I need help with this:   Certain operating information is shown below for Palmer Department Store:   Department A Department B All Other Departments Sales $600,000 $900,000 $2,100,000 Traceable expenses 105,000 165,000 600,000 Common expenses 90,000 120,000 300,000 Gross profit percentage 30% 40% 50% The managers are disappointed with the operating results of department A.  They do not believe that competition will permit raising prices; however, they believe that spending $21,000 more for promoting this department's products will increase the physical volume of products sold by 20%. An alternative is to discontinue department A and use the space to expand department B.  It is believed that department B's physical volume of products sold can thus be increased 37.5%.  Special sales personnel are needed, however, and department B's traceable expenses would increase by $90,000.  Neither alternative would appreciably affect the total common department expense.   Required a) Calculate the contribution now being made to common expenses by department A, by department B, and by the combination of other departments. b) Which of the two alternatives should management choose: increase promotional outlays for department A or discontinue department A and expand department B?  Support your answer with calculations.

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
10th Edition
ISBN:9781259964947
Author:Libby
Publisher:Libby
Chapter1: Financial Statements And Business Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1Q
icon
Related questions
Question

I need help with this:

 

Certain operating information is shown below for Palmer Department Store:

  Department A Department B All Other Departments
Sales $600,000 $900,000 $2,100,000
Traceable expenses 105,000 165,000 600,000
Common expenses 90,000 120,000 300,000
Gross profit percentage 30% 40% 50%

The managers are disappointed with the operating results of department A.  They do not believe that competition will permit raising prices; however, they believe that spending $21,000 more for promoting this department's products will increase the physical volume of products sold by 20%.

An alternative is to discontinue department A and use the space to expand department B.  It is believed that department B's physical volume of products sold can thus be increased 37.5%.  Special sales personnel are needed, however, and department B's traceable expenses would increase by $90,000.  Neither alternative would appreciably affect the total common department expense.

 

Required

a) Calculate the contribution now being made to common expenses by department A, by department B, and by the combination of other departments.

b) Which of the two alternatives should management choose: increase promotional outlays for department A or discontinue department A and expand department B?  Support your answer with calculations.

Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
System development life cycle (SDLC)
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, accounting and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
  • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
Recommended textbooks for you
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259964947
Author:
Libby
Publisher:
MCG
Accounting
Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337272094
Author:
WARREN, Carl S., Reeve, James M., Duchac, Jonathan E.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337619202
Author:
Hall, James A.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
Horngren's Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis…
Horngren's Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis…
Accounting
ISBN:
9780134475585
Author:
Srikant M. Datar, Madhav V. Rajan
Publisher:
PEARSON
Intermediate Accounting
Intermediate Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259722660
Author:
J. David Spiceland, Mark W. Nelson, Wayne M Thomas
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Financial and Managerial Accounting
Financial and Managerial Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259726705
Author:
John J Wild, Ken W. Shaw, Barbara Chiappetta Fundamental Accounting Principles
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education