		$	9,098
	Depreciation and Amortization
	Candles & Home Décor	6,139			6,616			6,499
	Catalog & Internet	1,974			3,022			3,377
	Unallocated Corporate	209			251			256
	Total	$	8,322		$	9,889		$	10,132
	Geographic Information
	Net Sales
	United States	$	207,659		$	222,092		$	235,348
	International	282,361			312,170			320,632
	Total	$	490,020		$	534,262		$	555,980
	Long Lived Assets
	United States	$	42,543		$	45,537		$	50,277
	International	25,723			31,289			30,954
	Total	$	68,266		$	76,826		$	81,231
	-1	For the year ended December 31, 2014, earnings within the Candles & Home Décor segment include a one-time fixed asset impairment charge of $0.6 million on certain machinery and equipment located at the Cumbria, United Kingdom facility (See Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). For the year ended December 31, 2012, earnings within the Catalog & Internet segment include non-cash pre-tax intangibles impairment charges of $0.8 million (See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
	-2	Capital expenditures are presented net of disposals and transfers. The unallocated corporate balance is net of transfers to other divisions.
	-3	As adjusted for discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
	-4	For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded a $2.9 million impairment charge on its ViSalus investment. On February 4, 2013, the Company received $10.0 million as a final settlement on a promissory note. As a result of this settlement, the Company recorded an impairment charge in Foreign Exchange and Other expense of $1.6 million, net of other adjustments, to write-down the promissory note to the settlement amount.

Selected_Quarterly_Financial_D

Selected Quarterly Financial Data	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Selected Quarterly Financial Data	Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
	A summary of selected quarterly information for the year ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		December 31, 2014 Quarter Ended
		(In thousands, except per share data)(2)
		31-Mar			30-Jun			30-Sep			31-Dec
	Net sales	$	118,239		$	104,233		$	90,752		$	176,796
	Gross profit	74,382			63,926			53,495			115,437
	Operating profit (loss)	(132		)	(2,136		)	(11,422		)	20,787
	Net loss from continuing operations	(724		)	(2,680		)	(9,571		)	(11,951		)
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(2,038		)	(1,760		)	115,744			(259		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.	$	(2,762	)	$	(4,440	)	$	106,173		$	(12,210	)
	Basic earnings per share
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(0.05	)	$	(0.17	)	$	(0.59	)	$	(0.74	)
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.12		)	(0.11		)	7.17			(0.01		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc. (1)	$	(0.17	)	$	(0.28	)	$	6.58		$	(0.75	)
	Diluted earnings per share
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(0.05	)	$	(0.17	)	$	(0.59	)	$	(0.73	)
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.12		)	(0.11		)	7.16			(0.02		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc. (1)	$	(0.17	)	$	(0.28	)	$	6.57		$	(0.75	)
		December 31, 2013 Quarter Ended
		(In thousands, except per share data)(2)
		31-Mar			30-Jun			30-Sep			31-Dec
	Net sales	$	128,786		$	110,209		$	97,029		$	198,238
	Gross profit	79,188			67,167			56,281			132,040
	Operating profit (loss)	(421		)	(4,054		)	(11,548		)	27,913
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(717		)	(4,000		)	(9,106		)	13,310
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	3,313			2,642			636			(3,645		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.	$	2,596		$	(1,358	)	$	(8,470	)	$	9,665
	Basic earnings per share
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.25	)	$	(0.57	)	$	0.83
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0.2			0.17			0.04			(0.23		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc. (1)	$	0.16		$	(0.08	)	$	(0.53	)	$	0.6
	Diluted earnings per share
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.25	)	$	(0.57	)	$	0.83
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0.2			0.17			0.04			(0.23		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc. (1)	$	0.16		$	(0.08	)	$	(0.53	)	$	0.6
	(1) The sum of per share amounts for the quarters does not necessarily equal that reported for the year because the computations are made independently.
	(2) As adjusted for change in discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Subsequent_Events_Notes

Subsequent Events (Notes)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	Note 21. Subsequent Events
	PartyLite has in recent years manufactured substantially all of its candles at its facilities in Batavia, Illinois and Cumbria, United Kingdom. On January 13, 2015, as part of the Company's efforts to centralize PartyLite’s manufacturing operations and reduce duplication of functions, the Company's Board of Directors approved PartyLite’s creation of a “Global Center of Excellence” in Batavia, Illinois and the closing of its manufacturing facility located in Cumbria, United Kingdom. The closure of this facility is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2015. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has recorded a one-time fixed asset impairment of $0.6 million on certain machinery and equipment located at the Cumbria, United Kingdom facility. All assets have been classified as held and used as of December 31, 2014 as the facility can not be sold in its present condition and there have been no plans to market it. The Company estimates that closing PartyLite’s Cumbria facility will result in total annualized savings of $8.0 million, or $40.0 million over the next five years.  In addition, the Company estimates that it will incur pre-tax one-time and transitional costs of $6.0 million in the first half of 2015, composed of $2.6 million to shut down the Cumbria facility (including severance costs and equipment removal), $1.2 million for continued overhead at Cumbria while manufacturing is transitioned to Batavia, $1.0 million of capital expenditures and $1.2 million of miscellaneous costs (e.g., equipment upgrades).  The Company does not anticipate that there will be any further material future cash expenditures associated with the closure of the Cumbria manufacturing facility.
	On February 9, 2015, the Company announced that its Silver Star Brands business unit acquired certain of the assets of Native Remedies® LLC at a purchase price of $5.0 million. Native Remedies is a direct-to-consumer eCommerce marketer of natural herbal dietary supplements and homeopathic products. The Native Remedies brand will become part of Silver Star Brands. Financial results from the date of the acquisition will be included in the Company's Catalog & Internet segment for reporting purposes.
	On March 9, 2015, the Company, together with all of its domestic subsidiaries, except the subsidiary through which it holds its interest in ViSalus (collectively, the “domestic subsidiaries”), entered into a Term Loan and Security Agreement with GFIE, LLC, as term lender. The agreement provides for a five-year term loan in an original principal amount equal to $35.0 million. The obligations under the agreement are secured by, among other assets, (i) a first priority lien on and security interest in PartyLite’s manufacturing facility in Batavia, IL and the intellectual property and various stock and other equity interests owned by the Company and the domestic subsidiaries and (ii) a second priority lien on and security interest in the Company's and the domestic subsidiaries' accounts receivable, inventory, chattel paper, and deposit and securities accounts and PartyLite’s office building in Plymouth, MA. The term loan bears interest at a non-default rate of the greater of 1.00% or LIBOR, in each case plus 5%, payable quarterly in arrears. The principal amount of the term loan will be paid in installments as follows: beginning on March 31, 2016, and continuing on the last day of each calendar quarter thereafter, up to and including December 31, 2019, the Company will pay equal quarterly installments of $437.5 thousand. The entire remaining balance of principal and accrued interest on the term loan, and all other charges and/or amounts then due in connection with the term loan, will be due and payable in full on March 9, 2020. The term loan may be prepaid, in whole or in part, from time to time, without penalty or premium. In addition, commencing in 2017 (based on our 2016 results), the Company is required to prepay the term loan annually in an amount up to 25% of “excess cash flow,” if any. For these purposes, excess cash flow is the Company's consolidated EBITDA for the most recently completed fiscal year, determined as set forth in the term loan, less certain capital expenditures, certain repayments of debt, certain interest expenses, and certain cash and other expenditures.
	The term loan contains covenants that restrict, subject to certain exceptions, the Company's and all of its subsidiaries' ability to, among other things: (i) incur indebtedness; (ii) create liens on assets; (iii) engage in mergers or consolidations; (iv) engage in certain dispositions or acquisitions of assets; (v) make investments, loans, guarantees or advances; (vi) pay dividends and distributions or repurchase its common stock; (vii) repay or prepay certain indebtedness; (viii) enter into sale and leaseback transactions; (ix) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and (x) change the nature of its or any of its subsidiaries’ business. In addition, the term loan (a) requires the Company to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio (“FCCR”) of 1.0 to 1.0 upon the occurrence of certain events or conditions, (b) with certain exceptions, prohibits the Company from making acquisitions if the FCCR is less than 1.0 to 1.0, and (c) among other conditions, generally prohibits the Company from paying dividends or repurchasing its common stock:
	• for amounts in excess of $2.5 million in any twelve-month period;
	• at times when there are no loans outstanding under the revolving loan agreement, if availability (on a pro forma basis) is less than $3.0 million; and
	• at times when there are loans outstanding under the revolving loan agreement, if (a) availability (on a pro forma basis) is less than the greater of 30.0% of the revolving loan commitment or $2.25 million, (b) immediately after such dividend or repurchase, availability (on a pro forma basis) would be less than the greater of 30.0% of the revolving loan commitment or $2.25 million or (c) the FCCR is less than 1.1 to 1.0.
	The Company estimates that its FCCR was less than 1.0 to 1.0 at February 28, 2015. The term loan agreement also contains additional affirmative, negative and financial covenants and events of default.
	The proceeds of the term loan, together with available cash, were used to fund the mandatory redemption of the 6.00% Senior Notes.
	On March 9, 2015, the Company and the domestic subsidiaries also entered into a Loan and Security Agreement, which it refers to as the revolving loan agreement, with Bank of America, N.A., as revolver lender. The revolving loan agreement provides for an asset-based five-year revolving line of credit facility in an aggregate principal amount up to the lesser of $15.0 million or an amount determined by reference to a “borrowing base,” which deducts such reserves as the revolver lender may require in its reasonable discretion. The Company's borrowing base under the revolving loan agreement will be comprised principally of specified percentages of eligible inventory, accounts receivables and (once a required appraisal is received) PartyLite’s office building in Plymouth, MA. The obligations under the revolving loan agreement are secured by, among other assets, (i) a first priority lien on and security interest in the Company's and the domestic subsidiaries' accounts receivable, inventory, chattel paper and deposit and securities accounts, as well as PartyLite’s office building in Plymouth, MA, and (ii) a second priority lien on and security interest in various other assets of the Company and the domestic subsidiaries, including PartyLite’s manufacturing facility in Batavia, IL, and its and the domestic subsidiaries' intellectual property and various stock and other equity interests.
	The Company estimates that, based on the value of eligible inventory, accounts receivable and PartyLite’s office building in Plymouth, MA, as of January 31, 2015, subject to the receipt of the appraisal of that facility, its borrowing base would have been approximately $13.0 million. As of the date hereof, the Company has not made any borrowings under the revolving loan agreement and has outstanding thereunder only an existing letter of credit for approximately $1.1 million.
	Loans under the revolving loan agreement will bear non-default interest at a rate equal to either (i) LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.25% or (ii) a base rate equal, at the time of determination, to the greater of (a) the revolver lender’s prime rate; (b) the Federal Funds Rate (as defined) plus 0.50%; or (c) LIBOR for a 30 day interest period plus 1.00%, in each case plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.75% to 1.25%. All loans under the revolving loan agreement will be due and payable in full on March 9, 2020, and may be prepaid, in whole or in part, from time to time, without penalty or premium (except as may be necessary to cover certain funding losses in connection with LIBOR loans). If an overadvance, as determined pursuant to the revolving loan agreement, exists at any time, or accounts receivable are disposed of, the Company will be required to repay a portion of the loans under the revolving loan agreement determined as set forth in the revolving loan agreement.
	The revolving loan agreement contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants that are substantially similar to those contained in the term loan agreement and that restrict and impose obligations on the Company and the domestic subsidiaries in the same manner. The revolving loan agreement also contains events of default that are substantially similar to those contained in the term loan agreement.
	Loans under the revolving loan agreement will be used primarily for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
	The relative rights of the term lender and the revolver lender with respect to their respective liens and remedies are governed by an intercreditor agreement.
	The term loan agreement and the intercreditor agreement involve related parties since the term lender is owned by Robert B. Goergen, our executive Chairman of the Board, and Pamela Goergen, Mr. Goergen’s wife and a former member of the Company's board of directors. The term loan was approved by a special committee of the Company's Board of Directors comprised solely of independent directors.  The special committee received legal advice from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and a fairness opinion from Duff & Phelps.

