Case ON-THE-GO: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis Potor Kanke the CFO of On-the-Go convenience stores, had only a couple of hours to decide what he would recommend. Decisions to add products are often challenging Kanke knows that modern convenience stores have to do more than just remain open late into the evening and other a diverse product assortment: they have to change with the times or face dinction. Over the years, On-the-Go has stocked new products and services, such as gasoline, lottery tickets, and even Internet shopping and delivery services. A walk through any of its stores is likely to reveal in excess of 2.000 different products and services, often aviable 24 hours a day, seven days a work. There are close to 150.000 convenience stores soottored across the United States. The industry generated $350 billion in les for 2011 On-the-Go Stores, based in Newport, Rhode Island, operates 82 stores in its chain of conve nience stores. Locations are primarily in the New England and Mid Atlantic regions of the United States, where there are about 20.000 convenience stores-approximately 13% of the country's totall. The average sale is $3.00, with a gross margin of 30% Recently. On-the-Go has faced some challenging decisions. For some company man apers recently evaluated the effect on income of the store's sales and performed sensitivity analysis to see the effect on operating income of changing the selling price of milk. Karel was Currently evaluating two major decisions The first decision related to the sale of money orders at its stores. This was a new product area for the company-a "nancial service, much like what a bank would offer. By offering this new service, On-the-Go hoped to boost its customer court. Previous studies had shown that customers were likely to buy more than just the items they originaly intended to purchase. So. On-the-Go wanted to boost sales revenue by giving oustomers another moon to come into the store-and buy more than intended. Kankool had obtained the following information. The cost of renting the machine for each store to prepare money orders is $30 per month. The lease rent for the store is $5.000. For each money order processed, On-the-Go would pay a processing fee of 6 cents. Aer conducting an informal survey of banks and other local businesses that ofered money order services. On-the- Go found that most charged 99 cents for each money order transaction On-the-Go planned to set its money order to a 79 cents to undercut local competition Karkalestimated that a money order transaction would take one counter clerk seconds to complete, versus only 30 seconds for ringing up a product sale. The average hourly wage for a store derk is $12.00 per hour, On-the-Go does not plan to hire any new clarks or ask existing cars to work longer hours if it decides to sol money orders. Kancel then turned to the second major decision the faced Should On-the-Go sell in-store del sandwiches to lunchtime customers? I chose to sell del sandwiches. On-the-Go could either prepare these sandwiches in-store or purchase prepackaged del sandwiches from an outside vendort would cost $3.50 to purchase the sandwiches. It made the sandwiches, the cost of the ingredients would be $250 per sandwich. One of On-the-Go's Senior employees who is paid $15 per hour would prepare the sandwiches during the lunch hour On-the-Go would then have to hire a temporary worker for the 2-hour lunchtime period to manage other activities in the store. The temporary worker would be paid $10 per hour. The average selling price of a del sandwich is $4.50 On-the-Go anticipates selling 12 sandwiches per hour. Al other costs would be unchanged whether On-the-Go buys the sandwiches makes the sandwiches, or chooses not to sel sandwiches at all John Lofarge, the marketing manager is very keen to add more products: "The name of the came is to add more and more products to drive traffic through the store regardless of whether we make money on each one. On the bundle of products that the customer buys, we are bound to make money," Susan Polk, the operations Manager, has a different view. We know that convenience store customers don't like to wait in line for service. They want to be in and out tast. The more products we add and the more complexity we create the longer takes for customers to find what they want and to check out of the store. Also, different tasks require diferent skills. For example, if we make del sandwiches, we need one of our more senior workers to prepare the sandwiches so it costs more to do that activity than to stock the shelves. I hope our accounting systems correctly reflect these higher costs." Karkol wondered how he should consider these arguments. He knew he could not put numbers on what Lafarge and Pok were saying, but they seemed important points for him to consider as he made recommendations to the CEO, Patrick Newhouse Required 1. (a) Calculate the contribution margin per unit for money orders. (b) Calculate how many money orders each On-the-Go location would need to sell each month to break even on the service. (c) Calculate how many money orders each On-the-Go location would need to sell each month to earn an operating income of $140 per month. 2. On the basis of financial considerations alone, should On-the-Go sell deli sandwiches? If so, should the store purchase prepackaged sandwiches or make them in the store? What other factors, if any, regarding the sandwiches should Peter Kankel consider? 