Read the Semester Case Study and answer the question below.

Julie Welk, Head of Finance calls you into her office and says:

I have just been talking to Ben Thakar, Sales and Marketing Director, about the S-Pencil. In the first few months after the launch sales volumes were a little lower than budgeted. As a result of this, three months ago two things happened: firstly, Ben authorised a special promotional price for the S-Pencil on our website for sales direct to the public and secondly, he tasked his sales teams to secure new retail customers and gave them authority to offer small discounts and extended credit terms to any new retail customers.

Ben has asked me to look in detail at the impact of his actions three months ago on our actual profit compared to budget and the recoverability of our retail customer receivables. I have so far created a schedule which shows sales variances for the S-Pencil for the last three months as well as the aged receivables information for the S-Pencil customer. I would like you to prepare commentary to go with this schedule which explains:

SALES VARIANCES FOR THE S-PENCIL FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS Variance Large retailers Small retailers Website Total G$ G$ G$ G$ Sales price 0 135,000 A 84,000 A 219,000 A Sales mix 256,500 A 247 438 F 143,437 F 134 375 F Sales quantity 121,500F 76,313 F 47,812 F 245,625 F Notes: 1. A = adverse, F= favourable. 2. These variances are for our sales to large retailers, small retailers and directly to consumers through our website. 3. The sales mix and quantity variances are calculated using the individual units method and budgeted gross profit. The budgeted gross profits are as follows: Variance Large retailers Small retailers Website G$ G$ Budgeted gross profit 6.75 12.75 G$ 9.25 4. During the three-month period there was a change in the profile of S-Pencil customers as shown in the aged receivables comparison below. AGED RECEIVABLES COMPARISON: S-PENCIL CUSTOMERS 3mage Typolo Number comes Tamount Des within payments up to 30 caps vadu Or caps du 711 602 |small raala 302 320 42 New Type of com Number of customers Tolmundur 605 640 Dus within paremp Le 30 dias de Ouro dapat 59 SW 97 Smalls Notes: Standard credit terms for credit customers is 30 days. The three large retailer customers are the same customers. Write the briefing paper requested by Julie Welk