Valuation_And_Qualifying_Accou

Valuation And Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts	SCHEDULE II- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
		Balance at Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses		Deductions				Balance at End of Period
	Description
	(In thousands)
	For the year ended 12/31/2012
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	380	$	1,354	$	(460	)		$	1,274
	Income tax valuation allowance	19,083		320		—				19,403
	For the year ended 12/31/2013
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	1,274	$	5,546	$	(2,888	)		$	3,932
	Income tax valuation allowance	19,403		1,460		(3,797		)	(a)	17,066
	For the year ended 12/31/2014
	Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	3,932	$	6,790	$	(5,241	)		$	5,481
	Income tax valuation allowance	17,066		61,157		(14		)		78,209
	(a) $3,201 of deductions relates to valuation allowance associated with expiring capital losses.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account1

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation
	The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Blyth, Inc. and its subsidiaries. The Company’s Catalog & Internet subsidiaries operate on a 52 or 53-week fiscal year ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. The Company consolidates entities in which it owns or controls more than 50% of the voting shares and/or investments where the Company has been determined to have control. The portion of the entity not owned by the Company is reflected as the noncontrolling interest within the Equity section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Discontinued Operations	Discontinued Operations
	In September 2014, the Company entered into a recapitalization agreement with ViSalus that reduced its ownership in ViSalus from approximately 80.9% to 10.0%. In October 2012, the Company sold its Sterno business. See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. The results of operations for these businesses have been reclassified to discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Two-for-one stock split	Two-for-one stock split
	On May 16, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors announced a two-for-one stock split of its common stock effective in the form of a stock dividend of one share for each outstanding share. The record date for the stock split was June 1, 2012, and the additional shares were distributed on June 15, 2012. Accordingly, all per share amounts, weighted average shares outstanding, shares outstanding and shares repurchased presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes have been adjusted retroactively to reflect the stock split. Shareholders' equity has been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the stock split for all periods presented by reclassifying the par value of the additional shares issued in connection with the stock split from Retained Earnings to Common Stock.
Estimates	Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Credit Concentration	Credit Concentration
	The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral.  The Company makes provisions for estimated credit losses. No single customer accounts for 10% or more of Net Sales or Accounts Receivable.
Foreign Currency Translation	Foreign Currency Translation
	The Company’s international subsidiaries use their local currency as their functional currency.  Therefore, all Balance Sheet accounts of international subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the year-end rates of exchange and Statement of Earnings items are translated using the weighted average exchange rates for the period.  Resulting translation adjustments are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Transactional gains and losses arising from the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations on transactions in a currency other than the local functional currency are included in Foreign exchange and other, net within the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.
Investments	Investments
	The Company makes investments from time to time in the ordinary course of its business that may include equity securities, debt instruments (all maturing within one year), mutual funds, cost investments and long-term investments and/or joint ventures. The Company’s investments are accounted for in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topics 320 Investments – debt and equity securities and 325 Investments - other. The Company reviews investments for impairment using both quantitative and qualitative factors. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities that are considered temporary and are not the result of a credit loss are included in AOCI, net of applicable taxes, while realized gains and losses are reported in earnings.
Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments	Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments
	The Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on foreign denominated inventory purchases, intercompany payables and certain loans. It does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.  The Company has also hedged the net assets of certain of its foreign operations through foreign currency forward contracts.
	The Company has designated forward exchange contracts on forecasted intercompany purchases and purchase commitments as cash flow hedges and as long as the hedge remains effective and the underlying transaction remains probable, the effective portion of the changes in the fair value of these contracts are recorded in AOCI until earnings are affected by the variability of the cash flows being hedged.  With regard to commitments for inventory purchases, upon payment of each commitment, the underlying forward contract is closed and the corresponding gain or loss is transferred from AOCI upon sale of the asset assigned and is realized in the Consolidated Statements of Earnings.  If a hedging instrument is sold or terminated prior to maturity, gains and losses are deferred in AOCI until the hedged item is settled.  However, if the hedged item is no longer probable of occurring, the resultant gain or loss on the hedge is recognized into earnings immediately.
	The Company has designated its foreign currency forward contracts related to certain foreign denominated loans and intercompany payables as fair value hedges.  The gains or losses on the fair value hedges are recognized into earnings and generally offset the transaction gains or losses in the foreign denominated loans that they are intended to hedge.
	For consolidated financial statement presentation, net cash flows from such hedges are classified in the categories of the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows with the items being hedged. Forward contracts held with each bank are presented within the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a net asset or liability, based on netting agreements with each bank and whether the forward contracts are in a net gain or loss position. Refer to Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details on our accounting for derivative instruments.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Amounts due from credit card companies of $1.7 million for the settlement of credit card transactions are included in cash equivalents because they are both short-term and highly liquid instruments and typically take one to three business days to be received by the Company. The major credit card companies making these payments are highly accredited businesses and the Company does not deem them to have material counterparty credit risk.
	The Company holds its cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions. Cash balances in the Company’s U.S. concentration accounts are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation with no limit per bank. The Company has $1.1 million of restricted cash, reported in Investments used as collateral for standby letters of credit as of December 31, 2014. This cash will be restricted until the standby letters of credit are relieved by the beneficiaries.
Inventories	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out method.  The Company records provisions for obsolete, excess and unmarketable inventory in Cost of goods sold.
Shipping and Handling	Shipping and Handling
	The Company classifies shipping and handling fees billed to customers as Revenue, and shipping and handling costs as Cost of goods sold.
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $8.1 million, $9.3 million and $9.5 million, respectively.  The amortization of assets obtained through capital leases is also recorded as a component of depreciation expense. Depreciation is provided for principally by use of the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes.  Leasehold improvements are amortized over the lives of the respective leases or the service lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter.  The Company records gains and losses from the sale of property, plant and equipment in operating profit.
Goodwill and Other Indefinite Lived Intangibles	Goodwill and Other Indefinite Lived Intangibles
	Goodwill and Other indefinite-lived intangibles are subject to an assessment for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that goodwill or other indefinite lived intangibles might be impaired. The Company performs its annual assessment of impairment for goodwill in the first quarter.
	For goodwill, the first step is to identify whether a potential impairment exists. This is done by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill.  Fair value for each of the Company’s reporting units is estimated utilizing a combination of valuation techniques, namely the discounted cash flow and market multiple methodologies. The discounted cash flow analysis assumes the fair value of an asset can be estimated by the economic benefit or net cash flows the asset will generate over the life of the asset, discounted to its present value. The discounting process uses a rate of return that accounts for both the time value of money and the investment risk factors. The market multiple analysis estimates fair value based on what other participants in the market have recently paid for reasonably similar assets. Adjustments are made to compensate for differences between the reasonably similar assets and the assets being valued. The fair value of the reporting units is derived by using a combination of the two valuation techniques described above. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value, no further analysis is necessary. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step is performed. The second step compares the carrying amount of the goodwill to the estimated fair value of the goodwill. If fair value is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is reported as a reduction to the goodwill and a charge to operating expense.
	For indefinite-lived intangible assets, the Company uses the relief from royalty method to estimate the fair value for indefinite-lived intangible assets and compares this value to book value. The underlying concept of the relief from royalty method is that the inherent economic value of intangibles is directly related to the timing of future cash flows associated with the intangible asset. Similar to the discounted cash flow methodology used to determine the fair value of goodwill, the fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets is equal to the present value of after-tax cash flows associated with the intangible asset based on an applicable royalty rate. The royalty rate is determined by using existing market comparables for royalty agreements. The arms-length agreements generally support a rate that is a percentage of direct sales. This approach is based on the premise that the free cash flow is a more valid criterion for measuring value than “book” or accounting profits.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
	The Company reviews long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and other intangibles with definite lives for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicated that the carrying amount of such an asset might not be recoverable. When indicators are present, management determines whether there has been an impairment on long-lived assets held for use in the business by comparing anticipated undiscounted future cash flow from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group to the carrying value of the asset or asset group.  The amount of any resulting impairment is calculated by comparing the carrying value to the fair value of the individual assets.
	Long-lived assets that meet the definition of held for sale are valued at the lower of carrying amount or net realizable value. Assets or asset groups are determined at the lowest level possible for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other assets and liabilities. For assets whose aggregate undiscounted cash flows are less than its carrying value, the assets are considered potentially impaired and actual impairments, if any, would be determined to the extent the assets carrying value exceeds its aggregate fair value.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	AOCI is comprised of foreign currency cumulative translation adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, the net gains and losses on cash flow hedging instruments and net investment hedges.  The Company reports, by major components and as a single total, the change in comprehensive income (loss) during the period as part of the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
	Income tax expense is based on taxable income, statutory tax rates and the impact of non-deductible items. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts. The Company periodically estimates whether its tax benefits are more likely than not sustainable on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. There are inherent uncertainties related to the interpretation of tax regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company transacts business. The judgments and estimates made at a point in time may change based on the outcome of tax audits, as well as changes to or further interpretations of regulations. If such changes take place, there is a risk that the Company's tax rate may increase or decrease in any period.
	Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect the Company's best estimate of the tax benefits and costs expected to be realized in the future. The Company establishes valuation allowances to reduce its deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized.
	In accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), the Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be capable of withstanding examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the position. A number of years may elapse before an uncertain tax position for which the Company has established a tax reserve is audited and finally resolved, and the number of years for which the Company has audits that are open varies depending on the tax jurisdiction (a current summary is provided in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). When facts and circumstances change, the Company reassesses these probabilities and records any necessary adjustments to the provision.
	The Company determined that a portion of its undistributed foreign earnings are not reinvested indefinitely by its non-U.S. subsidiaries, and accordingly, recorded a deferred income tax liability related to these undistributed earnings. The Company periodically reassesses whether the non-U.S. subsidiaries will invest their undistributed earnings indefinitely.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition
	Revenues consist of sales to customers, net of returns and allowances.  The Company recognizes revenue upon delivery, when both title and risk of loss are transferred to the customer.  The Company presents revenues net of any taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities. The Company also records revenue on financing fees from past due balances from financing receivables within its Catalog & Internet segment.
	The Company records estimated reductions to revenue for customer promotions, volume incentives and other promotions. The Company also records reductions to revenue, based primarily on historical experience, for estimated customer returns and chargebacks that may arise as a result of shipping errors, product damaged in transit or for other reasons that can only become known subsequent to recognizing the revenue.  In some instances, the Company receives payment in advance of product delivery and records it as deferred revenue.  Upon delivery of product for which advance payment has been made, the related deferred revenue is reversed and recorded to revenue. Gift card sales are also included in deferred revenue. Upon redemption or when redemption is remote, the related deferred revenue is recorded to revenue. The Company considers applicable escheat laws and historical redemption data when realizing gift card revenue.
	The Company has established an allowance for doubtful accounts for its trade and financing receivables.  The allowance is determined based on the Company’s evaluation of specific customers’ ability to pay, aging of receivables, historical experience and the current economic environment. The sales price for the Company’s products is fixed prior to the time of shipment to the customer.  Customers have the right to return product in circumstances for which the Company believes are typical of the industry for such reasons as damaged goods, shipping errors or similar occurrences. Independent consultants within the Candles & Home Decor segment are allowed to return unused product purchased within the past twelve months for a refund of 90% of its original purchase price.
Earnings per Common and Common Equivalent Share	Earnings per Common and Common Equivalent Share
	Basic earnings per common share and common share equivalents are computed based upon the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. These outstanding shares include both outstanding common shares and vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) as common stock equivalents. Diluted earnings per common share and common share equivalents reflect the potential dilution that could occur if options and fixed awards to be issued under stock-based compensation arrangements were converted into common stock.
Employee Stock Compensation	Employee Stock Compensation
	The Company has share-based compensation plans as described in Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.  In accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the Company measures and records compensation expense, based on estimated fair values, for all share-based awards made to employees and directors, including stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units.  The Company recognizes compensation expense for share-based awards expected to vest on a straight line basis with graded vesting over the requisite service period of the award based on their grant date fair value.
Cost of Goods Sold and Operating Expenses	Cost of Goods Sold and Operating Expenses
	Cost of goods sold includes the cost of raw materials and their procurement costs, inbound and outbound freight, and the direct and indirect costs associated with the personnel, resources and property, plant and equipment related to the manufacturing, warehousing, inventory management and order fulfillment functions. Selling expenses include commissions paid to consultants, customer service costs, catalog costs including printing and shipping, the salaries and benefits related to personnel within the marketing and selling functions, costs associated with promotional offers to independent consultants, allowances for doubtful accounts and other selling and marketing expenses. Administrative and other expenses includes salaries and related benefits associated with various administrative departments, including human resources, legal, information technology, finance and executive, as well as professional fees and administrative facility costs associated with leased buildings, office equipment and supplies.
Promotional Offers to Independent Consultants and Promoters	Promotional Offers to Independent Consultants
	The Company’s direct selling sales are generated by its independent consultants, who strive to maximize the interrelated objectives of selling product, scheduling (or booking) parties or events and recruiting new consultants.  In order to encourage its consultants to accomplish these goals, the Company makes monthly promotional offers including free or discounted products to consultants and customers, as well as annual incentive trips and the payment of bonuses to consultants.
	Promotions, including free or discounted products, are designed to increase revenues by providing incentives for customers and guests attending shows whose purchases exceed a certain level. Promotional offers for free products are recorded as a charge to Cost of goods sold when incurred, and promotional offers for discounted products are recorded as a reduction of revenue when incurred with the full cost of the product being charged to Cost of goods sold.  Sales bonuses are awarded based on achieving certain ranks within the compensation plan. These bonuses are paid monthly and are charged to selling expenses when earned.
	Annual incentive trips and bonuses are awarded to consultants who recruit new consultants or achieve certain sales levels. Estimated costs related to these promotional offers are recorded as compensation within Selling expense as they are earned. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, expenses related to promotional activities were $6.1 million, $6.6 million and $6.5 million, respectively.
Advertising and Catalog Costs	Advertising and Catalog Costs
	The Company expenses the costs of advertising as incurred, except the costs for direct-response advertising, which are capitalized and amortized over the expected period of future benefit. For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, advertising expenses were $47.0 million, $64.8 million and $66.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, prepaid advertising expenses totaled $7.9 million and $8.5 million, respectively.
	Direct-response advertising relates to the Silver Star Brands business and consists primarily of the costs to produce direct-mail order catalogs.  The capitalized production costs are amortized for each specific catalog mailing over the period following catalog distribution in proportion to revenues (orders) received, compared to total estimated revenues for that particular catalog mailing.  The amortization period is generally from three to six months and does not exceed twelve months.
	In the Candles & Home Décor segment, catalog production costs are capitalized and expensed as the catalogs are distributed, generally over less than a twelve month period.

