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Problem 2 Blues Company produces and sells 3 styles of office chairs – Standard,

ID: 2599951 • Letter: P

Question

Problem 2

Blues Company produces and sells 3 styles of office chairs – Standard, Deluxe and Premium. Below is an analysis of the Operating Profit report, which is prepared in a Contribution Margin format.

Product Lines

Standard

Deluxe

Premium

Total

Selling price per unit

$134.40

$187.50

$295.38

$171.65

Sales

$336,000

$150,000

$192,000

$678,000

Less: variable costs

72,000

80,000

88,000

240,000

Contribution margin

$264,000

$70,000

$104,000

$438,000

Less: fixed expenses

147,848

47,311

38,441

233,600

Net operating income

$116,152

$22,689

$65,559

$204,400

In examining the report, company management contemplates eliminating Deluxe and increasing investment in one of the other product lines either Standard or Premium. You have been asked to advise management concerning this decision.

Required

Assuming fixed costs are allocated to each Product line based on unit sales:

Compute the Break-even in product sales for each product line

As currently presented

For Standard and Premium, assuming they eliminate the Deluxe product line.

Compute Operating Leverage for Standard and Premium

As currently presented

Assuming they eliminate the Deluxe product line.

Using your analysis from parts 1 & 2, can you suggest several reasons for keeping the Deluxe product line? Please explain.

If the company eliminates Deluxe, which product line should they increase their investment in, Standard or Premium? Please explain your answer.

Product Lines

Standard

Deluxe

Premium

Total

Selling price per unit

$134.40

$187.50

$295.38

$171.65

Sales

$336,000

$150,000

$192,000

$678,000

Less: variable costs

72,000

80,000

88,000

240,000

Contribution margin

$264,000

$70,000

$104,000

$438,000

Less: fixed expenses

147,848

47,311

38,441

233,600

Net operating income

$116,152

$22,689

$65,559

$204,400

Explanation / Answer

Blues Company

Computation of break-even in product sales for each product line as currently presented:

Break-even in product sales = fixed cost/contribution margin ratio

Break-even in unit sales = fixed cost/unit contribution margin

Fixed cost – allocated based on unit sales of each product line

Standard

Deluxe

Premium

Total

Fixed cost

$147,848

$47,311

$38,441

$233,600

Contribution margin

$264,000

$70,000

$104,000

$438,000

Contribution margin ratio

78.57%

46.67%

54.17%

Break-even product sales

$188,174

$101,372.00

$70,964

$360,510

Break-even unit sales

1,400

540

$240

2,180

Contribution margin ratio = (contribution margin/sales) x100

Standard          = 264,000/336,000 = 78.57%

Deluxe             = 70,000/150,000 = 46.67%

Premium         = 104,000/192,000 = 54.17%

Break-even product sales = fixed cost / contribution margin ratio

Standard          = 147,848/78.57% = $188,174

Deluxe             = 47,311/46.67%        = $101,372

Premium         = 38,441/54.17% = $70,964

Computation of break-even product sales for Standard and Premium assuming, Deluxe is eliminated:

When Deluxe is eliminated, the fixed cost of Deluxe is allocated to Standard and Premium on the basis of their unit sales.

Standard

Premium

Total

unit sales

2,500

650

3,150

Proportion

79.37%

20.63%

100

allocated fixed cost of Deluxe

$37,551

$9,760

$47,311

actual fixed costs

$147,848

$38,441

$185,289

Total fixed costs

$185,399

$48,201

$233,600

contribution margin ratio

78.57%

54.17%

Break-even product sales

$533,281

$88,981

$622,262

Break-even product in units

3,967

$301

4,268

Operating leverage = contribution/net income

Standard = $264,000/$116,152 = 2.28

Premium = $104,000/$65,559 = 1.59

Assuming the company eliminates the Deluxe product line,

Reasons in support of not eliminating the Deluxe product line.

Assuming the company eliminates Deluxe, the company should increase their investment in Premium product line.

On comparison of unit contribution margin of Standard and Premium, the Premium product line earns higher unit contribution margin and hence the company should invest in Premium as shown below,

Standard

Premium

unit sales

2,500

650

Contribtuion margin

$264,000

$104,000

Unit contribution margin

$105,60

$160

Unit contribution margin = contribution margin/ unit sales

Standard = 264,000/2,500 = $105.60

Premium = 104,000/650 = $160

Standard

Deluxe

Premium

Total

Fixed cost

$147,848

$47,311

$38,441

$233,600

Contribution margin

$264,000

$70,000

$104,000

$438,000

Contribution margin ratio

78.57%

46.67%

54.17%

Break-even product sales

$188,174

$101,372.00

$70,964

$360,510

Break-even unit sales

1,400

540

$240

2,180

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