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 30 North South East Total Store Store Store Sales $4,300,000 $860,000 $1,720,000 $1,720,888 Cost of goods sold 2,365, eee 510,000 989,880 946,eee Gross margin 1,935,800 358,888 811, 880 774,888 Selling and administrative expenses: Selling expenses 843,888 244,400 321,588 277,100 Administrative expenses 448,888 119,800 170,400 158, 600 Total expenses 1,291, 808 363,400 491,980 435,708 Net operating income (loss) $ 644,888 $(13,400) $ 319,108 $ 338,300 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: a. The breakdown of the selling and administrative expenses that are shown above is as follows: North Store South Store East store Total Selling expenses: Sales salaries Direct advertising General advertising Store rent Depreciation of store fixtures Delivery salaries Depreciation of delivery equipment Total selling expenses $250, 2ee 178, eee 64,500 290, eee 22,5ee 24,900 12,90 $843, eee $ 67, eee 64, eee 12,9ee 82, eee 5,900 8,300 4,300 $ 75, see 85, eee 25, 8ee 115, eee 7,3ee 8,300 4,3ee $321,5ee $107,400 29, 25,800 93, eee 9,300 8,3ee 4,3ee $244,482 $ 277,180 *Allocated on the basis of sales dollars. North Store South Store Total East Store Administrative expenses: Store managers' salaries General office salaries Insurance on fixtures and inventory Utilities Employment taxes General office-other Total administrative expenses $ 89,5ee 64,5ee 38, eee 84,135 64,365 187,5ee $448, eee $ 27,5ee 12,982 11,480 28,345 17,355 21,5ee $119, eee $ 36,500 25, see 15,500 27,640 21,960 43, eee $170,482 $ 25,500 25, see 11,1ee 28, 158 25, e5e 43, eee $ 158,600 *Allocated on the basis of sales dollars. b. The lease on the building housing the North Store can be broken with no penalty c. The fixtures being used in the North Store would be transferred to the other two stores if the North Store were closed. d. 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 $11,900 per quarter. The general manager of the North Store would continue to earn her normal salary of $12,900 per quarter. All other managers and employees in the North store would be discharged. e. 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 $5,300 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. f. The company pays employment taxes equal to 15% of their employees' salaries. g. One-third of the insurance in the North Store is on the store's fixtures. n. The "General office salarles" and "General office-other 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 $6,450 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