Employee_Benefit_Plans_benefit

Employee Benefit Plans benefit plans (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company has defined contribution employee benefit plans in both the United States and certain of its foreign locations, covering substantially all eligible non-union employees.  Contributions to all such plans are principally at the Company’s discretion.  Total expense related to all defined contribution plans in the United States for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1.2 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
	Certain of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries provide pension benefits to employees or participate in government sponsored programs.  The cost of these plans or government sponsored programs was $1.7 million, $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Most employees outside the United States are covered by government sponsored and administered programs. Other contributions to government-mandated programs are not expected to be significant.

Summary_Of_Significant_Account2

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	The principal estimated lives used in determining depreciation are as follows:
	Buildings	27 to 40 years
	Leasehold improvements	5 to 10 years
	Machinery and equipment	5 to 12 years
	Office furniture, data processing equipment and software	3 to 7 years
Schedule Of Tax Effects Allocated To Each Component Of Other Comprehensive Income	The following table discloses the tax effects allocated to each component of AOCI in the financial statements:
	(In thousands)		December 31, 2014									December 31, 2013									December 31, 2012
			Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) or Benefit			Net-of-tax Amount			Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) or Benefit			Net-of-tax Amount			Before-Tax Amount			Tax (Expense) or Benefit			Net-of-tax Amount
	Foreign currency translation adjustments		$	2,560		$	(7,358	)	$	(4,798	)	$	(949	)	$	2,863		$	1,914		$	2,347		$	1,104		$	3,451
	Net unrealized gain (loss) on certain investments		(168		)	59			(109		)	(260		)	91			(169		)	264			(62		)	202
	Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging instruments		675			(236		)	439			(237		)	83			(154		)	(741		)	251			(490		)
	Less: Reclassification adjustments for (gain) loss included in net income		(69		)	24			(45		)	569			(199		)	370			(960		)	336			(624		)
	Other comprehensive income (loss)		$	2,998		$	(7,511	)	$	(4,513	)	$	(877	)	$	2,838		$	1,961		$	910		$	1,629		$	2,539

Investments_Tables

Investments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Schedule Of Amortized Costs And Fair Value	The following table summarizes, by major security type, the amortized costs and fair value of the Company’s investments:
		December 31, 2014									December 31, 2013
	(In thousands)	Cost Basis(1)			Fair Value			Net unrealized loss in AOCI(2)			Cost Basis(1)		Fair Value		Net unrealized
															loss in AOCI
	Short-term bond mutual funds	$	19,092		$	18,961		$	(131	)	$	8,000	$	7,985	$	(15	)
	Certificates of deposit	1,101			1,101			—			1,070		1,070		—
	Investment in ViSalus	6,850			6,850			—			—		—		—
	Total investments	$	27,043		$	26,912		$	(131	)	$	9,070	$	9,055	$	(15	)
	(1) The cost basis represents the actual amount paid less any permanent impairment of that asset.
Schedule Of Gains And Losses
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Net proceeds	$	8,900		$	44,655
	Realized losses	$	(8	)	$	(304	)

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Schedule Of Components Of Inventory	The major components of Inventories are as follows:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Raw materials	$	3,259	$	3,642
	Finished goods	42,525		51,040
	Total	$	45,784	$	54,682

Derivatives_and_Other_Financia1

Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
General Discussion of Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract]
Schedule Of Fair Value And Location Of Hedges In The Consolidated Balance Sheets	The table below details the fair value and location of the Company’s hedges in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
	(In thousands)	31-Dec-14				31-Dec-13
	Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Prepaid Assets				Accrued Expenses
	Foreign exchange forward contracts in an asset position	$	405			$	44
	Foreign exchange forward contracts in a liability position	(8		)		(225		)
	Net derivatives at fair value	$	397			$	(181	)
Schedule Of Cash Flow Hedges	Gain and loss activity recorded to Cost of goods sold and reclassified from AOCI to the Company’s cash flow hedges are as follows:
		Amount of Gain (Loss)							Amount of Gain (Loss)
	Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Recognized in AOCI on Derivative							Reclassified from AOCI into Income
		(Effective Portion)							(Effective Portion)
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013				December 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	720		$	(274	)		$	174	$	(235	)

Goodwill_And_Other_Intangibles1

Goodwill And Other Intangibles (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule Of Other Intangible Assets By Segment	Other intangible assets within the Catalog & Internet segment include the following:
	(In thousands)	Indefinite-lived trade names and trademarks		Customer relationships
	Other intangibles at December 31, 2012	$	6,566	$	827
	Amortization	—		(613		)
	Other intangibles at December 31, 2013	$	6,566	$	214
	Amortization	—		(187		)
	Other intangibles at December 31, 2014	$	6,566	$	27

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On Recurring Basis	The following tables summarizes the financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of  December 31, 2014 and 2013, and the basis for that measurement, by level within the fair value hierarchy:
	(In thousands)	Balance as of December 31, 2014			Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant			Significant
							other observable inputs			unobservable inputs
	Financial assets						(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Short-term bond mutual funds	$	18,961		$	18,961	$	—		$	—
	Certificates of deposit	1,101			—		1,101			—
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	405			—		405			—
	Deferred compensation plan assets (1)	962			962		—			—
	Total	$	21,429		$	19,923	$	1,506		$	—
	Financial liabilities
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	(8	)	$	—	$	(8	)	$	—
	(1) Recorded as an Other asset with an offsetting liability for the obligation to employees in Other liabilities.
	(In thousands)	Balance as of December 31, 2013			Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1)		Significant			Significant
							other observable inputs			unobservable inputs
	Financial assets						(Level 2)			(Level 3)
	Short-term bond mutual funds	$	7,985		$	7,985	$	—		$	—
	Certificates of deposit	1,070			—		1,070			—
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	44					44
	Deferred compensation plan assets (1)	1,007			1,007		—			—
	Total	$	10,106		$	8,992	$	1,114		$	—
	Financial liabilities
	Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	(225	)	$	—	$	(225	)	$	—
	(1) Recorded as an Other asset with an offsetting liability for the obligation to employees in Other liabilities.

