Superior Markets, Inc , operates three stores in a large metropolitan area A segmented absorption costing income statement for the company for the last quarter is given below Superior Markets, Inc Income Statement For the Quarter Ended September 30TotalNorth StoreSouth StoreEast StoreSales$3,200,000$740,000$1,280,000$1,180,000Cost of goods sold1,760,000423,000688,000649,000Gross margin1,440,000317,000592,000531,000Selling and administrative expenses Selling expenses821,000233,400316,000271,600Administrative expenses393,000108,000153,900131,100Total expenses1,214,000341,400469,900402,700Net operating income (loss)$226,000$(24,400)$122,100$128,300 The North Store has consistently shown losses over the past two years For this reason, management is giving consideration to closing the store The company has asked you to make a recommendation as to whether the store should be closed or kept open The following additional information is available for your use The breakdown of the selling and administrative expenses that are shown above is as follows TotalNorth StoreSouth StoreEast StoreSelling expenses Sales salaries$233,800$67,100$84,200$82,500Direct advertising181,00053,00074,00054,000General advertising 48,00011,10019,20017,700Store rent310,00087,000122,000101,000Depreciation of store fixtures17,0004,8006,2006,000Delivery salaries21,6007,2007,2007,200Depreciation of delivery equipment9,6003,2003,2003,200Total selling expenses$821,000$233,400$316,000$271,600 Allocated on the basis of sales dollars TotalNorth StoreSouth StoreEast StoreAdministrative expenses Store managers' salaries$73,000$22,000$31,000$20,000General office salaries 48,00011,10019,20017,700Insurance on fixtures and inventory27,0008,10010,0008,900Utilities108,54032,19040,46035,890Employment taxes56,46016,11021,24019,110General officeother 80,00018,50032,00029,500Total administrative expenses$393,000$108,000$153,900$131,100 Allocated on the basis of sales dollars The lease on the building housing the North Store can be broken with no penalty The fixtures being used in the North Store would be transferred to the other two stores if the North Store were closed The general manager of the North Store would be retained and transferred to another position in the company if the North Store were closed She would be filling a position that would otherwise be filled by hiring a new employee at a salary of $10,100 per quarter The general manager of the North Store would continue to earn her normal salary of $11,100 per quarter All other managers and employees in the North store would be discharged The company has one delivery crew that serves all three stores One delivery person could be discharged if the North Store were closed This person's salary is $4,200 per quarter The delivery equipment would be distributed to the other stores The equipment does not wear out through use, but does eventually become obsolete The company pays employment taxes equal to 15 of their employees' salaries One third of the insurance in the North Store is on the store's fixtures The General office salaries and General officeother relate to the overall management of Superior Markets, Inc If the North Store were closed, one person in the general office could be discharged because of the decrease in overall workload This person's compensation is $5,550 per quarter Required 1 How much employee salaries will the company avoid if it closes the North Store 2 How much employment taxes will the company avoid if it closes the North Store 3 What is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of closing the North Store 4 Assuming that the North Store's floor space can't be subleased, would you recommend closing the North Store 5 Assume that the North Store's floor space can't be subleased However, let's introduce three more assumptions First, assume that if the North Store were closed, one fourth of its sales would transfer to the East Store, due to strong customer loyalty to Superior Markets Second, assume that the East Store has enough capacity to handle the increased sales that would arise from closing the North Store Third, assume that the increased sales in the East Store would yield the same gross margin as a percentage of sales as present sales in the East store Given these new assumptions, what is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of closing the North Store

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Superior Markets, Inc., operates three stores in a large metropolitan area. A segmented absorption costing income statement for the company for the last quarter is

Superior Markets, Inc., operates three stores in a large metropolitan area. A segmented absorption costing income statement for the company for the last quarter is given below:

Superior Markets, Inc.

Income Statement

For the Quarter Ended September 30TotalNorth

StoreSouth

StoreEast

StoreSales$3,200,000$740,000$1,280,000$1,180,000Cost of goods sold1,760,000423,000688,000649,000Gross margin1,440,000317,000592,000531,000Selling and administrative expenses:Selling expenses821,000233,400316,000271,600Administrative expenses393,000108,000153,900131,100Total expenses1,214,000341,400469,900402,700Net operating income (loss)$226,000$(24,400)$122,100$128,300

The North Store has consistently shown losses over the past two years. For this reason, management is giving consideration to closing the store. The company has asked you to make a recommendation as to whether the store should be closed or kept open. The following additional information is available for your use:

The breakdown of the selling and administrative expenses that are shown above is as follows:

TotalNorth

StoreSouth

StoreEast

StoreSelling expenses:Sales salaries$233,800$67,100$84,200$82,500Direct advertising181,00053,00074,00054,000General advertising*48,00011,10019,20017,700Store rent310,00087,000122,000101,000Depreciation of store fixtures17,0004,8006,2006,000Delivery salaries21,6007,2007,2007,200Depreciation of delivery

equipment9,6003,2003,2003,200Total selling expenses$821,000$233,400$316,000$271,600

*Allocated on the basis of sales dollars.

TotalNorth

StoreSouth

StoreEast

StoreAdministrative expenses:Store managers' salaries$73,000$22,000$31,000$20,000General office salaries*48,00011,10019,20017,700Insurance on fixtures and inventory27,0008,10010,0008,900Utilities108,54032,19040,46035,890Employment taxes56,46016,11021,24019,110General officeother*80,00018,50032,00029,500Total administrative expenses$393,000$108,000$153,900$131,100

*Allocated on the basis of sales dollars.

The lease on the building housing the North Store can be broken with no penalty.
The fixtures being used in the North Store would be transferred to the other two stores if the North Store were closed.
The general manager of the North Store would be retained and transferred to another position in the company if the North Store were closed. She would be filling a position that would otherwise be filled by hiring a new employee at a salary of $10,100 per quarter. The general manager of the North Store would continue to earn her normal salary of $11,100 per quarter. All other managers and employees in the North store would be discharged.
The company has one delivery crew that serves all three stores. One delivery person could be discharged if the North Store were closed. This person's salary is $4,200 per quarter. The delivery equipment would be distributed to the other stores. The equipment does not wear out through use, but does eventually become obsolete.
The company pays employment taxes equal to 15% of their employees' salaries.
One-third of the insurance in the North Store is on the store's fixtures.
The "General office salaries" and "General officeother" relate to the overall management of Superior Markets, Inc. If the North Store were closed, one person in the general office could be discharged because of the decrease in overall workload. This person's compensation is $5,550 per quarter.

Required:

1. How much employee salaries will the company avoid if it closes the North Store?

2. How much employment taxes will the company avoid if it closes the North Store?

3. What is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of closing the North Store?

4. Assuming that the North Store's floor space can't be subleased, would you recommend closing the North Store?

5. Assume that the North Store's floor space can't be subleased. However, let's introduce three more assumptions. First, assume that if the North Store were closed, one-fourth of its sales would transfer to the East Store, due to strong customer loyalty to Superior Markets. Second, assume that the East Store has enough capacity to handle the increased sales that would arise from closing the North Store. Third, assume that the increased sales in the East Store would yield the same gross margin as a percentage of sales as present sales in the East store. Given these new assumptions, what is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of closing the North Store?