Reference no: EM132632781

Contemporary Trends sells paint and paint supplies carpet and wallpaper at a single store location in suburban Baltimore Although the company has been very profitable over the year management has seen very profitable over the year management has seen a significant decline in wallpaper sales and earnings Much of this decline is attributable to the internet and to companies that advertise deeply discounted prices in magazines and offer customer free shipping and toll free telephone number recent figures follow:

                                 Paint and supplies                 Carpeting                           wallpaper

Sales                                190,000                               230,000                      70,000

Less variable cost                114,000                              161,000                       56,000

Fixed costs                          28,000                                37,500                    22,000

Total cost                            142,000                             198,500                     78,000

operating income                      48,000                            31,500                      -8,000

Question 1: Management is studying whether to drop wallpaper because of the changing market and accompanying loss if the line is dropped the following changes are expected to occur

a. The vacated space will be remodeled at a cost of 15,000 and will be devoted to an expanded line of high and carpet sales of carpet are expected to increase by 100,000

b. Contemporary can cut wallpapers fixed costs by 50%

c. Sales of paint and paint supplies are expected to fall by 30%

d. Considering (a),(b) and (c), explain your decision whether to drop or retain the wallpaper