Accrued_Expenses_Tables

Accrued Expenses (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Schedule Of Accrued Expenses	Accrued expenses consist of the following:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014		December 31, 2013
	Compensation and benefits	$	9,707	$	11,715
	Deferred revenue	9,928		9,455
	Promotional	6,109		6,874
	Interest payable	2,341		384
	Postage & Freight	2,476		1,763
	Professional fees	2,734		1,433
	Taxes, other than income	1,516		1,632
	Self insurance reserves	717		789
	Inventory	502		633
	Other	5,297		6,253
	Total	$	41,327	$	40,931

LongTerm_Debt_Tables

Long-Term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]	Long-term debt consists of the following:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	6.00% Senior Notes	$	50,000		$	50,000
	Other	5,463			6,278
		55,463			56,278
	Less current maturities	(50,907		)	(952		)
		$	4,556		$	55,326
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]
	Maturities under debt obligations for the years ending December 31 are as follows (In thousands):
	2015	$	50,907
	2016	954
	2017	993
	2018	1,039
	2019	1,037
	Thereafter	533
		$	55,463

Employee_Benefit_Plans_benefit1

Employee Benefit Plans benefit plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Asset Retirement Obligation Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]	Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company has defined contribution employee benefit plans in both the United States and certain of its foreign locations, covering substantially all eligible non-union employees.  Contributions to all such plans are principally at the Company’s discretion.  Total expense related to all defined contribution plans in the United States for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1.2 million, $1.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
	Certain of the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries provide pension benefits to employees or participate in government sponsored programs.  The cost of these plans or government sponsored programs was $1.7 million, $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Most employees outside the United States are covered by government sponsored and administered programs. Other contributions to government-mandated programs are not expected to be significant.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule Of Future Minimum Rental Payments For Operating And Capital Leases [Table Text Block]
	The minimum future rental commitments under operating and capital leases are as follows (In thousands):
	For the years ending December 31,
	2015	$	5,271
	2016	4,121
	2017	2,800
	2018	2,445
	2019	2,280
	and thereafter	2,188
	Total minimum payments required	$	19,105

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]	Earnings (loss) from operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	United States	$	(39,400	)	$	(35,049	)	$	(45,352	)
	Foreign	35,888			41,585			45,703
		$	(3,512	)	$	6,536		$	351
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	Income tax expense (benefit) attributable to continuing operations consists of the following for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Current  income tax expense:
	Federal	$	(340	)	$	(1,857	)	$	(5,989	)
	State	137			295			(554		)
	Foreign	6,802			6,505			5,690
		$	6,599		$	4,943		$	(853	)
	Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
	Federal	$	14,677		$	2,136		$	(1,640	)
	State	(123		)	(7		)	(315		)
	Foreign	(82		)	(336		)	158
		14,472			1,793			(1,797		)
		$	21,071		$	6,736		$	(2,650	)
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Amortization of intangibles	$	2,018		$	3,173
	Accrued expenses and other	1,401			5,994
	Allowance for doubtful receivables	1,891			1,217
	Employee benefit plans	2,356			2,832
	Inventory reserves	353			815
	Foreign tax credits	19,588			16,758
	Net operating loss	17,575			15,739
	Capital loss carryforward	1,442			1,995
	Basis difference on investment	40,305			—
	Uncertain tax positions	1,121			1,121
	Other reserves	251			300
	Valuation allowance	(78,209		)	(17,067		)
		$	10,092		$	32,877
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Prepaid and other	$	(13,591	)	$	(8,640	)
	Undistributed foreign earnings	(1,109		)	(13,451		)
	Depreciation and amortization	(6,163		)	(7,066		)
		(20,863		)	(29,157		)
	Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	(10,771	)	$	3,720
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes to the amount computed at the federal statutory rate is as follows for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Tax at statutory rate	$	(1,229	)	$	2,288		$	123
	Tax effect of:
	U.S. state income taxes, net of federal benefit	(35		)	148			(1,508		)
	Tax exempt interest	—			(11		)	(22		)
	Other non-deductible expenses and return to provision adjustments	3,566			135			(2,133		)
	Dividend from non-consolidating domestic subsidiary	—			852			1,120
	Valuation allowance on foreign tax credits	19,588			—			—
	Valuation allowance movement on capital loss carryforward	(625		)	121			(347		)
	Change in reserve for tax contingencies	(525		)	571			(192		)
	Non-deductible impairment	1,015			—			—
	Foreign dividend and subpart F income	9,782			11,203			15,020
	Tax (benefit) on undistributed foreign earnings	(4,653		)	(185		)	(4,507		)
	Foreign tax rate differential	(5,813		)	(8,386		)	(10,204		)
		$	21,071		$	6,736		$	(2,650	)
Schedule of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward [Table Text Block]	The following is a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions, excluding interest and penalties, during the year ended December 31, 2014:
	(In thousands)
	Balance as of January 1, 2014	$	4,035
	Gross increases – tax positions prior periods	7
	Gross decreases – tax positions prior periods	—
	Gross increases – tax positions current period	—
	Gross decreases – tax positions current period	—
	Decreases – settlements with taxing authorities	(707		)
	Reductions - lapse of statute of limitations	(544		)
	31-Dec-14	$	2,791

Stock_Based_Compensation_Table

Stock Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Schedule Of Restricted Stock And RSUs	Transactions related to restricted stock and RSUs are summarized as follows:
		Shares		Weighted Average		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
				Grant Date Fair Value		(In thousands)
	Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs at December 31, 2012	122,682		$	31.06
	Granted	60,422		16.08
	Vested	(76,883	)	28.75
	Forfeited	(5,481	)	23.65
	Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs at December 31, 2013	100,740		$	24.25	$	1,096
	Granted	136,949		9.49
	Vested	(71,701	)	26.8
	Forfeited	(103	)	37.55
	Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs at December 31, 2014	165,885		$	10.95	$	1,518
	Total restricted stock and RSUs at December 31, 2014	227,257		$	17.08	$	2,079

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Schedule Of Components Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share	The components of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows for the years ended:
	(In thousands)	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Net earnings attributable to Blyth, Inc.	$	86,761		$	2,433		$	44,002
	Weighted average number outstanding:
	Common shares	16,047			16,141			17,113
	Vested restricted stock units	65			55			67
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
	Basic	16,112			16,196			17,180
	Dilutive effect of stock options and non-vested restricted shares units	53			32			67
	Diluted	16,165			16,228			17,247
	Basic earnings (loss) per share:
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(1.55	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.16
	Net earnings from discontinued operations	6.93			0.18			2.4
	Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	$	5.38		$	0.15		$	2.56
	Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(1.54	)	$	(0.03	)	$	0.16
	Net earnings from discontinued operations	6.91			0.18			2.39
	Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	$	5.37		$	0.15		$	2.55

Treasury_And_Common_Stock_Tabl

Treasury And Common Stock (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Treasury And Common Stock [Abstract]
Schedule Of Treasury Stock
	Treasury Stock (In thousands, except shares)	Shares	Amount
	Balance at December 31, 2011	9,204,340	$	(426,717	)
	Treasury stock purchases	694,636	(13,434		)
	Treasury stock withheld in connection with long-term incentive plan	45,263	(1,623		)
	31-Dec-12	9,944,239	$	(441,774	)
	Treasury stock purchases	594,582	(9,961		)
	Treasury stock withheld in connection with long-term incentive plan	18,521	(305		)
	31-Dec-13	10,557,342	$	(452,040	)
	Treasury stock withheld in connection with long-term incentive plan	14,678	(131		)
	Balance at December 31, 2014	10,572,020	$	(452,171	)
Schedule Of Common Stock
	Common Stock (In thousands, except shares)	Shares	Amount
	Balance at December 31, 2011	25,641,484	$	514
	Common stock issued for the purchase of additional ViSalus interest	681,324	14
	Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan	182,402	2
	31-Dec-12	26,505,210	$	530
	Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan	68,821	2
	31-Dec-13	26,574,031	$	532
	Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan	68,219	1
	Balance at December 31, 2014	26,642,250	$	533

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Schedule Of Net Sales And Operating Profit By Segment	Operating Segment Information
	(In thousands)	For the year ended
	Financial Information	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Net Sales				-3			(3)(1)
	Candles & Home Décor	$	347,640		$	390,796		$	417,266
	Catalog & Internet	142,380			143,466			138,714
	Total	$	490,020		$	534,262		$	555,980
	Earnings (1)
	Candles & Home Décor	$	7,505		$	14,808		$	12,276
	Catalog & Internet	(408		)	(2,918		)	(8,261		)
	Operating profit	7,097			11,890			4,015
	Other Expense/(Income) (4)	(10,609		)	(5,354		)	(3,664		)
	Earnings (loss) before income taxes and non-controlling interest	$	(3,512	)	$	6,536		$	351
	Identifiable Assets
	Candles & Home Décor	148,658			175,900			188,731
	Catalog & Internet	51,393			50,880			51,274
	Unallocated  Corporate	87,302			140,061			196,109
	Total	$	287,353		$	366,841		$	436,114
	Capital Expenditures (2)
	Candles & Home Décor	1,908			2,819			7,792
	Catalog & Internet	922			223			896
	Unallocated Corporate	37			19			410
	Total	$	2,867		$	3,061		$	9,098
	Depreciation and Amortization
	Candles & Home Décor	6,139			6,616			6,499
	Catalog & Internet	1,974			3,022			3,377
	Unallocated Corporate	209			251			256
	Total	$	8,322		$	9,889		$	10,132
	Geographic Information
	Net Sales
	United States	$	207,659		$	222,092		$	235,348
	International	282,361			312,170			320,632
	Total	$	490,020		$	534,262		$	555,980
	Long Lived Assets
	United States	$	42,543		$	45,537		$	50,277
	International	25,723			31,289			30,954
	Total	$	68,266		$	76,826		$	81,231
	-1	For the year ended December 31, 2014, earnings within the Candles & Home Décor segment include a one-time fixed asset impairment charge of $0.6 million on certain machinery and equipment located at the Cumbria, United Kingdom facility (See Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). For the year ended December 31, 2012, earnings within the Catalog & Internet segment include non-cash pre-tax intangibles impairment charges of $0.8 million (See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
	-2	Capital expenditures are presented net of disposals and transfers. The unallocated corporate balance is net of transfers to other divisions.
	-3	As adjusted for discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
	-4	For the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company recorded a $2.9 million impairment charge on its ViSalus investment. On February 4, 2013, the Company received $10.0 million as a final settlement on a promissory note. As a result of this settlement, the Company recorded an impairment charge in Foreign Exchange and Other expense of $1.6 million, net of other adjustments, to write-down the promissory note to the settlement amount.

