Superior Markets, Incorporated, 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, Incorporated Income Statement For the Quarter Ended September 30 TotalNorth StoreSouth StoreEast StoreSales$ 3,840,000$ 921,600$ 1,536,000$ 1,382,400Cost of goods sold2,121,216516,096844,800760,320Gross margin1,718,784405,504691,200622,080Selling and administrative expenses: Selling expenses1,045,760296,192403,200346,368Administrative expenses490,240135,680193,152161,408Total expenses1,536,000431,872596,352507,776Net operating income (loss)$ 182,784$ (26,368)$ 94,848$ 114,304

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$ 305,920$ 89,600$ 113,920$ 102,400Direct advertising239,36065,28092,16081,920General advertising*57,60013,82423,04020,736Store rent384,000108,800153,600121,600Depreciation of store fixtures20,4805,8887,6806,912Delivery salaries26,8808,9608,9608,960Depreciation of delivery equipment11,5203,8403,8403,840Total selling expenses$ 1,045,760$ 296,192$ 403,200$ 346,368

*Allocated on the basis of sales dollars.

TotalNorth StoreSouth StoreEast StoreAdministrative expenses: Store managers' salaries$ 89,600$ 26,880$ 38,400$ 24,320General office salaries*64,00015,36025,60023,040Insurance on fixtures and inventory32,0009,60011,52010,880Utilities135,68039,68051,20044,800Employment taxes72,96021,12028,03223,808General officeother*96,00023,04038,40034,560Total administrative expenses$ 490,240$ 135,680$ 193,152$ 161,408

*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 $14,080 per quarter. The general manager of the North Store would continue to earn her normal salary of $15,360 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 persons salary is $5,120 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 stores fixtures.

The General office salaries and General officeother relate to the overall management of Superior Markets, Incorporated 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 $7,680 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 cant be subleased, would you recommend closing the North Store?

5. Assume that the North Store's floor space cant 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?