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 Total Sales Cost of goods sold Gross margin Selling and administrative expenses: Selling expenses Administrative expenses Total expenses Net operating income (loss) $ 4,020,000 2,220,648 1,799,352 North Store $ 964,800 540,288 South Store East Store $ 1,608,000 884,400 $ 1,447,200 795,960 424,512 723,600 651,240 1,094,780 310,076 422,100 362,604 513,220 1,608,000 142,040 202,206 168,974 452,116 624, 306 531,578 $191,352 $ (27,604) $ 99,294 $ 119,662 ces 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: Selling expenses: Sales salaries Direct advertising General advertising Store rent Depreciation of store fixtures Delivery salaries Depreciation of delivery equipment Total selling expenses "Allocated on the basis of sales dollars. 68,340 14,472 96,480 Total North Store South Store East Store $ 320,260 250,580 60,300 $ 93,800 $ 119,260 $ 107,200 85,760 24,120 21,708 402,000 113,900 160,800 127,300 21,440 6,164 8,840 7,236 28,140 9,380 9,380 9,380 12,060 4,028 4,020 4,020 $ 1,094,780 $310,076 $422,100 $ 362,604 Selling expenses: Sales salaries Direct advertising General advertising Store rent Depreciation of store fixtures Delivery salaries Depreciation of delivery equipment Total selling expenses "Allocated on the basis of sales dollars. Administrative expenses: Store managers' salaries General office salaries Insurance on fixtures and inventory Utilities Employment taxes General office-other Total administrative expenses "Allocated on the basis of sales dollars. Total $ 320,260 250,580 60,300 North Store South Store East Store $ 107,200 68,340 $ 93,800 $ 119,260 96,480 85,760 14,472 24,120 21,708 402,000 113,900 160,800 127,300 21,440 6,164 8,040 7,236 28,140 9,380 9,380 9,380 12,060 4,020 4,020 4,020 $ 1,094,780 $310,076 $422,100 $ 362,604 67,000 33,500 Total North Store South Store East Store $ 93,800 $ 28,140 $ 40,200 $ 25,460 16,080 26,800 24,120 10,050 12,060 11,390 41,540 53,600 76,380 100,500 22,110 29,346 24,120 40,200 $ 513,220 $ 142,040 $ 202,206 $ 168,974 142,040 b. The lease on the building housing the North Store can be broken with no penalty. 46,900 24,924 36,180 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 $14,740 per quarter. The general manager of the North Store would continue to earn her normal salary of $16,080 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 $5,360 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. h. The "General office salaries" and "General office-other" 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 person's compensation is $8,040 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? Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required Required 2 Required 3 Required 4 Required 5 How much employee salaries will the company avoid if it closes the North Store? Employee salaries 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? Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required 1 Required 2 Required 3 Required 4 Required 5 How much employment taxes will the company avoid if it closes the North Store? Employment taxes 25 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? Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required 1 Required 2 Required 3 Required 4 Required 5 What is the financial advantage (disadvantage) of closing the North Store? (Enter any "disadvantages" as a negative value.) Financial advantage (disadvantage) < Required 2 Required 4 > 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? Complete this question by entering your answers in the tabs below. Required 1 Required 2 Required 3 Required 4 Required 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? (Enter any "disadvantages" as a negative value.) Financial advantage (disadvantage)