Selected_Quarterly_Financial_D1

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block]	A summary of selected quarterly information for the year ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		December 31, 2014 Quarter Ended
		(In thousands, except per share data)(2)
		31-Mar			30-Jun			30-Sep			31-Dec
	Net sales	$	118,239		$	104,233		$	90,752		$	176,796
	Gross profit	74,382			63,926			53,495			115,437
	Operating profit (loss)	(132		)	(2,136		)	(11,422		)	20,787
	Net loss from continuing operations	(724		)	(2,680		)	(9,571		)	(11,951		)
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(2,038		)	(1,760		)	115,744			(259		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.	$	(2,762	)	$	(4,440	)	$	106,173		$	(12,210	)
	Basic earnings per share
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(0.05	)	$	(0.17	)	$	(0.59	)	$	(0.74	)
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.12		)	(0.11		)	7.17			(0.01		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc. (1)	$	(0.17	)	$	(0.28	)	$	6.58		$	(0.75	)
	Diluted earnings per share
	Net loss from continuing operations	$	(0.05	)	$	(0.17	)	$	(0.59	)	$	(0.73	)
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.12		)	(0.11		)	7.16			(0.02		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc. (1)	$	(0.17	)	$	(0.28	)	$	6.57		$	(0.75	)
		December 31, 2013 Quarter Ended
		(In thousands, except per share data)(2)
		31-Mar			30-Jun			30-Sep			31-Dec
	Net sales	$	128,786		$	110,209		$	97,029		$	198,238
	Gross profit	79,188			67,167			56,281			132,040
	Operating profit (loss)	(421		)	(4,054		)	(11,548		)	27,913
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(717		)	(4,000		)	(9,106		)	13,310
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	3,313			2,642			636			(3,645		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.	$	2,596		$	(1,358	)	$	(8,470	)	$	9,665
	Basic earnings per share
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.25	)	$	(0.57	)	$	0.83
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0.2			0.17			0.04			(0.23		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc. (1)	$	0.16		$	(0.08	)	$	(0.53	)	$	0.6
	Diluted earnings per share
	Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$	(0.04	)	$	(0.25	)	$	(0.57	)	$	0.83
	Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0.2			0.17			0.04			(0.23		)
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc. (1)	$	0.16		$	(0.08	)	$	(0.53	)	$	0.6
	(1) The sum of per share amounts for the quarters does not necessarily equal that reported for the year because the computations are made independently.
	(2) As adjusted for change in discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Summary_Of_Significant_Account3

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Useful Lives (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Buildings | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	27 years
Buildings | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	40 years
Leasehold improvements | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	5 years
Leasehold improvements | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	10 years
Machinery and equipment | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	5 years
Machinery and equipment | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	12 years
Office furniture, data processing equipment and software | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	3 years
Office furniture, data processing equipment and software | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	7 years

Summary_Of_Significant_Account4

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies - Summary of Accumulated Other Income (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Before Tax Amount	$2,560	($949)	$2,347
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Tax (Expense) or Benefit	-7,358	2,863	1,104
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Net of Tax	-4,798	1,914	3,451
Unrealized holding gain arising during period, Before-Tax Amount	-168	-260	264
Unrealized holding gain arising during period, Tax (Expense) or Benefit	59	91	-62
Unrealized holding gain arising during period, Net-of-tax Amount	-109	-169	202
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging instruments, Before-Tax Amount	675	-237	-741
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging instruments, Tax (Expense) or Benefit	-236	83	251
Net unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedging instruments, Net-of-tax Amount	439	-154	-490
Less: Reclassification adjustments for (gain) loss included in net income, Before-Tax Amount	-69	569	-960
Less: Reclassification adjustments for (gain) loss included in net income, Tax (Expense) or Benefit	24	-199	336
Less: Reclassification adjustments for (gain) loss included in net income, Net-of-Tax Amount	-45	370	-624
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax	2,998	-877	910
Other comprehensive income (loss), Tax (Expense) or Benefit	-7,511	2,838	1,629
Other comprehensive income (loss), Net-of-tax Amount	($4,513)	$1,961	$2,539

Summary_Of_Significant_Account5

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 15, 2012	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges		$600,000	$3,475,000	$0	$834,000
Credit Card Receivables			1,700,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent			10.00%	80.90%		10.00%
Stock split	2		2
Available-for-sale Securities			26,912,000	9,055,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount			1,100,000
Depreciation			8,100,000	9,300,000	9,500,000
Sales Commissions and Fees			6,100,000	6,600,000	6,500,000
Advertising Expense			47,000,000	64,800,000	66,500,000
Prepaid Advertising			7,900,000	8,500,000
Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities			$1,101,000	$1,070,000

Summary_Of_Significant_Account6

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies OCI PL Reclassification (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Retained earnings	$11,849	$16,362
Other comprehensive income	-4,513	1,961	2,539
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Retained earnings	6,565	13,905
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	-7,340
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	0
Other comprehensive income	-7,340
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Retained earnings	194	263
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	-109
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	-40
Other comprehensive income	-69
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Designated or Qualifying Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Retained earnings	244	-110
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	439
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	85
Other comprehensive income	354
Net Investment Hedging [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Retained earnings	4,846	2,304
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	2,542
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	0
Other comprehensive income	2,542
Comprehensive Income [Member]
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items]
Retained earnings	11,849	16,362
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, Net of Tax	-4,468
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax	45
Other comprehensive income	($4,513)

Financing_Receivables_Financin

Financing Receivables Financing Receivables (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Nonaccrual Status	$20,900,000	$14,800,000
Financing Receivable, Net	7,200,000	5,600,000
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses, Individually Evaluated for Impairment	4,767,000	2,988,000
Selling and Marketing Expense	5,700,000
Fees and Commissions, Credit Cards	1,600,000
Impaired Financing Receivable, Average Recorded Investment	$0.12	$0.24

Financing_Receivables_Financin1

Financing Receivables Financing Receivables Credit Losses (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Line Items]
Financing Receivables	$3,237
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due	1,645
Financing Receivable, Gross	12,014
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Current	7,132
Provision for credit losses	7,279	4,540
Write-offs	-5,639	-2,277
Recoveries	139	13
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses, Individually Evaluated for Impairment	$4,767	$2,988

Discontinued_Operations_Narrat

Discontinued Operations - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Feb. 04, 2013	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Oct. 29, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014	Feb. 01, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Cost-method Investments, Other than Temporary Impairment			$2,900,000
Available-for-sale Securities			26,912,000	9,055,000
discontinued operations Redeemable preferred stock			143,200,000	146,603,000
redeemable preferred stock shares			38.2
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent			10.00%	80.90%			10.00%
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax			118,918,000	0	5,540,000
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation			700,000
Revenues			138,860,000	351,187,000	671,848,000
Net working capital adjustment			0	0	23,500,000
Promissory note received as a consideration of sale			12,014,000
Proceeds from financing receivable	10,000,000
Loss on impairment of assets		600,000	3,475,000	0	834,000
Foreign exchange and other, net	-1,600,000		4,020,000	-72,000	-691,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other			15,000,000
Sterno [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Sale of discontinued operations						23,500,000
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax				5,500,000
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation						3,100,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Short-term Non-bank Loans and Notes Payable								800,000
Chief Operating Officer and interm Chief Financial Officer of ViSalus [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners			2.81%
Founders [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other			6,000,000
Investments [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current			3,800,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other			6,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End			10.00%
Notes Receivable, Related Parties			3,000,000
Board of Directors Chairman [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners			8.29%
President and Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners			0.34%
Other Investment [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities			$6,850,000	$0

Discontinued_Operations_Dicont

Discontinued Operations Dicontinued pl (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Cash and Cash Equivalents	$7,914
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Trade Receivables	149
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Inventory, Current	21,113
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Prepaid and Other Assets, Current	1,349
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Deferred Tax Asset, Current	2,517
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Current	1,166
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets, Current	34,208
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Property, Plant and Equipment	18,602
discontinued operations investments	1,177
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Deferred Tax Assets, Noncurrent	5,800
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Intangible Assets	2,028
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Assets, Noncurrent	27,607
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets of Disposal Group	61815
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accounts Payable	5,870
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued Liabilities	17,986
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Accrued Income Tax Payable, Current	110
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Current	23,966
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Liabilities	865
discontinued operations Redeemable preferred stock	146,603	143,200
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities, Noncurrent	$147,468	$0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Liabilities of Disposal Group	171434

Discontinued_Operations_Discon

Discontinued Operations Discontinued operation PL (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Net sales	$138,860	$351,187	$671,848
Cost of goods sold	42,179	113,273	216,068
Selling, administrative and other expenses	104,199	230,154	371,546
Other income and expenses	1,657	-333	-227
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	-9,175	8,093	84,461
Income tax expense	-176	4,457	35,758
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	-1,768	690	12,961
Net earnings (loss) attributable to discontinued operations	($7,231)	$2,946	$35,742

Investments_Schedule_Of_Amorti

Investments - Schedule Of Amortized Costs And Fair Value (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost Basis	$27,043	[1]	$9,070	[1]
Fair Value	26,912		9,055
Available-for-sale Securities, Change in Net Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) before Taxes	-131		-15
Short-Term Bond Mutual Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost Basis	19,092	[1]	8,000	[1]
Fair Value	18,961		7,985
Available-for-sale Securities, Change in Net Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) before Taxes	-131		-15
Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost Basis	1,101	[1]	1,070	[1]
Fair Value	1,101		1,070
Net unrealized gain (loss) in AOCI	0		0
Other Investment [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost Basis	6,850	[1]	0	[1]
Fair Value	6,850		0
Net unrealized gain (loss) in AOCI	$0		$0
[1]	The cost basis represents the actual amount paid less any permanent impairment of that asset.

