Zachary Boot Co. sells mens, womens, and childrens boots. For each type of boot sold, it operates a separate department that has its own manager. The manager of the mens department has a sales staff of nine employees, the manager of the womens department has six employees, and the manager of the childrens department has three employees. All departments are housed in a single store. In recent years, the childrens department has operated at a net loss and is expected to continue to do so. Last years income statements follow.

	Mens Department				Womens Department				Childrens Department
Sales	$	690,000			$	490,000			$	230,000
Cost of goods sold		(275,000	)			(184,000	)			(106,375	)
Gross margin		415,000				306,000				123,625
Department managers salary		(71,000	)			(60,000	)			(40,000	)
Sales commissions		(125,200	)			(94,600	)			(37,400	)
Rent on store lease		(40,000	)			(40,000	)			(40,000	)
Store utilities		(23,000	)			(23,000	)			(23,000	)
Net income (loss)	$	155,800			$	88,400			$	(16,775	)

Required

1. a. Calculate the contribution to profit. Determine whether to eliminate the childrens department.

2. b-1. Calculate the net income for the company as a whole with the children's department.

3. b-2. Confirm the conclusion you reached in Requirement a by preparing income statements for the company as a whole with and without the childrens department.

4. c. Eliminating the childrens department would increase space available to display mens and womens boots. Suppose management estimates that a wider selection of adult boots would increase the stores net earnings by $51,000. Would this information affect the decision that you made in Requirement a?