Bed & Bath, a retailing company, has two departmentsHardware and Linens. The companys most recent monthly contribution format income statement follows:

Department

TotalHardwareLinens

Sales$4,200,000 $3,170,000 $1,030,000

Variable expenses 1,406,000 1,000,000 406,000

Contribution margin 2,794,000 2,170,000 624,000

Fixed expenses 2,320,000 1,450,000 870,000

Net operating income (loss)$474,000 $720,000 $(246,000)

A study indicates that $377,000 of the fixed expenses being charged to Linens are sunk costs or allocated costs that will continue even if the Linens Department is dropped. In addition, the elimination of the Linens Department will result in a 11% decrease in the sales of the Hardware Department.

Required:

What is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of discontinuing the Linens Department?