Investments_Schedule_Of_Gains_

Investments - Schedule Of Gains And Losses (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Net proceeds	$8,900	$44,655
Realized gains (losses)	($8)	($304)

Investments_Narrative_Details

Investments - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	$26,912,000		$9,055,000
Cost Basis	27,043,000	[1]	9,070,000	[1]
Accumulated unrealized gain (loss), net of tax			100,000
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other	15,000,000
Short-Term Bond Mutual Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	18,961,000		7,985,000
Cost Basis	19,092,000	[1]	8,000,000	[1]
Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	1,101,000		1,070,000
Cost Basis	1,101,000	[1]	1,070,000	[1]
Other Investment [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	6,850,000		0
Cost Basis	6,850,000	[1]	0	[1]
Mutual Funds [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair Value	1,000,000
Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other	$6,000,000
[1]	The cost basis represents the actual amount paid less any permanent impairment of that asset.

Inventories_Schedule_Of_Compon

Inventories - Schedule Of Components Of Inventory (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Raw materials	$3,259,000	$3,642,000
Finished goods	42,525,000	51,040,000
Total	45,784,000	54,682,000
Inventory reserves	5,000,000	5,500,000
Inventory Write-down	$3,100,000	$2,400,000	$300,000

Derivatives_and_Other_Financia2

Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments - Schedule Of Fair Value And Location Of Hedges In The Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Prepaid And Other [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net derivatives at fair value	($181)
Prepaid And Other [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Foreign exchange forward contracts in asset positions	44
Foreign exchange forward contracts in liability positions	-225
Accrued Expenses [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Net derivatives at fair value		397
Accrued Expenses [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Foreign exchange forward contracts in asset positions		405
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Foreign exchange forward contracts in liability positions		($8)

Derivatives_and_Other_Financia3

Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments - Schedule Of Cash Flow Hedges (Details) (Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of Loss Recognized in AOCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	$720	($274)
Amount of Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)	$174	($235)

Derivatives_and_Other_Financia4

Derivatives and Other Financial Instruments - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative [Line Items]
Cumulative net after-tax gain related to net investment hedges	$4,100,000	$2,300,000
Net after-tax unrealized gain included in accumulated AOCI expected to be transferred	200,000	-100,000
Gain (loss) on fair value hedge derivatives	400,000	-300,000
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of Loss Recognized in AOCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	720,000	-274,000
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] | Net Investment Hedging [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Amount of Loss Recognized in AOCI on Derivative (Effective Portion)	$1,800,000	($1,400,000)

Goodwill_And_Other_Intangibles2

Goodwill And Other Intangibles - Schedule Of Other Intangible Assets By Segment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Accumulated amortization		($15,372,000)	($15,186,000)
Other intangibles, ending balance		6,593,000	6,780,000
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names And Trademarks [Member] | Catalog & Internet Segment [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Impairments	-800,000
Other intangibles, ending balance	6,566,000	6,566,000	6,566,000
Customer Relationships [Member] | Catalog & Internet Segment [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Roll Forward]
Other intangibles, beginning balance		214,000	827,000
Amortization of Intangible Assets		187,000	613,000
Other intangibles, ending balance		$27,000	$214,000

Goodwill_And_Other_Intangibles3

Goodwill And Other Intangibles - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill	$2,298,000		$2,298,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization	15,372,000		15,186,000
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	6,593,000		6,780,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	1 year 1 month
Direct Selling Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,300,000
Maximum [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Estimated life of the customer lists,years	12 years
Minimum [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Estimated life of the customer lists,years	5 years
Indefinite-Lived Trade Names And Trademarks [Member] | Catalog & Internet Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Non-cash pre-tax impairment charge		800,000
Carrying value	600,000
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	6,566,000	6,566,000	6,566,000
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	28,100,000
Customer Relationships [Member] | Catalog & Internet Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Amortization expense for other intangible assets	187,000		613,000
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill)	27,000	827,000	214,000
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	$15,400,000

Fair_Value_Measurements_Schedu

Fair Value Measurements - Schedule Of Assets And Liabilities Measured At Fair Value On Recurring Basis (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Cost-method Investments, Other than Temporary Impairment		$2,900,000
Total		21,429,000		10,106,000
Available-for-sale Securities		26,912,000		9,055,000
Asset Impairment Charges	600,000	3,475,000		0		834,000
Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		1,101,000		1,070,000
Short-Term Bond Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		18,961,000		7,985,000
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		405,000		44,000
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		-8,000		-225,000
Deferred Compensation Plan Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		962,000	[1]	1,007,000	[1]
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Total		19,923,000		8,992,000
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0		0
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Short-Term Bond Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		18,961,000		7,985,000
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0		0
Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Deferred Compensation Plan Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		962,000		1,007,000	[1]
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Total		1,506,000		1,114,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		1,101,000		1,070,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Short-Term Bond Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0		0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		405,000		44,000
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		-8,000		-225,000
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Deferred Compensation Plan Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0	[1]	0	[1]
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Total		0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Certificates of Deposit [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Short-Term Bond Mutual Funds [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0
Liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0		0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Deferred Compensation Plan Assets [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis		0	[1]	0	[1]
Other Investment [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities		$6,850,000		$0
[1]	Recorded as an Other asset with an offsetting liability for the obligation to employees in Other liabilities.

Accrued_Expenses_Details

Accrued Expenses (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Compensation and benefits	$9,707	$11,715
Deferred revenue	9,928	9,455
Promotional	6,109	6,874
Interest Payable, Current	2,341	384
accrued postage	2,476	1,763
accrued Inventory	502	633
Accrued Professional Fees, Current	2,734	1,433
Taxes, other than income	1,516	1,632
Accrued Insurance	717	789
Other	5,297	6,253
Total	$41,327	$40,931

LongTerm_Debt_Summary_of_LongT

Long-Term Debt - Summary of Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$55,463	$56,278
Current maturities of long-term debt	-50,907	-952
Long-term debt, less current maturities	4,556	55,326
Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	50,000
Long-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Fixed Interest, Percentage Rate	5.50%
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term Debt	$5,463	$6,278

LongTerm_Debt_Maturities_of_Lo

Long-Term Debt - Maturities of Long-Term Debt (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
2013	$50,907
2014	954
2015	993
2016	1,039
2017	1,037
Thereafter	533
Long-term Debt	$55,463	$56,278

LongTerm_Debt_Narrative_Detail

Long-Term Debt - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	8-May-13
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total long-term debt		$55,463,000	$56,278,000
Amount available under uncommitted bank facility to be used for letters of credit		2,400,000
Letters of credit outstanding, amount		1,100,000
Redemption Premium	3,000,000
Interest Costs Incurred		700,000
Six Point Zero Percent Senior Notes Due On June Fifteen Two Thousand And Seventeen [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Note issuance date		10-May-13
Senior notes issued		50,000,000		50,000,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage				6.00%
Miles Kimball [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt outstanding		$4,900,000	$5,500,000
Long-term debt fixed interest rate		7.89%

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Foreign Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$1.70	$1.80	$1.70
United States Pension Plan of US Entity [Member]
Defined Contribution Plan, Cost Recognized	$1.20	$1.50	$1.60

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies - Minimum Future Rental Commitments Under Operating and Capital Leases (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
2013	$5,271
2014	4,121
2015	2,800
2016	2,445
2017	2,280
And thereafter	2,188
Total minimum payments required	$19,105

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Rent expense	$5.40	$6.50	$9.50

Income_Taxes_Earnings_Loss_Fro

Income Taxes - Earnings (Loss) From Operations Before Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
United States	($39,400)		($35,049)	($45,352)
Foreign	35,888		41,585	45,703
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	($3,512)	[1]	$6,536	$351	[1],[2]
[1]	For the year ended December 31, 2012, earnings within the Catalog & Internet segment include non-cash pre-tax intangibles impairment charges of $0.8 million (See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[2]	As adjusted for discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Income_Taxes_Income_Tax_Expens

Income Taxes - Income Tax Expense Attributable to Continuing Operations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current income tax expense:
Federal	($340)	($1,857)	($5,989)
State	137	295	-554
Foreign	6,802	6,505	5,690
Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	6,599	4,943	-853
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Federal	14,677	2,136	-1,640
State	-123	-7	-315
Foreign	-82	-336	158
Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	14,472	1,793	-1,797
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	$21,071	$6,736	($2,650)

Income_Taxes_Deferred_Tax_Asse

Income Taxes - Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred tax assets:
Amortization of intangibles	$2,018	$3,173
Accrued expenses and other	1,401	5,994
Allowance for doubtful receivables	1,891	1,217
Employee benefit plans	2,356	2,832
Inventory reserves	353	815
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Foreign	19,588	16,758
Net operating loss	17,575	15,739
Capital loss carryforward	1,442	1,995
Deferred Tax Assets, Investments	40,305	0
Uncertain tax positions	1,121	1,121
Other reserves	251	300
Valuation allowance	-78,209	-17,067
Deferred Tax Assets, Gross	10,092	32,877
Deferred tax liabilities:
Prepaid and other	-13,591	-8,640
Undistributed foreign earnings	-1,109	-13,451
Depreciation and amortization	-6,163	-7,066
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net	-20,863	-29,157
Deferred Tax Assets, Net	($10,771)	$3,720

Income_Taxes_Income_Tax_Rate_R

Income Taxes - Income Tax Rate Reconciliation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Tax at statutory rate	($1,229)	$2,288	$123
U.S. state income taxes, net of federal benefit	-35	148	-1,508
Tax exempt interest	0	-11	-22
Other non-deductible expenses and return to provision adjustments	3,566	135	-2,133
Dividend from non-consolidating domestic subsidiary	0	852	1,120
Valuation allowance on foreign tax credits	19,588	0	0
Valuation allowance movement on capital loss carryforward	-625	121	-347
Change in reserve for tax contingencies	-525	571	-192
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Nondeductible Expense, Impairment Losses, Amount	1,015	0	0
Foreign dividend and subpart F income	9,782	11,203	15,020
Tax (benefit) on undistributed foreign earnings	-4,653	-185	-4,507
Foreign tax rate differential	-5,813	-8,386	-10,204
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	$21,071	$6,736	($2,650)