3. Suppose On-the-Go can sell 300 money orders each month and 24 deli sandwiches during lunchtime each day. What should Peter Kankel recommend to Patrick Newhouse about sell- ing money orders and deli sandwiches? How should Kankel consider the issues that Lefarge and Polk raised in reaching his recommendation? ON-THE-GO: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis Peter Kankel, the CFO of On-the-Go convenience stores, had only a couple of hours to decide what he would recommend. Decisions to add products are often challenging, Kankel knows that modern convenience stores have to do more than just remain open late into the evening and offer a diverse product assortment; they have to change with the times or face extinction. Over the years, On-the-Go has stocked new products and services, such as gasoline, lottery tickets, and even Internet shopping and delivery services. A walk through any of its stores is likely to reveal in excess of 2,000 different products and services, often available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are close to 150,000 convenience stores scattered across the United States. The industry generated $350 billion in sales for 2011. On-the-Go Stores, based in Newport, Rhode Island, operates 82 stores in its chain of conve- nience stores. Locations are primarily in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, where there are about 20,000 convenience stores-approximately 13% of the country's total. The average sale is $3.00, with a gross margin of 30%. Recently, On-the-Go has faced some challenging decisions. For example, company man- agers recently evaluated the effect on income of the store's sales mix and performed sensitivity analysis to see the effect on operating income of changing the selling price of milk. Kankel was currently evaluating two major decisions. The first decision related to the sale of money orders at its stores. This was a new product area for the company-a "financial service," much like what a bank would offer. By offering this new service, On-the-Go hoped to boost its customer count. Previous studies had shown that customers were likely to buy more than just the items they originally intended to purchase. So, On-the-Go wanted to boost sales revenue by giving customers another reason to come into the store-and buy more than intended. Kankel had obtained the following information. The cost of renting the machine for each store to prepare money orders is $30 per month. The lease rent for the store is $5,000. For each money order processed, On-the-Go would pay a processing fee of 6 cents. After conducting an informal survey of banks and other local businesses that offered money order services, On-the- Go found that most charged 99 cents for each money order transaction. On-the-Go planned to set its money order fee at 79 cents to undercut local competition. Kankel estimated that a money order transaction would take one counter clerk 90 seconds to complete, versus only 30 seconds for ringing up a product sale. The average hourly wage for a store clerk is $12.00 per hour. On-the-Go does not plan to hire any new clerks or ask existing clerks to work longer hours if it decides to sell money orders. Kankel then turned to the second major decision he faced: Should On-the-Go sell in-store deli sandwiches to lunchtime customers? If it chose to sell deli sandwiches, On-the-Go could either prepare these sandwiches in-store or purchase prepackaged deli sandwiches from an outside vendor. It would cost $3.50 to purchase the sandwiches. If it made the sandwiches, the cost of the ingredients would be $2.50 per sandwich. One of On-the-Go's senior employees, who is paid $15 per hour, would prepare the sandwiches during the lunch hour. On-the-Go would then have to hire a temporary worker for the 2-hour lunchtime period to manage other activities in the store. The temporary worker would be paid $10 per hour. The average selling price of a deli sandwich is $4.50. On-the-Go anticipates selling 12 sandwiches per hour. All other costs would be unchanged whether On-the-Go buys the sandwiches, makes the sandwiches, or chooses not to sell sandwiches at all. John Lefarge, the marketing manager is very keen to add more products: "The name of the game is to add more and more products to drive traffic through the store regardless of whether we make money on each one. On the bundle of products that the customer buys, we are bound to make money." Susan Polk, the operations manager, has a different view: "We know that convenience store customers don't like to wait in line for service. They want to be in and out fast. The more products we add and the more complexity we create, the longer it takes for customers to find what they want and to check out of the store. Also, different tasks require different skills. For example, if we make deli sandwiches, we need one of our more senior workers to prepare the sandwiches so it costs more to do that activity than to stock the shelves. I hope our accounting systems correctly reflect these higher costs." Kankel wondered how he should consider these arguments. He knew he could not put numbers on what Lefarge and Polk were saying, but they seemed like important points for him to consider as he made recommendations to the CEO, Patrick Newhouse. Case