Question
Superior Markets, Inc. operates three stores in a metropolitan area. A segmented absorption costing income statement for the company for the last quarter is given
Superior Markets, Inc. operates three stores in a 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 | ||||||||||||
Total | North Store | South Store | East Store | |||||||||
Sales | $ | 4,100,000 | $ | 860,000 | $ | 1,640,000 | $ | 1,600,000 | ||||
Cost of goods sold | 2,255,000 | 515,000 | 860,000 | 880,000 | ||||||||
Gross margin | 1,845,000 | 345,000 | 780,000 | 720,000 | ||||||||
Selling and administrative expenses: | ||||||||||||
Selling expenses | 839,000 | 242,400 | 320,500 | 276,100 | ||||||||
Administrative expenses | 438,000 | 117,000 | 167,400 | 153,600 | ||||||||
Total expenses | 1,277,000 | 359,000 | 487,900 | 429,700 | ||||||||
Net operating income (loss) | $ | 568,000 | $ | (14,400 | ) | $ | 292,100 | $ | 290,300 |
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 is as follows: |
Total | North Store | South Store | East Store | |||||
Selling expenses: | ||||||||
Sales salaries | $ | 263,400 | $ | 69,600 | $ | 80,600 | $ | 113,200 |
Direct advertising | 176,000 | 62,000 | 83,000 | 31,000 | ||||
General advertising* | 61,500 | 12,900 | 24,600 | 24,000 | ||||
Store rent | 280,000 | 80,000 | 113,000 | 87,000 | ||||
Depreciation of store fixtures | 21,500 | 5,700 | 7,100 | 8,700 | ||||
Delivery salaries | 24,300 | 8,100 | 8,100 | 8,100 | ||||
Depreciation of delivery equipment | 12,300 | 4,100 | 4,100 | 4,100 | ||||
Total selling expenses | $ | 839,000 | $ | 242,400 | $ | 320,500 | $ | 276,100 |
*Allocated on the basis of sales dollars. |
Total | North Store | South Store | East Store | |||||
Administrative expenses: | ||||||||
Store management salaries | $ | 86,500 | $ | 26,500 | $ | 35,500 | $ | 24,500 |
General office salaries* | 61,500 | 13,000 | 24,600 | 23,900 | ||||
Insurance on fixtures and inventory | 36,000 | 10,800 | 14,500 | 10,700 | ||||
Utilities | 86,145 | 27,620 | 29,480 | 29,045 | ||||
Employment taxes | 65,355 | 17,580 | 22,320 | 25,455 | ||||
General officeother* | 102,500 | 21,500 | 41,000 | 40,000 | ||||
Total administrative expenses | $ | 438,000 | $ | 117,000 | $ | 167,400 | $ | 153,600 |
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 $12,000 per quarter. The general manager of the North Store would be retained at her normal salary of $13,000 per quarter. All other employees in the 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 persons salary is $5,100 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 companys employment taxes are 15% of salaries. |
g. | One-third of the insurance in the North Store is on the stores fixtures. |
h. | 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 persons compensation is $6,500 per quarter. |
Requirement #1) How much employee salaries will the company avoid if it closes the North Shore?
Requirement #2) How much employee taxes will the company avoid if it closes the North Shore?
Requirement #3) What is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of closing the North Shore?
Requirement #4) Assuming that the North Shore's floor space can't be subleased, would you recommend closing the North Shore?
Requirement #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 the East Shore has enough capacity to handle the increased sales that would arise from closing the North Shore. 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? (Enter any disadvantages as a negative value)
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