Income_Taxes_Reconciliation_of

Income Taxes - Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Related to Uncertain Tax Positions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Excluding Amounts Pertaining to Examined Tax Returns [Roll Forward]
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Beginning Balance	$4,035
Gross increases b tax positions prior periods	7
Gross decreases b tax positions prior periods	0
Gross increases b tax positions current period	0
Gross decreases b tax positions current period	0
Decreases b settlements with taxing authorities	-707
Reductions - lapse of statute of limitations	-544
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Ending Balance	$2,791

Income_Taxes_Narrative_Details

Income Taxes - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Deferred Expense, Other	$10,000,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance, Current	300,000
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Change in Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance, Amount	61,100,000
USFederalOperatingCarryforwards	5,700,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Domestic	2,200,000
valuationallowancedomestic	1,700,000
state operating carryforward	158,600,000
State	-123,000	-7,000	-315,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, State and Local	8,100,000
statevaluationallowance	8,100,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Operating Loss Carryforwards, Foreign	7,200,000
valuationallowanceforeign	6,700,000
Operating Loss Carryforwards	4,000,000
Capital loss carryforward	1,442,000	1,995,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Tax Credit Carryforwards, Foreign	19,588,000	16,758,000
Deferred Tax Assets, Investments	40,305,000	0
Undistributed Earnings Of Foreign Subsidiaries, Not Permanently Reinvested	176,500,000
Undistributed foreign earnings	-1,109,000	-13,451,000
Tax (benefit) on undistributed foreign earnings	-4,653,000	-185,000	-4,507,000
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	96,100,000
Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate, Excluding Penalties and Interest	2,800,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	4,400,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate, Penalties And Interest	100,000	200,000
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Capital loss carryforward	$24,500,000

Related_Party_Transactions_Det

Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2015
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other	$15,000,000
Related Party Transaction, Estimated Cost Of Services To Be Provided For Rlelated Party	800,000			200,000
Operating Leases, Income Statement, Sublease Revenue	200,000
Payments of Dividends	805,000	3,225,000	3,012,000
Board of Directors Chairman [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock outstanding, ownership percentage	36.00%
Investments [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other	6,000,000
Notes Receivable, Related Parties, Current	3,800,000
Founders [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other	6,000,000
Board of Directors Chairman [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners	8.29%
President and Chief Executive Officer [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners	0.34%
Chief Operating Officer and interm Chief Financial Officer of ViSalus [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners	2.81%
Subsequent Event [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Short-term Non-bank Loans and Notes Payable					$800,000

Stock_Based_Compensation_Sched

Stock Based Compensation - Schedule Of Restricted Stock And RSUs (Details) (Non-Vested Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Unit Awards(RSUs) [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Non-Vested Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Unit Awards(RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Nonvested	$1,518	$1,096
Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs beginning balance, Shares	100,740	122,682
Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs beginning balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$24.25	$31.06
Granted, Shares	136,949	60,422
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted	$9.49	$16.08	$36
Vested, Shares	-71,701	-76,883
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested	$26.80	$28.75	$20
Forfeited, Shares	-103	-5,481
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited	$37.55	$23.65
Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs ending balance, Shares	165,885	100,740	122,682
Nonvested restricted stock and RSUs ending balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$10.95	$24.25	$31.06
Total restricted stock and RSU's ending balance, Shares	227,257
Total restricted stock and RSUs ending balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$17.08
Total restricted stock and RSUs at September 30, 2012, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$2,079

Stock_Based_Compensation_Sched1

Stock Based Compensation - Schedule Of Stock Options (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding [Roll Forward]
Options Outstanding, Beginning of Period	2,500
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding and exercisable, Beginning of Period	$63.37
Options Outstanding, End of Period	2,500
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Outstanding and exercisable, End of Period	$63.37

Stock_Based_Compensation_Narra

Stock Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 15, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Minimum number of months nonemployment required for grants on nonqualified stock options to directors		12 months
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other Than Options, Vested In Period, Total Intrinsic Value		$0.60
Options outstanding			2,500
Stock split	2	2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price			$63.37
2003 Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Shares authorized		2,040,897
Shares available for grant		1,570,776
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense		1.2	1.7	4.6
Total recognized tax benefit		0.4	0.6	1.7
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period of the award		3 years
Non-Vested Restricted Stock And Restricted Stock Unit Awards(RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of RSUs granted		136,949	60,422
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		$9.49	$16.08	$36
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		$26.80	$28.75	$20
Unearned compensation expense		$0.50
Weighted average period of unearned compensation expense related to non-vested restricted stock and RSU awards cost is expected to be recognized		20 months 15 days
Maximum [Member] | Employee Restricted Stock Units(RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period of the award		5 years
Maximum [Member] | Non-Employee Restricted Stock Units(RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period of the award		2 years
Minimum [Member] | Employee Restricted Stock Units(RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period of the award		2 years
Minimum [Member] | Non-Employee Restricted Stock Units(RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period of the award		1 year

Earnings_Per_Share_Schedule_Of

Earnings Per Share - Schedule Of Components Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.	($12,210)		$106,173		($4,440)		($2,762)		$9,665		($8,470)		($1,358)		$2,596		$86,761		$2,433	$44,002
Weighted average number outstanding, common shares																	16,047		16,141	17,113
Vested restricted stock units																	65		55	67
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic																	16,112	[1]	16,196	17,180
Dilutive effect of stock options and non-vested restricted share units																	53		32	67
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted																	16,165	[1]	16,228	17,247
Net earnings from discontinued operations
Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	($0.74)		($0.59)		($0.17)		($0.05)		$0.83	[2]	($0.57)	[2]	($0.25)	[2]	($0.04)	[2]	($1.55)	[1]	($0.03)	$0.16
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	($0.01)		$7.17		($0.11)		($0.12)		($0.23)	[2]	$0.04	[2]	$0.17	[2]	$0.20	[2]	$6.93	[1]	$0.18	$2.40
Diluted earnings per share:	($0.75)	[2],[3]	$6.58	[2],[3]	($0.28)	[2],[3]	($0.17)	[2],[3]	$0.60	[2],[3]	($0.53)	[2],[3]	($0.08)	[2],[3]	$0.16	[2],[3]	$5.38	[1]	$0.15	$2.56
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	($0.73)		($0.59)		($0.17)		($0.05)		$0.83	[2]	($0.57)	[2]	($0.25)	[2]	($0.04)	[2]	($1.54)	[1]	($0.03)	$0.16
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	($0.02)		$7.16		($0.11)		($0.12)		($0.23)	[2]	$0.04	[2]	$0.17	[2]	$0.20	[2]	$6.91	[1]	$0.18	$2.39
Cash dividend declared per share	($0.75)	[2],[3]	$6.57	[2],[3]	($0.28)	[2],[3]	($0.17)	[2],[3]	$0.60	[2],[3]	($0.53)	[2],[3]	($0.08)	[2],[3]	$0.16	[2],[3]	$5.37	[1]	$0.15	$2.55
[1]	BLYTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESConsolidated Statements of EarningsB For the year ended(In thousands, except per share data)DecemberB 31, 2014B DecemberB 31, 2013B DecemberB 31, 2012 Net sales$490,020B $534,262B $555,980Cost of goods sold182,780B 199,586B 212,677Gross profit307,240B 334,676B 343,303Selling223,742B 240,943B 249,231Administrative and other expense76,401B 81,843B 90,057Total operating expense300,143B 322,786B 339,288Operating profit7,097B 11,890B 4,015Other expense (income): Interest expense7,042B 6,042B 6,062Interest income(453)B (616)B (1,707)Foreign exchange and other, net4,020B (72)B (691)Total other expense10,609B 5,354B 3,664Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest(3,512)B 6,536B 351Income tax expense (benefit)21,071B 6,736B (2,650)Earnings (loss) from continuing operations(24,583)B (200)B 3,001Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense(7,231)B 2,946B 35,742Gain on sale of discontinued operations118,918B bB 5,540Net earnings from discontinued operations111,687B 2,946B 41,282Net earnings87,104B 2,746B 44,283Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests343B 313B 281Net earnings attributable to Blyth, Inc.$86,761B $2,433B $44,002Basic earnings per share: Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations$(1.55)B $(0.03)B $0.16Net earnings from discontinued operations6.93B 0.18B 2.40Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.$5.38B $0.15B $2.56Weighted average number of shares outstanding16,112B 16,196B 17,180Diluted earnings per share: Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations$(1.54)B $(0.03)B $0.16Net earnings from discontinued operations6.91B 0.18B 2.39Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.$5.37B $0.15B $2.55Weighted average number of shares outstanding16,165B 16,228B 17,247Cash dividend declared per share$0.05B $0.20B $0.18
[2]	(2) As adjusted for change in discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[3]	(1) The sum of per share amounts for the quarters does not necessarily equal that reported for the year because the computations are made independently.

Earnings_Per_Share_Narrative_D

Earnings Per Share - Narrative (Details)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 15, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Options outstanding			2,500
Stock split	2	2

Treasury_And_Common_Stock_Sche

Treasury And Common Stock - Schedule Of Treasury Stock (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury Stock, Beginning Balance, Amount	($452,040)		($441,774)		($426,717)
Treasury stock purchases	-131	[1]	-10,266	[1]	-15,057	[1]
Treasury Stock, Ending Balance, Amount	-452,171		-452,040		-441,774
Treasury Stock, Shares, Beginning Balance	10,557,342		9,944,239		9,204,340
Treasury Stock, Shares, Ending Balance	10,572,020		10,557,342		9,944,239
Excluding Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock purchases			-9,961		-13,434
Treasury stock purchased in connection with long-term incentive plan, Shares			594,582		694,636
Long-Term Incentive Plan [Member]
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Treasury stock purchases	($131)		($305)		($1,623)
Treasury stock purchased in connection with long-term incentive plan, Shares	14,678		18,521		45,263
[1]	This includes shares withheld in order to satisfy employee withholding taxes upon the distribution of vested restricted stock units.