ON-THE-GO: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis Potor Kanke the CFO of On-the-Go convenience stores, had only a couple of hours to decide what he would recommend. Decisions to add products are often challenging Kanke knows that modern convenience stores have to do more than just remain open late into the evening and other a diverse product assortment: they have to change with the times or face dinction. Over the years, On-the-Go has stocked new products and services, such as gasoline, lottery tickets, and even Internet shopping and delivery services. A walk through any of its stores is likely to reveal in excess of 2.000 different products and services, often aviable 24 hours a day, seven days a work. There are close to 150.000 convenience stores soottored across the United States. The industry generated $350 billion in les for 2011 On-the-Go Stores, based in Newport, Rhode Island, operates 82 stores in its chain of conve nience stores. Locations are primarily in the New England and Mid Atlantic regions of the United States, where there are about 20.000 convenience stores-approximately 13% of the country's totall. The average sale is $3.00, with a gross margin of 30% Recently. On-the-Go has faced some challenging decisions. For some company man apers recently evaluated the effect on income of the store's sales and performed sensitivity analysis to see the effect on operating income of changing the selling price of milk. Karel was Currently evaluating two major decisions The first decision related to the sale of money orders at its stores. This was a new product area for the company-a "nancial service, much like what a bank would offer. By offering this new service, On-the-Go hoped to boost its customer court. Previous studies had shown that customers were likely to buy more than just the items they originaly intended to purchase. So. On-the-Go wanted to boost sales revenue by giving oustomers another moon to come into the store-and buy more than intended. Kankool had obtained the following information. The cost of renting the machine for each store to prepare money orders is $30 per month. The lease rent for the store is $5.000. For each money order processed, On-the-Go would pay a processing fee of 6 cents. Aer conducting an informal survey of banks and other local businesses that ofered money order services. On-the- Go found that most charged 99 cents for each money order transaction On-the-Go planned to set its money order to a 79 cents to undercut local competition Karkalestimated that a money order transaction would take one counter clerk seconds to complete, versus only 30 seconds for ringing up a product sale. The average hourly wage for a store derk is $12.00 per hour, On-the-Go does not plan to hire any new clarks or ask existing cars to work longer hours if it decides to sol money orders. Kancel then turned to the second major decision the faced Should On-the-Go sell in-store del sandwiches to lunchtime customers? I chose to sell del sandwiches. On-the-Go could either prepare these sandwiches in-store or purchase prepackaged del sandwiches from an outside vendort would cost $3.50 to purchase the sandwiches. It made the sandwiches, the cost of the ingredients would be $250 per sandwich. One of On-the-Go's Senior employees who is paid $15 per hour would prepare the sandwiches during the lunch hour On-the-Go would then have to hire a temporary worker for the 2-hour lunchtime period to manage other activities in the store. The temporary worker would be paid $10 per hour. The average selling price of a del sandwich is $4.50 On-the-Go anticipates selling 12 sandwiches per hour. Al other costs would be unchanged whether On-the-Go buys the sandwiches makes the sandwiches, or chooses not to sel sandwiches at all John Lofarge, the marketing manager is very keen to add more products: "The name of the came is to add more and more products to drive traffic through the store regardless of whether we make money on each one. On the bundle of products that the customer buys, we are bound to make money," Susan Polk, the operations Manager, has a different view. We know that convenience store customers don't like to wait in line for service. They want to be in and out tast. The more products we add and the more complexity we create the longer takes for customers to find what they want and to check out of the store. Also, different tasks require diferent skills. For example, if we make del sandwiches, we need one of our more senior workers to prepare the sandwiches so it costs more to do that activity than to stock the shelves. I hope our accounting systems correctly reflect these higher costs." Karkol wondered how he should consider these arguments. He knew he could not put numbers on what Lafarge and Pok were saying, but they seemed important points for him to consider as he made recommendations to the CEO, Patrick Newhouse Required 1. (a) Calculate the contribution margin per unit for money orders. (b) Calculate how many money orders each On-the-Go location would need to sell each month to break even on the service. (c) Calculate how many money orders each On-the-Go location would need to sell each month to earn an operating income of $140 per month. 2. On the basis of financial considerations alone, should On-the-Go sell deli sandwiches? If so, should the store purchase prepackaged sandwiches or make them in the store? What other factors, if any, regarding the sandwiches should Peter Kankel consider? 