In: Accounting
Parker Pottery produces a line of vases and a line of ceramic figurines. Each line uses the same equipment and labor; hence, there are no traceable fixed costs. Common fixed cost equals $30,000. Parker's accountant has begun to assess the profitability of the two lines and has gathered the following data for last year:
Vases | Figurines | ||
Price | $40 | $70 | |
Variable cost | 30 | 42 | |
Contribution margin | $10 | $28 | |
Number of units | 1,000 | 500 |
Required:
1. Compute the number of vases and the number of figurines that must be sold for the company to break even.
Break-even vases | units |
Break-even figurines | units |
2. Parker Pottery is considering upgrading its factory to improve the quality of its products. The upgrade will add $5,260 per year to total fixed cost. If the upgrade is successful, the projected sales of vases will be 1,500, and figurine sales will increase to 1,000 units. What is the new break-even point in units for each of the products?
Break-even vases | units |
Break-even figurines | units |
Answer 1.
Sales Mix = 1,000 : 500
Sales Mix = 2 : 1
Weighted Average Contribution Margin per unit = (2/3) * $10 +
(1/3) * $28
Weighted Average Contribution Margin per unit = $16
Overall Breakeven Point in units = Overall Fixed Costs /
Weighted Average Contribution Margin per unit
Overall Breakeven Point in units = $30,000 / $16
Overall Breakeven Point in units = 1,875
Breakeven Point in units for Vases = 1,875 * (2/3)
Breakeven Point in units for Vases = 1,250
Breakeven Point in units for Figurines = 1,875 * (2/3)
Breakeven Point in units for Figurines = 625
Answer 2.
Overall Fixed Costs = $30,000 + $5,260
Overall Fixed Costs = $35,260
Sales Mix = 1,500 : 1,000
Sales Mix = 3 : 2
Weighted Average Contribution Margin per unit = (3/5) * $10 +
(2/5) * $28
Weighted Average Contribution Margin per unit = $17.20
Overall Breakeven Point in units = Overall Fixed Costs /
Weighted Average Contribution Margin per unit
Overall Breakeven Point in units = $35,260 / $17.20
Overall Breakeven Point in units = 2,050
Breakeven Point in units for Vases = 2,050 * (3/5)
Breakeven Point in units for Vases = 1,230
Breakeven Point in units for Figurines = 2,050 * (2/5)
Breakeven Point in units for Figurines = 820