Treasury_And_Common_Stock_Sche1

Treasury And Common Stock - Schedule Of Common Stock (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Beginning balance, Shares	26,574,031	26,505,210	25,641,484
Beginning balance, Amount	$532	$530	$514
Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan, Shares	68,219	68,821	182,402
Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan, Amount			2
Common stock issued for the purchase of additional ViSalus interest, Amount			14
Purchase of additional Visalus interest, shares			681,324
Ending balance, Shares	26,642,250	26,574,031	26,505,210
Ending balance, Amount	533	532	530
Purchase of additional ViSalus interest	1,166	1,654	14,628
Common Stock [Member]
Common stock issued in connection with long-term incentive plan, Amount		2
Common stock issued for the purchase of additional ViSalus interest, Amount			14
Purchase of additional ViSalus interest	$1	$2	$2

Segment_Information_Schedule_O

Segment Information - Schedule Of Net Sales And Operating Profit By Segment (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Feb. 04, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales		$176,796,000	$90,752,000	$104,233,000	[1]	$118,239,000	[1]	$198,238,000	[1]	$97,029,000	[1]	$110,209,000	[1]	$128,786,000	[1]	$490,020,000		$534,262,000	$555,980,000	[2]
Operating profit (loss)		20,787,000	-11,422,000	-2,136,000	[1]	-132,000	[1]	27,913,000	[1]	-11,548,000	[1]	-4,054,000	[1]	-421,000	[1]	7,097,000	[3]	11,890,000	4,015,000	[2],[3]
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations																-3,512,000	[3]	6,536,000	351,000	[2],[3]
Identifiable Assets		287,353,000						366,841,000								287,353,000		366,841,000	436,114,000	[2]
Capital Expenditures																2,867,000	[4]	3,061,000	9,098,000	[2],[4]
Depreciation and Amortization																8,322,000		9,889,000	10,132,000	[2]
Long Lived Assets		68,266,000						76,826,000								68,266,000		76,826,000	81,231,000	[2]
Proceeds from financing receivable	10,000,000
Foreign exchange and other, net	-1,600,000															4,020,000		-72,000	-691,000
International [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales																282,361,000		312,170,000	320,632,000	[2]
Long Lived Assets		25,723,000						31,289,000								25,723,000		31,289,000	30,954,000	[2]
United States [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales																207,659,000		222,092,000	235,348,000	[2]
Long Lived Assets		42,543,000						45,537,000								42,543,000		45,537,000	50,277,000	[2]
Catalog & Internet Segment [Member] | Indefinite-Lived Trade Names And Trademarks [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Non-cash pre-tax impairment charge																			800,000
Candles & Home Decor [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales																347,640,000		390,796,000	417,266,000	[2]
Operating profit (loss)																7,505,000	[3]	14,808,000	12,276,000	[2],[3]
Identifiable Assets		148,658,000						175,900,000								148,658,000		175,900,000	188,731,000	[2]
Capital Expenditures																1,908,000	[4]	2,819,000	7,792,000	[2],[4]
Depreciation and Amortization																6,139,000		6,616,000	6,499,000	[2]
Catalog & Internet [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales																142,380,000		143,466,000	138,714,000	[2]
Operating profit (loss)																-408,000	[3]	-2,918,000	-8,261,000	[2],[3]
Identifiable Assets		51,393,000						50,880,000								51,393,000		50,880,000	51,274,000	[2]
Capital Expenditures																922,000	[4]	223,000	896,000	[2],[4]
Depreciation and Amortization																1,974,000		3,022,000	3,377,000	[2]
Unallocated Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating profit (loss)																-10,609,000	[3]	-5,354,000	-3,664,000	[2],[3]
Identifiable Assets		87,302,000						140,061,000								87,302,000		140,061,000	196,109,000	[2]
Capital Expenditures																37,000	[4]	19,000	410,000	[2],[4]
Depreciation and Amortization																$209,000		$251,000	$256,000	[2]
[1]	(2) As adjusted for change in discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[2]	As adjusted for discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[3]	For the year ended December 31, 2012, earnings within the Catalog & Internet segment include non-cash pre-tax intangibles impairment charges of $0.8 million (See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[4]	Capital expenditures are presented net of disposals and transfers. The unallocated corporate balance is net of transfers to other divisions.

Selected_Quarterly_Financial_D2

Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$176,796		$90,752		$104,233	[1]	$118,239	[1]	$198,238	[1]	$97,029	[1]	$110,209	[1]	$128,786	[1]	$490,020		$534,262	$555,980	[2]
Gross profit	115,437		53,495		63,926	[1]	74,382	[1]	132,040	[1]	56,281	[1]	67,167	[1]	79,188	[1]	307,240		334,676	343,303
Operating profit (loss)	20,787		-11,422		-2,136	[1]	-132	[1]	27,913	[1]	-11,548	[1]	-4,054	[1]	-421	[1]	7,097	[3]	11,890	4,015	[2],[3]
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	-11,951		-9,571		-2,680		-724		13,310	[1]	-9,106	[1]	-4,000	[1]	-717	[1]	87,104		2,746	44,283
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Blyth, Inc.	-12,210		106,173		-4,440		-2,762		9,665		-8,470		-1,358		2,596		86,761		2,433	44,002
Net earnings from discontinued operations
Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	($0.74)		($0.59)		($0.17)		($0.05)		$0.83	[1]	($0.57)	[1]	($0.25)	[1]	($0.04)	[1]	($1.55)	[4]	($0.03)	$0.16
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	($0.01)		$7.17		($0.11)		($0.12)		($0.23)	[1]	$0.04	[1]	$0.17	[1]	$0.20	[1]	$6.93	[4]	$0.18	$2.40
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	($259)		$115,744		($1,760)		($2,038)		($3,645)	[1]	$636	[1]	$2,642	[1]	$3,313	[1]	$111,687		$2,946	$41,282
Diluted earnings per share:	($0.75)	[1],[5]	$6.58	[1],[5]	($0.28)	[1],[5]	($0.17)	[1],[5]	$0.60	[1],[5]	($0.53)	[1],[5]	($0.08)	[1],[5]	$0.16	[1],[5]	$5.38	[4]	$0.15	$2.56
Net earnings from discontinued operations
Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.	($0.73)		($0.59)		($0.17)		($0.05)		$0.83	[1]	($0.57)	[1]	($0.25)	[1]	($0.04)	[1]	($1.54)	[4]	($0.03)	$0.16
Weighted average number of shares outstanding	($0.02)		$7.16		($0.11)		($0.12)		($0.23)	[1]	$0.04	[1]	$0.17	[1]	$0.20	[1]	$6.91	[4]	$0.18	$2.39
Cash dividend declared per share	($0.75)	[1],[5]	$6.57	[1],[5]	($0.28)	[1],[5]	($0.17)	[1],[5]	$0.60	[1],[5]	($0.53)	[1],[5]	($0.08)	[1],[5]	$0.16	[1],[5]	$5.37	[4]	$0.15	$2.55
[1]	(2) As adjusted for change in discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[2]	As adjusted for discontinued operations (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[3]	For the year ended December 31, 2012, earnings within the Catalog & Internet segment include non-cash pre-tax intangibles impairment charges of $0.8 million (See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).
[4]	BLYTH, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESConsolidated Statements of EarningsB For the year ended(In thousands, except per share data)DecemberB 31, 2014B DecemberB 31, 2013B DecemberB 31, 2012 Net sales$490,020B $534,262B $555,980Cost of goods sold182,780B 199,586B 212,677Gross profit307,240B 334,676B 343,303Selling223,742B 240,943B 249,231Administrative and other expense76,401B 81,843B 90,057Total operating expense300,143B 322,786B 339,288Operating profit7,097B 11,890B 4,015Other expense (income): Interest expense7,042B 6,042B 6,062Interest income(453)B (616)B (1,707)Foreign exchange and other, net4,020B (72)B (691)Total other expense10,609B 5,354B 3,664Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest(3,512)B 6,536B 351Income tax expense (benefit)21,071B 6,736B (2,650)Earnings (loss) from continuing operations(24,583)B (200)B 3,001Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax expense(7,231)B 2,946B 35,742Gain on sale of discontinued operations118,918B bB 5,540Net earnings from discontinued operations111,687B 2,946B 41,282Net earnings87,104B 2,746B 44,283Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests343B 313B 281Net earnings attributable to Blyth, Inc.$86,761B $2,433B $44,002Basic earnings per share: Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations$(1.55)B $(0.03)B $0.16Net earnings from discontinued operations6.93B 0.18B 2.40Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.$5.38B $0.15B $2.56Weighted average number of shares outstanding16,112B 16,196B 17,180Diluted earnings per share: Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations$(1.54)B $(0.03)B $0.16Net earnings from discontinued operations6.91B 0.18B 2.39Net earnings attributable per share of Blyth, Inc.$5.37B $0.15B $2.55Weighted average number of shares outstanding16,165B 16,228B 17,247Cash dividend declared per share$0.05B $0.20B $0.18
[5]	(1) The sum of per share amounts for the quarters does not necessarily equal that reported for the year because the computations are made independently.

Subsequent_Events_Details

Subsequent Events (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
cumbria [Abstract]
Asset Impairment Charges	$600,000	$3,475,000	$0	$834,000
AnnualizedSavings		8,000,000
FiveYearAnnualizedSavings		40,000,000
transitionCosts		6,000,000
ShutDownOfFacility		2,600,000
Severance Costs		1,200,000
Capital Expenditures Incurred but Not yet Paid		1,000,000
Other Cost and Expense, Operating		1,200,000
Acquisition Costs, Cumulative		5,000,000
Other Loans Payable, Long-term, Noncurrent		35,000,000
Interest Expense, Other Long-term Debt		437,500
Equity Restrictions		2,500,000
Dividend Payments Restrictions Schedule, Statutory Capital and Surplus		3,000,000
Other Restrictions on Payment of Dividends		2.25
Loans and Leases Receivable, Gross, Consumer, Revolving, Other		15,000,000
Increase (Decrease) in Unproved Oil and Gas Property		13,000,000
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount		$1,100,000

Valuation_And_Qualifying_Accou1

Valuation And Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for doubtful accounts [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$3,932	$1,274	$380
Charged to Costs and Expenses	6,790	5,546	1,354
Deductions	-5,241	-2,888	-460
Balance at End of Period	5,481	3,932	1,274
Income tax valuation allowance [Member]
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]
Balance at Beginning of Period	17,066	19,403	19,083
Charged to Costs and Expenses	61,157	1,460	320
Deductions	-14	-3,797	0
Balance at End of Period	$78,209	$17,066	$19,403