3. Suppose On-the-Go can sell 300 money orders each month and 24 deli sandwiches during lunchtime each day. What should Peter Kankel recommend to Patrick Newhouse about sell- ing money orders and deli sandwiches? How should Kankel consider the issues that Lefarge and Polk raised in reaching his recommendation? ON-THE-GO: Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis Peter Kankel, the CFO of On-the-Go convenience stores, had only a couple of hours to decide what he would recommend. Decisions to add products are often challenging, Kankel knows that modern convenience stores have to do more than just remain open late into the evening and offer a diverse product assortment; they have to change with the times or face extinction. Over the years, On-the-Go has stocked new products and services, such as gasoline, lottery tickets, and even Internet shopping and delivery services. A walk through any of its stores is likely to reveal in excess of 2,000 different products and services, often available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are close to 150,000 convenience stores scattered across the United States. The industry generated $350 billion in sales for 2011. On-the-Go Stores, based in Newport, Rhode Island, operates 82 stores in its chain of conve- nience stores. Locations are primarily in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, where there are about 20,000 convenience stores-approximately 13% of the country's total. The average sale is $3.00, with a gross margin of 30%. Recently, On-the-Go has faced some challenging decisions. For example, company man- agers recently evaluated the effect on income of the store's sales mix and performed sensitivity analysis to see the effect on operating income of changing the selling price of milk. Kankel was currently evaluating two major decisions. The first decision related to the sale of money orders at its stores. This was a new product area for the company-a "financial service," much like what a bank would offer. By offering this new service, On-the-Go hoped to boost its customer count. Previous studies had shown that customers were likely to buy more than just the items they originally intended to purchase. So, On-the-Go wanted to boost sales revenue by giving customers another reason to come into the store-and buy more than intended. Kankel had obtained the following information. The cost of renting the machine for each store to prepare money orders is $30 per month. The lease rent for the store is $5,000. For each money order processed, On-the-Go would pay a processing fee of 6 cents. After conducting an informal survey of banks and other local businesses that offered money order services, On-the- Go found that most charged 99 cents for each money order transaction. On-the-Go planned to set its money order fee at 79 cents to undercut local competition. Kankel estimated that a money order transaction would take one counter clerk 90 seconds to complete, versus only 30 seconds for ringing up a product sale. The average hourly wage for a store clerk is $12.00 per hour. On-the-Go does not plan to hire any new clerks or ask existing clerks to work longer hours if it decides to sell money orders. Kankel then turned to the second major decision he faced: Should On-the-Go sell in-store deli sandwiches to lunchtime customers? If it chose to sell deli sandwiches, On-the-Go could either prepare these sandwiches in-store or purchase prepackaged deli sandwiches from an outside vendor. It would cost $3.50 to purchase the sandwiches. If it made the sandwiches, the cost of the ingredients would be $2.50 per sandwich. One of On-the-Go's senior employees, who is paid $15 per hour, would prepare the sandwiches during the lunch hour. On-the-Go would then have to hire a temporary worker for the 2-hour lunchtime period to manage other activities in the store. The temporary worker would be paid $10 per hour. The average selling price of a deli sandwich is $4.50. On-the-Go anticipates selling 12 sandwiches per hour. All other costs would be unchanged whether On-the-Go buys the sandwiches, makes the sandwiches, or chooses not to sell sandwiches at all. John Lefarge, the marketing manager is very keen to add more products: "The name of the game is to add more and more products to drive traffic through the store regardless of whether we make money on each one. On the bundle of products that the customer buys, we are bound to make money." Susan Polk, the operations manager, has a different view: "We know that convenience store customers don't like to wait in line for service. They want to be in and out fast. The more products we add and the more complexity we create, the longer it takes for customers to find what they want and to check out of the store. Also, different tasks require different skills. For example, if we make deli sandwiches, we need one of our more senior workers to prepare the sandwiches so it costs more to do that activity than to stock the shelves. I hope our accounting systems correctly reflect these higher costs." Kankel wondered how he should consider these arguments. He knew he could not put numbers on what Lefarge and Polk were saying, but they seemed like important points for him to consider as he made recommendations to the CEO, Patrick Newhouse